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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


■^ 


'i},^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historicai  iMicroraproductions  inatitut  Canadian  da  microraproductions  hiatoriquaa 

1980 


i 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibiiographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 


D 


0 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 


Covars  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^e  et/ou  peilicuide 


□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  g6ographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  inl<  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  malarial/ 
Relid  avec  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int^rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout6es 
lors  d'una  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  cas  pages  n'ont 
pas  6X6  filmdes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppidmentaires; 


Th 
to 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  pc^ut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  methods  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 


□   Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

□   Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag^es 

I      I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


D 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film^  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 


Pages  restauries  et/ou  pelliculdes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxe( 
Pages  dicoiories,  tachet^es  ou  piqudes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ditachdes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualiti  in^gaie  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppldmentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


I  I  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I  I  Pages  detached/ 

I  I  Showthrough/ 

I  I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I  I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I  I  Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totaiement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  filmdes  6  nouveau  de  fagon  6 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


Th 
PC 
of 
fill 


Oi 
bfl 
th 
si< 
ot 
fir 
sit 
or 


Jt 
sh 
Tl 
wl 

di 
er 
be 

rij 
re 
m 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

y 

12X                            16X                            20X                            24X                            ZiX                            32X 

The  copy  filmed  here  hes  been  reproduced  thenke 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library, 

Gaological  Survey  of  Canada 


L'exempleire  f  ilmA  f  ut  reproduit  grice  A  la 
ginArositA  de: 

Bibliothiqua, 

Commiition  Gfologique  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  Iteeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Las  images  suivantes  ont  M6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin.  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetA  de  rexempiaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  Illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  bacic  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimte  sont  filmte  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  emoreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'lllustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  fllmte  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'lllustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  ti^e  symbol  ^»>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  auplies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
darnlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  sslon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  y  signifie  "FIN". 


hutty.  .\  p:c:tes,  charts,  etc..  may  be  filmed  at 
dill  ^ent  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diff6rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  11  est  fiim6  A  partir 
de  I'angle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  has,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammos  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

SMITHSONIAN  CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  KNOWLEDGE. 
— 5)85       


LIFK    IIISTOIMKS 


NOETII  AMERICAN  BIRDS, 


FUOM  THK  I'AKUOTS  TO  THE  CRACKLES, 


WITH    HI-KI'IAI.   IIKKBItKNI'K  To 


THKIII  BRKEDINC  HABITS  AND  EGCS, 


BT 


CHABLK8  KKNDIRK,  CAi'TAix  AND  BttKVET  Majou,  V.  S.  A.  (Kotiiml), 

Honorary  Inrntm-  of  I  In-  Ihimrlmriit  of  (Klogii,  U.  S.  XiiUdiiiiI  .)/Na«N>u, 
Member  0/ Ihe  American  OrHillioloijiiitf'  f'Hiuii. 


WITH 


SKVKN  UTHOGRAI'HIC  I'LATMS. 


CITY    OF    WASniNCiTON: 

IMTKLISIIKl)  BY  Tin;  SMITllsONIAN  INSTITIITION. 

1895. 


COMMISSION  TO  WHOM   THIS  MKMOIU  HAS  HKKN    UKFKHKKD. 

VVlLMAM    HitKWSTKH. 
ClIAKI.KH   V.    ItATniKl.DKR. 

C.  Haut  Mkkuiam. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


TIk*  fiillowiiifj  iiicmoir,  l)y  Afjijor  Cliarlcs  Hciidiiv,  ot'  tlie  rnitcil  Statos 
v\niiy,  liavinfr  hwn  pultlislitMl  at  tlio  joint  expense  of  tlie  Sinitli.soniaii  fund  and  of 
the  |)rintin<;  ai)i)r(>|»mtion  of  tlie  United  States  National  Musi-nm,  two  separate 
editions  are  issued,  one  fonniii;;  a  portion  of  tlie  series  of  Hinitlisonian  Contri- 
hutions  to  Knowle<lf,'e,  and  tlie  other  appuariiiff  as  a  special  bnlletin  of  the 
I'liited  States  National  Mnseniii. 

In  aeeordan«-e  with  the  riilc!  adopted  hy  the  Smithsonian  Institution,  the 
work  has  been  subinitted  for  examination  to  a  eommission  in  this  instance 
fonsistinjjof  Mr.  William  Brewster,  Doctor  C.Hart  Merriam,  and  .Mr.Charles  K. 
Mateheliler,  and  h;ivinjr  been  recommended  for  |»ublication  by  these  ffentlemen, 
it  is  herewith  presented  as  a  work  of  orif-'insd  research,  illustratinfr  more  particu- 
larly the  life  histories  of  North  Aineric-an  Birds,  from  the  Parrots  to  the 
Grackk's,  with  special  reference  to  their  breeding  habits  and  eggs. 

S.  P.  Langley, 

Sccntan/. 
Smithsonian  Institution, 

W'ufiliiniftoii,  (htuhcr,  hS'J't. 


TABLE    OF  CONTENTS. 


I'SiriArK.nIs  IIIRDS. 

ruiiiily  INiiTAiiUK.  I'liiriilH,  riiriH|iii't»,  I'ti'. 

1.  CiiiiuriiH  I'liriiliMi-iiiiiH,  l.iiiiiii'iiH Cnriiliiiti  l'iiriH|iitit  (I'l.l,  KiK-D- 

I'ICAUIAN   IIIUIW, 

Kaiiiily  Cl'i'i  l.ll>  K.  Tin-  CiirkiMiH,  AiiIh,  cfr. 

1'.  CrnlnplmKn  nni,  I.iiiiiifiiH Tim  Aiii  (I'l.  I,  KiK-t'l 

;i.  Ci'iiliipliuKii  Hiili'iriMli'lH,  StviiiiiHcin (ironvi'illiilli'il  Aiii  i  I'l.  I,  V'lu.l) 

4.  (iciMMii  ryx  I'lilMiirniiiliiiM,  I.iwhiiii Itiiiiil  KiiniHT  i  I'l.   I,  I'ijj.  1!) 

T).  (' v/.iiH  ii!iiinr,'(ii.icliii Muntsrovuriickno 

t).  I'cii'cyziifi  iiiiiior  inii.vimnli,  l>'iil){»»v Miiyimiir»  CiickiKi 

7.  <' 'y/iw  iiiiinrlriiiiiis,  l.iiiiiK^iiH Yi'lldwliilli'il  Ciirkiiii  (I'l.  V.  Tin-  ')- 

X,  ('iii'ty/iiM  iiiiiiTiriiiiiiH  ncriili'iilMlis,  Uiil^wiiy  .    .  ('iilirnnilii  l'iirki»>  I  I'l.  V,  Vig. '.') 

',1.  Curry  xiis«i'ytlii'ii]ilitliiiliiiiiH,  WilHiiii Illiii'k-liilli'il  Ciirkoo  (I'l.  V,  KIhh,  'i  iind  4) 

111.  ('iieiiliiH  ruiKiruN  ti'lepliuiiiiH,  llciiii' Silii'iidii  t'lirkiio 


PuKK. 


tr 
jt 
i» 

17 

111 
III 

ar. 
•J' 

32 


roniily  riiiii.ii.Mii.K.     Tri>K"'ii"- 

II.  Triigoii  ninliigniiH,  (iddid Onpiicry-tiiiliMl  Tniu"" 'i- 

I'aiiiily  Ai.iKinMii  K.     KiiiullHliiTs. 


12.  IVryln  iilryon,  I.iniiirna Iti'ltfil  KiiiKliHlirr  (I'l.  I,  Ki({.  H* 

IH.  tvryli'  uiiiiTiriiiiii  Kcpli'iitriiiiiiilis,  .''liiirp 'IVxiin  Kiii);liHli<'i'  (I'l.  I,  I'm.  i) 

14.  Ci'iyin  li>i'i|ii(it.ii.  l.iiiiKi'iiH liiiitfixl  KiiiKlixlK'i' 


I'ICINK  ItlKDS. 
Fiiiiilly  l'irii>  K,     WooilprckiTs. 


Ciiinpi'plillim  prIiiripnIlH,  I.iiiiiii'iis 

DryoliiitcH  villoHiiN,  l.iiinM'iiK 

|lr\  iiliatrM  ^-illoN(lH  trii('i)itH'liiN,  ItiHliljci't 

llryobiitt'H  vilhmiiH  aiiilithnitii,  >*waiiiMiiii 

IM'yoI'alcs  x-iIIoniis  liarrisii,  .\ii<lii>H>n 

Hryoliati'H  viIIokiis  liyliimnpiiH,  Caliaiiis 

hryolialrN  ]tn)trH('iMiK.  l.miia'iiN 

Drynliati'H  piili<-Hi>ciiH  ^ainliifi'ii,  Aiidiilinii    

l>ryiiI»ati'M  pdlicHrciiM  iMt'it'cdf*.  Italcliolilrr 

MiyoliatrH  licnralU,  Vicillnl 

Hryiiliatf'H  Hcalaiis  l>airili.  Srlatcr 

Itryoltrttt'!*  HcalariH  liicaHaiiiiM.  XaiitiiH  

Hryiiliati'H  iiiillallii.  (lanilii'l 

IHyiiliateH  ai'i;?<>iia',  llar^itl 

Xi'iiopiiMis  alliiiliirvatiiN,  ( 'asMin 

I'irtiiili-H  art^tiriiH,  Swaiiisoii 

I'iroiilcH  aiiii'ricaiiiiH,  liicliiii 

I'ivdidrH  ainericaiiiiH  nlaHi-i'iiHis,  N'rlstni 

l*i4'oi<li'H  aiiioriranuM  ilortaliK,  Itainl 

Spliyrapiciis  variiiH,  I.iiiiiiriiH 

Spbyrapivim  variim  iiiichuliH,  llaliil.t 


Ivory-liillril  Wiioilppikrr 

Hairy  WiiiMlpcckt-r 

Norllinni  Hairy  Womlpi'ckiir 

Sniilliorii  Hairy  Wduilpt'i'kor 

llarrisH  WiiiKlpci'krr 

raliaiiiN'.M  \V(Hiil])i>ckrr 

Downy  \\ii(MlpiMkiT(l'l.  I,  l-'i^. 211. 

liairdin'r's  WiMnlpcckfr 

natcld'lilrr'H  W'lHHlpm'krr 

Ki'd-cockiKlnl  W(MMlp<M-k«r 

Iliiird'HWnddi kiT 

St.  Liiras  Wdodporkf'r 

Null  all's  \ViM>dp<Mkdr 

Arixoiia  WiMidprcki'r 

Wliiti'-hi'adi'd  Woiidpnki'r 

Arclir  Tlir Idt'd  \V lpe«'k<'r 

Aiiicrii'an  'riiri'c-liii'd  WKodpcckcr. 
Ala.Hkan  Tliri'c  tiicd  Wiindpi'ckiT.. 
Alpine  Tlirrc-tiM'd  Wooilppcknr.. . . 

Y«(llo«-liolli(Ml  SajmnckiT 

licd-naped  Supsncker 


:u 

40 


4L' 

4t; 

r><) 

51 


m 
lii 
fa 
ft". 

li'i 
liX 
7(t 
74 
77 
W) 
HO 
H2 
88 


VI 


TAIlIii:  Ol'  (;()NTKNT8. 


fHflK 

IK! 

KU 
107 


3fl.  Spliyrnpii'iiN  riilicr,  (Imcliii lii'il-lirniuitri)  SniiHiirkfr 

117.  Splivrupii'iiH  lli\riiiil»iiH,  CiiHitiii WilliiiiiiHoii'H  Sii|>niii'ki'r : 

SIM.  Criiplilii'iiH  pili'iiliiH,  l.iniiii'iin I'iliMtd'il  \ViHi<lpri'ki<i' (I'l.  I<  I''Ik-*>) 

!IW.  MolaiiiTpi'it  I'i'vtIirix'i'pliiiliiH,  I.Iiiiiii'Iih liiil  liimili'il  WixiilpockiT 

4(1.  .Mrliinrrpc'K  fiii'iiiiclviiriiH  Imirili,  Kiil^wiiv ('iililoriiiaii  Wimilpei'kiT , 

41.  .Mrltiiirrpi'M  riirniic'ivoriiM  iiiiKiiHtifrniiH,  llaiiil  ..   Niirriiw-i'rniiti'il  WiiiHlpnrki)!' 117 

4.'.  Mcliiiiiirpi'M  liiii|iiatiin,  WIImoii l.i'wiH'n  \Vniiil| krr 117 

4^1.  .Mi'liiiii'rpi'H  c'iii'i>liiiiin,  l.iiiiiii'ii.< Iiii(|.|ii'llii'il  WiHiilpiM'ktT lUI 

41.  .MoliiiHirpos  uiirit'riiim,  \Vii){l<ir tiiilili'ii-l'ronti^il  WiHiilprikiT 1U4 

4.">.  M«laii«rpi'K  iinipyuiiili",  Hainl tlila  Wooilpocki^r 127 

4<>.  Oiilaplt's  aural  iiH,  l.iiiiiaiiH I'lii-ktir I'-lt 

47.  Ciilapti'H  cafi'i-,  (iiiii'liii I{(»|.Hlial'li>(l  Klicknr 1!H 

4k.  Ciilapti'H  cafm  Hatiiialinr,  ltiil|;wa.v Niprtli\v:«l«rii  Kliikcr i:t7 

•III.  Cnlapli'H  ■'lii'VHiiiili'H,  .Mallmrliu (iililril  I'lirker l;W 

OU.  Uiilitptu*  riillpiloiis,  Uiil^way (tiiailnliipu  Kliukur 140 


ni. 
6a. 

r.i. 

55. 

m. 

57. 
5X. 
5!t. 

tso. 

Ul. 


MACKt>C'IIII<iNK  ItlKDS. 

Kniiiil.v  ('.\i'iiiMi LiiiD.K.    (iontHiirkm, flt^-. 

AntriMtnmiii  I'nrolintMiHiH,  (iiiioliii Clinrk-wiU'H-wiilnw  (I'l.  I.  Pigft.  A,  9) t(3 

Auli'oHtiiiiiiiH  viiviluriiH,  WIIhoii Wlilp-piiiii-will  (I'l.  I.  I'i^h.  Hi,  II) I  Mi 

.\iitniHtoiiniH  viirili'i'iiH  iiiari'iiiiivHtax,  Wauli'i".  ■  .'*ti'pliiMi»'H  Wliippimrwill 151 

I'liiila'MiipliliiH  iiiittalli.  Aiiiliiliiiii I 'nor- will  (I'l.  I,  Vig.  'J'A) 15:1 

I'liulaiKiplllilH  iiiiltalli  iiiliiliiH,  llrrWHtur I'riMtril  riiiir-wlll 157 

I'lialu'iiiiptiliis  nut  tall  I  caliriiriiiiiiH,  Itiilftway. .    Uimky  I'nor-will 15S 

HiO 
lt» 
lt>7 
170 
172 


N'yirtiilrimiim  alliiiolliH  iiii'irllli.  Sniiii'tl MiMiiU'n  raraiii|iii'  (IM.  II,  h'ign.  1.2) 

Cliiirili-ilrH  virciiiiaiiiiK,  (liiiiiliii NJKlitliawk  (I'l.  Ill,  KiifN.  1,2, :i) 

Cliiinli'lli'M  vlr;;iiilaiiiiH  limirvi,  Cas.sin WchIi'im  N'luliiliawk  ( I'l.  Ill,  I'in.  I) 

CIiiiiiIimIi'*  \  ii'Kiliiaiiils  iliapinani.  .Scnnelt Kliiiiila  Ni);liHia«k  (I'l.  Ill,  Vin*.  .">,•!) 

(iiiirili'ili'H  at'iitipi^iniiM  te.\uii)iiH,  Lawrviico Toxuii  Nii^lil hawk  (I'l.  Ill,  Kics,  7,  t<,  U,  10)... 


I'aiiiily  Miriini'iiniiiK.    .SwIltH. 


(12.  ('ypuplcidcR  iilKi-r,  (;iiii'liii 

tkl.  Cliatiira  pri.iKira,  l.iiinaUH 

•M.  Cliatiira  vaiisii,  Tiiw  ii-n'iiil 

(15.  Ai'rniiuiitrH  iiii'laii'ili'iiriiH,  llaiiil . 


...    Illaik  .Swift 175 

...   ('Iiiiiiiicy  Swift  (I'l.  1,  Ki^.  25) 177 

...    Vaiix'H  Swift  (I'l.  I,  l'i(J.2(!) IKt 

. ..    Wliili'-tliriiatiil  .Swift 1K> 


Family  'riiiiniii.in  K.     lliiniiiiiiiKl'irilii, 

fid.  KiiKi'tirN  fit l);)>ii.s,  SwniiiHnii Kivoli  lliiiniiiiiiuliinl IKX 

07.  t'lilini'iin  ili'iiiiiiria',  I.i'hsiiii Kliii'-llniiati'il  lliiliiiiiiii!;!iirii 1!H) 

tW.  'ri'ii'liilii.i  I'liliiliriH,  l.iiiiiaiDi liiiliv  -lliiiiati'il  liiiiiiiiiiii);liiril  (I'l.  1,  l-'i^.  27) 1!)2 

(!!).  'ri'iii'liiluHali'xaiiilri,  lliiiirricr anil  Miilwint Illaik-iliiiinril  lliinnninKliiril lOS 

70.  TriirliilnH  viola jii);nlnni,.li>l1iii'H Viuliit  tlirnali'il  lliniiniinul'ii'il 2lil 

71.  ('alyptii  I'osta',  Itniirrii'i' CiiHta'N  lliiiiiiiiiii;,'liiiil 202 

72.  Talyptr  anna,  I.i'mmihi \nna'M  lliiinniiu;!lHMl 20*1 

711.  .Si'laBpliiiiiiN  lliiri'.sii,  (iniilil Klini'Mi's  llniinniiiKliiril 200 

74.  .St'laHpliiiMiH  )ilatyri>r(-ns,  SwaiuHon Itrnail-taiifil  iluniuiin^liii'il 210 

75.  Si'laNplittniH  i-iit'itH,  (inirliii IfnfoiiH  llnniniin);)iiril 2 1  It 

7t>.  .Si'laHpliiii'iiH  alli'iii,  lli'nHlniw .Mlrn'.i  llnniniinfiliinl 2 Hi 

77.  .Strllnia  ralliopr,  tinulil <  'allinpr  llnnnnin<;liiril 210 

7X.  Caliitlioiax  IniifiT,  SwainMiin I.nrifi'r  lliiniiiiinuliinl 222 

70.   A  ma/ ilia  fiiNrii'anilata.  KiiiHrr liii'lVi'i'x  llniiiininuliiiil 223 

XO    .\ina/.ilia  iitrviiiivrntiiii,  (inulil llnlV  liulliiil   llniiiniiiiKliii'il 225 

XI.  llaHiliniia  xanlnHi,  I ,a wri'in'c XaiitnH'H  iliiiinninf'liiril 22li 

82.  llaHilinna  li'iirnlis,  X'ii'illiit Wliiti'  I'ari'il  llnnniiinuliii'il 227 

83.  laebu  lalirustriB,  tSwaiuBou ilrnail-liilleil  lluuiiuiuKliiril 228 


TASSKKINK  IlIKDS. 
FMiiiily  t'liiiM.iii  K.     OiitinKaH. 
84.  I'lutypiiai'iH  alliiveiiti'iii,  l.awrenre XantnsH  lleiaril . 


230 


■  I' 
;■  ,t* 


' 


TAULK  OK  roNTKNTS. 


VII 


Knnilly  Tvii.»nmii  k.     Tyriiiit  KlyniWhi'in. 


85. 

Ml. 
H7. 
W. 

m. 

•M). 

III. 
If.'. 

1)3. 
IM. 

11,1. 

INI. 

117. 

W. 

!«». 
UK). 
101. 
IIL'. 

u);i. 
■III. 

10.-.. 
lINi. 

III?. 

IIIX. 
111!). 

nil. 
111. 

ii;{. 
111. 

ll.V 
nil. 
117. 
UK 
1 1ll. 
U'll. 
ILM. 
IL'L'. 


11!4. 

I  I'll. 
U'7. 
VM. 
VM. 
VM>. 

i:ii. 
i;iL'. 
i:i:i. 
i;ii. 
i;m. 
I  mi. 


i;i7. 

I3X. 

i;i!i. 
no. 
III. 
II;.'. 
ii:i. 


MllviiliK  lyriiniiiiii,  l.liinii'iiH 

Milt  llltlH  I'iM'liriltllN,  lillll'lill     

i',\  iMtiiiri«  I  Mini  nils,  l.iiiiiiiiin 

'I'yi'iiiiiiiiN  •liiiniiili'riinin,  liiiinlin 

'r,\riiiiiMH  iiiiiliiiirliiiliniHi'iiiioliil,  IliiinI 

ryriiniiiiM  vi  rtliiiliH,  Say 

'ryriiiiiiiiN  viiiiri'iiiiis,  S\(MiiiHiiii 

rilaniliiHili'rIiiiiMiiM.  Kiiii|i 

.Myicizi'li'ti'N  li'M'iiHiH,  (iiniiiil 

Myiixl.N iiiiNtin  Inti'ivciiiiis,  Si'liitvr 

Mvliiri'liiis  rrliiitiiH,  Liii:i;i'iiH 

My  lurch  MH  iiii-\iriiiiim,  Kiiii|i 

Myiiii'i'IniK  iMi'xIruiiiiH  iimuiHliT,  l{iil)(wiiy  . . 

MyinirliiiH  rini'iiiHri'iiH,  l.iiwriMiiu 

.MyiiiirliiiH  riniii'iiHi'i'im  iiiitllnt;!,  ItlilKWiiy. . 

MyiiirrliiiH  liivMi'iiri'li,  liiiiiinl 

Myiiirrliim  lawi'i'iirci  olixiihruiiH,  Iviilj^way. 

Siiyoi'iiJH  iiliii'lii',  l.alhaiii 

SiiMirniH  Kiiyii,  lliiiia|iiirt<' 

.Siyiiriiis  iiiKriraiiH,  SwaiiiHini 

('uiil<>|iiiK  liiircaliH,  .SsvaiiiHUli 

('iiiitii|iii!i  |iertiiiu\.  CaliaiilN 

('iiiitniiiiH  \  iri'iiH,  l.liiiiii'iiH 

('iiiiti>|iiiK  rii'lianlmiiili,  SwaiiiNiiii 

Kinpiilotiax  li;ivivi'iiti'iH,  llalril 

Kiiiliiiloiiax  illMli'ili.:,  Ilaird 

Kinpiiloiiax  liiiiTlliiiH,  Itiinvntitr 

KiiipitliMiiix  arailiciii*.  (iiiiiOiii 

Kiii|>iili>na\  iniHillun,  Swainsoii 

I''.iii|iiiliiiiax  inmilliis  Irulllil,  Aiiiliilioii 

I''.iii|ilili>iiiix  inliiiiiiiiH,  llalril 

Kiiiv><l<>iiax  liaiiiiiiiinili,  XaiiliiH 

Kiiipitliiiiax  \vrl);litii,  llalril 

KiiipiiliMiax  ^riHuiiH,  llri-wHtrr 

Kinpiiliiiiax  riilvilVoiiH,  lijraiKl 

Kiiipiiliiniix  riilvifi'iiiiB  pyKiniiiiH,  (iimih  .  .. 
i'vriM-MplialiiH  riiliiiiiMiH  iiittxiraiiiiN,  .Srlatri'. 

<  triiitliiiiii  iiiilirrlir,  Si'laU^r 

Di'uitUiuii  imliurbu  riilgwuyi,  llruwHtor 


Kiirk-lailiMl  Klycatrhi-r 

Si'inMii'luili'il  I'lyi'atrlii-r  ll'l.  I,  KIk*.  lii,  IM) 

Kiii)rl>>i<t  il'i.  I.  I"i«".  II.  l"i) 

lirii,\  KiiikI'IkI  (I'I.  n,  I'iuH.  Il,  I) 

(' liH  KliiKl>ir<l  ll'l.  II,  I'U".  •'••Ill 

.\rkaii»a8  KiiiKliiiil  i  I'I.  I,  I-'Ikh.  Ill,  17) 

CaHMiiiH  Kiiiiflilnl  (I'I.  I.  I'Ikn.  IM,  III)   

iMI.y  riyral.  Iiir  (I'I.  I.  IIk".  11).  I'I ) 

lilraiiil'H  l<'lyi'ati'lii<r  ll'l.  I,  Fi^.  L'J) 

Hiilpliiir  l.illii'il  riycalilinr  (I'I.  II.  I'lg.7) 

Cri'sli'il  Klyrati'lixr  ll'l.  II,  KIkh.H,  i)| 

Mrxiiaii  Crriiti'il  Klyi'iitrlii  r  (I'I.  II.  Vina.  10,  111 

.\ri/iiiia  CrmliMl  riyi'tttclicr  (I'I.  II,  I'Ik.  12) 

AHlitliniiitoil  Kly.  iitclirr  (I'I.  II,  I'ltf.  i:i| 

NiitliiiK'H  Klynilelii  r  ll'l.  II.  I'ijj.  II) 

I.uwniirr's  Klyiatclmr 

< 'livin'eoiiH  riycatcliur 

I'linliod'l.  I,  FiK.  L'X) 

Hiiys  I'liiili.,  ll'l.  I,  KiK.  Ill) 

Illuik  I'liiilic  ll'l.   I.  KiK.  ;it)) 

Olivi'  itliliil  Klycatilifr  d'l.  II,  KIkh.  I".,  Itl) 

Coiuih'h  I'lyfutrlirr  (I'I.  II,  I-'Ib.  17) 

Wiioil  rc\vi'«(l'l.  II,  KIkh.  IK.  I!)) 

Wi'iil.rii  WimmI  I'ewci'  (I'I.  II,  KIkb.  ao,  L'l,!'.') 

,   Velli.wl.cllicil  Klycatcli.T  (I'I.  II,  I'iif.  L'H) 

.   WoBtcrii  Flyiatch.r  d'l.  II,  I'Ik.  I'I,  !'."> 

.  St.  l.ni'aK  Klyiatrlicr 

.  Ai'mliaii  Klycatclim-  d'l.  II,  I'ihh.  Itl,  27) 

,   LittU' Klyiat.'hcr  d'l.  II,  n«H.  2K,  111) 

.  Tralll'H  KlyiMlihir  d'l.  II,  l'i){.  30 » 

.   I.enHt  Klyiatclii'r  d'l.  11,  I'ii.'.  Itl) 

.    llaiiiiiioiiirN  Klyi'iili'licr  d'l.  II,  riK.112) 

.  Wri^lit'-i  l-lyiatrliiT  d'l.  II,  I'I),'.  :t:t) 

.   (irB\  I'lyratclmr 

.   KiilviiiiN  F'lycati'liiT 

.    Iliill'liriiaslcil  Klycatelior 

.   VcnniliDH  I'lynilclifr  ( I'I.  II,  I'ijfH.  ;tl,!iri) 

.   llrarilli'MM  I'lyrati'liitr 

.   Kiiluwav'H  riyratrlior 


2:11 
2:1:1 
2:1*1 
211 
213 
24,1 
2111 
2,'il 
251 
2flll 
2,MI 
2)i:i 
2tll 
2IMI 
21111 
270 
270 
272 
270 
2K0 
2X2 
2Mt 
2KM 
2lt| 
21)|-| 
2!)H 

:ioi 
:io2 
:tori 

310 
312 
315 

31H 

;i20 
:t2! 
:i2i 
:i22 

32,-) 


raiiiilv  Ai.vuiiii)  I,.     l.arkH. 


.Manila  iirvpiixlH,  l.iniia'iiH . 

lltoriiriH  alpi'Nlris,  Miiiiaiis 

UtiM-oriH  iilprr^ti'iH  li'iivnlMMiia.  CiiiifN 

utiiriiris  alpi'xlriH  praliiiila,  llriisliaw 

OtiH'iiriH  alpcNlrlH  ari'iiirula,  ili'imlian 

<  tturnris  alpi-HtriH  ;;ii-aiiili,  HiMiNliaw 

utof'orls  alpiiNtris  rlir\Nulii-iiii),  W'a^lur 

I  )tO('nrlN  alprstriM  nilii'it,  llrnsliaw 

Dldi'iit'iii  alpi'stris  Htri^ala.  Ili'iisliaw 

OtiiriiriH  alpitHlrU  ailiota,  lini^lit 

oiociiriM  iilprKtriH  iiioM'illi,  |l\vi;;lit 

llliiciiriH  alpiHlrlN  palliilu,  TowiimiiiiI 

Dtiii'uria  alprstris  iiiiiiilariH,  Toniisciiil 


.•*kylark  (I'I.  V.  Kig.23) :I2/ 

llonii'il  l.ark :i:iO 

Pallid  llnninl  Lark  d'l.  V,  Ki^'.-'ll :i:i2 

I'lairii'  llnrniMl  l.ark  d'l.  V,  Ki^.  2.1) 3:U 

lle.surl  lliirii.il  l.ark  1  I'I.  \  .  l'i){.  2)i) :t:ix 

Tiixaii  lliiriiril  l.ark  d'l.  V,  Kin.  27) 310 

Muxiian  lliiriiitil  l.ark  d'l.  V,  I'Ik.  2«) :ill 

Kiiilily  lliiriif.l  l.ark  d'l.  V,  I'I),'.  2'J) 343 

.Slrrakril   llor I  l.ark :H4 

Siiiiclii'il  llnriinl  l.ark  1  I'I.  V.  KitJ.  :il ) :Ur> 

llii.sky  ll.irmil  l.ark  d'l.  V,  I'Mk.  :tO) :II(I 

>><iiiiiiraii  Iliiriiril  l.ark :I47 

liiHiilar  lluriiril  l.ark 317 


raiiiily  ('oliviii.i:.    Crows,  .lays,  .MuKpiiii,  I'to. 


I'ira  pirn  liiiilHoiiii'ii,  •'^aliilir 

I'ira  iiiittulli,  .Viiiliilinii 

Cyaiinritta  iriHtata,   l.iiiiia'iiH 

Cyaiiiii'lila  crintata  lloriiiiiila,  Coiios 

ryaiiiM'ltta  Hti'Ilcri,  (•nu'lin 

ryaiiiM'itta  Hti-llcri  IVinitalis.  K'iil^way . . . 
I'yaiiut'itia  Bit'llcri  iiiiicrnliiplia,  llairil. ... 


Amcrlraii  Magpie  ll'l.  Ill,  KigH.  n,  12,  13) 

Villow-I.illcd  .■.lairpi,,  d'l.  Ill,  l'i({.  II) 

llliic  ,liiy  d'l.  V,  KigK.  .I,  li) 

I'lorida  lllii.^  .lay  d'l.  V,  IMkh.  7,  «) 

Sicllrr's.luy  (I'I.  V,  Viu.'.l) 

Illiin-I'roiitrd  .lay  d'l.  V,  I'i),'.  10) 

l.oiiK-rrcHtfd  .lay  d'l.  V,  l'i(;.s.  11,  12) 


31!) 

:i.-M 
:i.->o 

Ml 
•MV2 
■M'iS 
■Ml 


VIII 


TAIJKK  OF  ("OXTKNTS. 


I'll' 


Ml. 

I  ir>. 
lilt. 

117. 
MM. 

III). 
I,-I«». 
ir>i. 
ir.a. 
I.'".:!. 

I.M. 

iw>. 
i.v,. 

l.'-.T. 
IW. 
l.MI. 
ItU). 

nil. 

UVJ. 

itii. 

II'm. 

itw. 

1117. 


C.vni itin  HtiOlt'i'i  aiintx'tKiia,  lluiril 

Aplii'liHiiiiiit  lliiriiliiiiii,  lliiiii'ittii 

A|ilii'liM'iiiim  wiiiiilliiiiiai'i,  llitlnl 

,\|itiiiliM>fiiiiii  i-iiJiriM'iiii'ii,  ViK<>ri* 

.\|ilinlii('iiiiiu  >'uliri>riili'ii  liy|iiiliiiir>,  |{|iIk"i».v 
A|ilii'1iii'iMiin  riilir<ii  iili'it  iilinoiitii,  Anlliiiiiv    ... 

A|ili<iliir<iiiiii  iiiniiliirl:),   lli'tinliiiw 

A|ili«li nut  niiilii'iii  ari/.iiiiii',  |{iil)(Wtt}' 

A|ilii'liM'iiiiiJi  I'ViinoliH,  KIiIkwii.v 

Xiiiitlioiirii  liixMiiHii,  l.i'Hniiii 

I'l'i'lHiiri'iiN  rMiiaiit'tiniN,  l.iiiiiii'iiit 

ri'l'iHOI'ltim  (JtlllKlltllNiH  CJIIlillllin,   llllilll 

IS-riNiireiiH  cjiniMh'iiNiH  t'liiiiil'mnN,  Kitl)(\Miy.  ... 
ruriniipiillH  I'llllJlili'llHin  lliKI'><'l>|illlllH,  ItiilKHUv 

IN-riHuri'iiH  iiliNniniH,  Hiil^wiiy 

rm- viiH  i-iii'ii\  hill  mil  iiH,  \Vu^li>r 

I'lirMiH  riii'iix  |ii'iiii'i|iitliH,  IliilKwity 

rnrviiH  rr>  ptnUMit-iiH,  roiirli 

CiirviiH  iiiiii'ririiMiiM,  AiiiIiiImiii 


t'lirviin  iiniorli'iiiiiiN  tliiriilaiiiiH,  Iliiiiil 

Ciirviin  I'liiiriiiiin,  lliiinl    

I'lirviiH  i>HHit'ni){iiH.  WIIhuii 

NiK'ilraisii  niliiinliiiiiia,  WIIhiiii 

('.TaiiucviiliuliiH  i'yaiiiii:i<|ilialiin,  Wli'il 


Illui'k-liniiiii'il  .lay 

Kliiriila  .lu\  (I'l.  V,  Kiu.  IM) 

\Voil(lllllHH<'»  .liij  (i'l.  V,  I'lg.  II) 

Calil'orhla.lay  (IM.  V.  Kiuii.  in.lll,  17,  IN) 

Xaiihin'n.lay 

IlKliliiiu'n  ,liiy 

Saiila  ^'\■n/  .l»y 

Arl/i.iia  .lay  (I'l.  V,  KIkii.  I!»,  lit) 

Iliiii'  raii'il  .lay 

I  if lay  (I'l.  Ill,  KitfH.  I."i,  111,  17) 

(Jaiiailu  ,iay  d'l.  Ill,  ll«i..  IK,  111) 

Kinky  Mull II tain  .lay 

Alaalfaii  ,lay 

I.uliraclnr.lay  (I'l.  Ill,  I'Ik.  at) 

iiri'ifiiii  .lay  (I'l.  III.  Ki^.  L'l) 

AiiiiMiran  Kavi'ii  d'l.  IV,  I'Ikm.  1,1') 

Norlliuiii  Kavi'ii  ( I'l.  t\,  I'ik.;!) 

Wliili'  iKx'ki'il  Itavni  il'l.  i\  ,  KIuh.  I,. Ml, 7) 

Aiiii'rii'aii  (  niw  (I'l    IV,  riK>i.K,|l,  III,  II,  11';  I'l.  V, 
I'iCH.l'M'l'l. 

Kli.i ilia  tii.w  (I'l.  IV,  KiKx.  Kt,  11) 

Niirtliwi'Ht  Crinv  (I'l.  IV,  KIk.  I,"iI 

rihli  Criiw  (I'l.  IV.  ri){M.  Hi.  I7i 

( •|aiki''M  \  iitirackiT  ( I'l.  1 1 1,  1'iKK.  '£i,  S.') 

I'lfiim,liiy  (I'l.  III,I'I«",1'I,1'5) 


:uiii 
:i7it 


IW.  .stiiniiiH  viilKariH.  I.iniii 


Kuiiiily  SiriiMiii^.    .SlariiiiKH. 
Starling 


Taiiiily  IriKiill'i.  lllaikliinlH,  i  iriiilita.  i-t<'. 

Hill.  Iiolii'liiiiiyx  iiiy/.iviirnH,  LI iih  Iliiliiilink  (I'l.  VI,  l''i>;H.  1,2) 

I'll.  Miiliillii'iiH  alir.  Iliiililiril  Ciiwlilril  d'l.  VI,  l'i|{M.  ;t,  1,5,(1) 

171.  MiiliitliriiH  al<<r  iilimiiiiiN,  (iini'liii HwarrCnw  liinl  (I'l.  VI,  l-'i^H.  7,  Hi 

171'.  ralliitliriiN  I'oliiiHtiiH,  CalianlH Kcil-ryi'il  Cnwliiiil  (I'l.  VI,  V'ifi.  Ill 

17)1.  .\aiitli<ii'<'|iliuliiH  .xaiitliori'iilialiiH,  lliiiiu|iai't<'. . .  Vt'llnu-lii'aili'il  lllai'kliii<l  ( I'l.  VI,  I'Ik".  I<>,  H,  H') 

171.  AKi'laiim  plKi'iiii'i'iiH,  l.iniia'iix Ki'il-wiiiKi'il  lllackliinl  ( I'l.  VI,  FI);h.  I:I,  II,  l,'>)... 

17''>.  AKi'laiiiH  pliii'iiii'iHiH  mmorii'niilH,  l<iilK"ay .Siiioraii  KrilwiiiK 

I7li.  .\KuliiiiiM  phii'iiii'iMiH  Illy  ant  i,  Kiiluwiiy Ilaliaiiian  Koilwiii); 

177.  AK«laiiiB  Kiiboriiatiir,\VaKl<!r Hiiolnrcil  lllai-kliinl  i  I'l.  VI,  l"ij;».  Hi,  17) 

MX.  AKi'liiiiiH  tiiroliir,  Niiltiill 'I'riioloriil  lllaikliiril  d'l.  VI.  I'i|{ii.  IK,  lit) 

1711.  .'^tiiriiulla  iiiaKiia,  l.liiniriiH Moailnwlark  d'l.  VI,  I'Ikh.  I'd,  I'l  i 

IMI.  Slnriii'lla  iimuiia  iiii>\irniia,  Srlatvr Mi'viraii  Mcailunlaik  d'l.  VI,  Ki);.  Jl') 

IKl.  .'^Iiinirlla  iiiacna  iiiuliMta,  AiiiIiiImiii WchIitii  MiiiKliiwIark  (I'l.  VI,  Kigii.  l'!!,  I'l) 

IKl'.   IrliiriiH  ii'tiMiH,  l.iiiiia'iiH  'rrinipial 

IK;|.   Irtiii'iiN  );iilai'is,  Watjicr Iliilar  •  Iriiilii 

IKl.  IrtcniH  aniliitiiiiiii,  liiraiiil AiKliilimrH  itrinlii  d'l.  VI.  I'Ikh. :!.\ I'ti,  1*7) 

lK."i.  litriiiH  piiiiHiiniiii,  lloiiapartii .ScoK'h  iliiulo  d'l.  \'l.  l''i)jH.  I'K,  ill) 

IHil.   Ii'ti'i'iiN  riiriillaliis,  SwaiiiNiiii IIiiiiiUkI  (Iriolu  (I'l.  VI.  I'Ikk.  :iii. Itl.Ill') 

IK7.  li'li'i'iiN  rill  iillatiiH  iiulwiiii,  lii<l);way Ai'i/iiiia  lliiiiili'il  (liiiili.  (I'l.  VII,  \'inn.  1,2) 

IKK.  Ii'tiTiiK  NpiiriiiN,  Liiina'iiH (Ircliaril  Oriolii  (I'l.  VII.  FiK".  'X  l."i) 

IK!t.  Ii-UTiiM  (riilliiiia,  I, in u» Dalliiiiori'  (Jrinln  (I'l.  VII,  I'inM.  6. 7.  K.  !l) 

IIKI.   IcttTiiH  liiill(ii'ki,.Swainin>n IliiUiirk  h  Oiiiili)  d'l.  VII,  I'iKii.  111.  II.  11'.  Kl) 

l!ll.  Si'iiliMiipliaRiisrariiliniiii,  Miiller Ku.sty  lllairktiiril  (I'l.  VII.  Kikh.  ll,l."i,lli> 

liH'.  Si'ul<M'iiphit),'iiH  I'yaiitM'KplialiiK,  Wiittlor Ilri'wei's  BIttckliiiil  d'l.  VII,  I'iuH.  17,  IK,  111, I'll).. 

I'.lll.  (^iiiHcaliiH  i|iiiariila,  l.liina'iiH I'lirplii  linicklii  d'l.  VII,  Kikh.  I'l.  I'l',  '2',\) 

I!H.  t^nidcaliin  i|iiim'iila  aKln'im,  Itairil Kliiiiilalinicklr  d'l.  VII,  Ki;;H.  l'l,l'."i) 

l!t,"i.  (^iiiMcalim  i|iiiHi'iila  :riii'ii»,  Iiiil);way Ilmiizi'il  (irauklr  ( I'l.  VII,  Fi)^.  lli,  27) 

HHi.  QiiiHi'aliiH  nmrroiiriiN,  Swainaiiu (iroat-tailuil  liniL'klu  (I'l.  VII,  KiftH.  2K, 211) 

1!)7.  Quiuculuii  uii^or,  Vieillot lloat-tailea  Uruckle  (1*1.  VII,  FigH.  30,111) 


:t7l 
;t7K 
:i7ii 
:i70 

:tM(t 
;iKi' 
:tKt 
;iK^ 
:iKK 

.IWI 

:titi' 
liiti 
:i!iii 

4011 
lO'i 

Htr> 

4  III 

III 

415 
4IH 
424 


427 


4211 

i;ii 

411 
44;i 
4  Hi 
4111 

4.-.:i 

I.Vl 
4.V. 

im 
4.-1K 

Hil 
4112 
4li*i 
4116 

Itiil 
471 
471 
47ti 

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I  N  T  R  C)  D  U  C  r  I  O  N 


Tliis  voliinu*  nil  tli«;  Life  IliHtorics  nf  Nurtli  Aiin'iiciin  HinlH,  likt-  flic  one 
prccffliiin',  \f.  ItiiHt'd  on  tlit>  cullcftionH  in  tlir  linitfil  StiitcM  Nntinnal  Mnscuni, 
and  rdiitcs  unly  Ut  land  hirds.  The  ilaHHiticafinn  ;>'ivt'n  in  tin-  Cudr  an<l  ( 'lit-ck 
LiHt  of  tlu'  Aini'ri«wi  ( )niitliuluyists'  Uninn  lian  aj^ain  Immmi  liillowfil,  and  the 
HjHM'ics  an!  siilmpecit'H  liavtt  ItecMi  troat«'d  in  a  niainiiM'  niinilar  to  tliat  adoptt'd 
in  tlu'  earlier  volnnii'. 

Sint'ct  tlu  ])nl>lit'ution  of  tlie  initial  volume  the  oiilo^ieal  colleetion  han 
been  very  materially  iiu-reased.  |)r.  William  L.  l»al|ili,  of  I'tica,  New  York, 
linH,  with  eonunendahhf  liberality,  presente«l  liiH  entire  eolleetion,  mindierin<( 
over  seven  thousand  speeinuMis,  to  the  Smithsiaiian  Institution.  This  eontains 
lieautifuily  jirepared  st-ts  of  the  eff^i's  ot"  many  of  the  rarer  species,  (piite  a 
nund)<'r  of  whicli  have  heretofore  been  unrepresented.  'I'o  this  (dIle<'tion  our 
{funerous  friend  is  eoiistantly  addinjj,  rej^jardless  of  expense. 

iMy  thanks  are  espeeiully  duo  to  Dr.  Italph  and  to  my  numerous  corre- 
spondents whose  names  ujtpear  in  the  body  of  this  vohmu';  by  the  kind 
eo(»peration  of  these  {gentlemen  I  have  been  {greatly  aided  in  th.'  preparation  of 
this  work.  I  am  also  indebted  to  tlm  I'nited  States  Department  of  Ayri(  ulture 
for  the  many  courtesies  extended  throujih  Dr.  ('.  Ilart  Merriaui,  wiio  has  j;iveu 
uie  acj'ess  to  the  collections  and  furnished  me  with  the  results  of  the  investi};;a- 
tiouH  miide  by  this  Department. 

The  ori}>inal  water-coh»r  drawiiiffs  from  which  the  jdates  have  Immmi  repro- 
duced, like  those  of  the  former  volume,  are  the  work  of  Mr.  .lolm  L.  I{iilj>wav, 
of  VVashin;:fton,  District  of  Columbia,  and  of  the  same  standard  of  excellence. 
The  chromo-litlio;»'raphic  reproductions  are  by  the  Ketterlinus  Printiu};'  C'om- 
])any,  of  I'hiladelphia,  Pennsylvania,  and  I  am  pleased  to  be  able  to  say  that 
they  come  up  fully  to  my  expectations.     The  illustrations  are  all  natural  size. 

The  Althok. 


LIFE  HISTOWES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


By  Ciiaiilks  IIknihiir,  Cniifnin  iiwrf  llrn'el  Major,  V.  S.  Army  (retired). 


psrrrAOEous  btkds. 

Family  PSITTACIDJi     I'akkots,  Pakoquets,  ktc. 
I.     Conurus  carolinensis  (I^inn.kus). 

CAROLINA  I'AKOQUET. 

PsitlacKii  caroUtwiisu  LiNNvKt'S,  Bysteiiiii  Xiituni',  ml.  10,  I,  1758, 1(7. 
Conunin  ruroliiieitgis  Lesson,  Traitc  (I'Oniitliolojfic,  ISJJl,  liil. 

(]{  (!5,  C  ;5ir>.  It  3!t2,  0  4(iO,  U  'M-J.) 

Gkoouai'IIICAI.  uange:  Floi'.ida  Mini  tlic  iiidiau  Territory,  siioradiciilly  only;  casually 
aloiifr  the  Ciulf  coast  aud  the  Lowlt  Mississippi  Valley,  north  to  southwestern  .Missouri. 

The  riin<,'o  of  the  Ciiroliiia  Paro(|U('t,  tlic  only  reprcsentativei  in  tlio  I'nited 
Statos  of  tliis  nuincrons  family,  is  yearly  lK'comiiii>-  moro  and  mon^  rcstricti'd, 
and  is  now  mainly  confini'd  to  some  of  tlio  loss  acct'ssihio  portions  of  soutlu-ni 
Florida,  and  to  very  limited  areas  in  tin;  sparsely  settled  sections  of  the  Indian 
Territory,  where  it  is  only  a  ([uestion  of  a  few  years  i)efore  its  total  extermination 
will  lie  accomplished.  Formerly  this  species  had  (piite  an  extensive  distribution 
in  the  United  States,  ran<iin<r  from  Florida,  the  (Julf,  and  the  South  Atlantic 
States  ;:fenerally,  north  to  Maryland,  I'enn.sylvania,  Oiiio,  Indiana,  Illinois  and 
Nebraska,  and  casually  even  to  Micliifran  and  New  Y(U'k,  while  west  it  reached 
to  Texas  and  eastern  Cohu-ath).  It  was  csijeciallv  conunon  tiien  tiu'ou"-hout 
the  entire  Mississippi  Valley  and  the  heavily  timbered  bottom  lands  of  the  larjrer 
tributaries  of  this  stream. 

With  th(!  more  jreneral  settlement  of  the  reffions  inhabite(l  i)y  these  l)irds, 
their  numl)ers  have  firathially  but  steadily  diminishe(i,  and  even  as  earlv  as  iS.'J'i 
Audubon  speaks  of  their  not  beinjy  nearly  as  common  as  formerly.  As  late, 
however,  as  l.SdO  tluiy  were  .still  comparatively  numerous  throuj^hout  the  CJuIf 
States  and  the  ^Mississippi,  Arkan.sas,  and  White  Kiver  valleys;  and  I  well 
remend)er  seeiiiff  lar<ie  flocks  of  the.se  birds  throufrliout  that  year  in  the  vicinity 
of  Fort  Smitli,  Arkansas,  and  near  several  of  the  military  iiosts  in  the  Indian 
lerritorx'. 

KiS'.Hi— No.  ;) 1  J 


LIFE  UISTOIUES  OF  NOllTU  AMEIUOAN  UlliDS. 


m 


At  present  it  is  vory  doubtful  if  the  C'arolina  I'iiroquct  can  be  cousidcrcHl 
a  R'<>ulai'  ivsident  anywhere  exfeptuifjf  the  hx-ahties  ah-cadyiiieiitioiUMl,  and  it 
Ih  rapidly  disappeariufi^  from  these,  especially  the  Indian  Territory.  ()e(ra- 
sionally  a  jiair  are  still  seen  in  southern  Louisiana,  anil  as  late  as  the  fall  of 
181>1  Mr.  Thurnian  S.  Powell  saw  a  couple  at  the  liinehpin  Canipiu'''  (Jrounds, 
Stone  County,  Missouri.  Althouf^h  rather  re.stless  l)irds  at  all  tinu-s,  tliey  can 
ji'enerally  be  considered  as  residents  wherever  found,  rovinjf  altout  from  place 
to  jdace  in  sean-h  of  suitable* feedinjf  grounds,  and  usually  returninj;'  to  tlio 
sauu-  roostini;'  place,  some  large  hollow  tree,  to  winch  they  retire  at  night, 
hooking  or  suspending  themselves  by*  their  jMiwerful  beaks  and  claws  to  the 
inner  rougli  wall  of  the  cavity. 

IVevious  to  the  more  extensive  settlement  of  the  coinitry,  tlieir  food  consis:ed 
of  the  seeds  of  the  cocklebm-(X««^/w'«w.  .slnimtiriiiiii),  tlu-  round  sc^ed  balls  of 
the  sycamore,  those  of  the  cypress,  pecan  and  beech  luits,  tiu;  fruit  of  the 
papaw,  {Asiiiiiiiii  trilohafti),  nudl)eri'ies,  wild  grapes,  and  various  other  wild  berries. 
According  to  Jlr.  J.  F.  Menge,  they  also  feed,  on  the  seeds  extracted  from  ])ine 
cones  and  those  of  the  burgrass,  or  sand  bur  {Cciirhnis  triliidoiilr.s),  one  of  the 
most  noxious  weeds  known.  They  are  also  rather  fond  of  cultivated  fruit,  and 
in  Florida  they  have  actpiired  a  taste  for  both  oranges  and  bananas,  'i'liey  are 
also  partial  to  diflerent  kinds  of  grains  while  in  the  milk.  V.v.  Frank  ]\I.  ( "hapman 
states  that  while  cidlecting  on  the  Sebastian.  River,  Fhu'ida,  In  ]\[arch,  1H!)(),  he 
found  tiiem  feeding  on  the  milky  seeds  of  a  sj)ecies  of  tlii.stle  {Cir.siiiiii  Iccoiifi'i), 
which,  as  far  as  he  could  learn,  constituted  their  entire  food  at  tiiat  season.  He 
says:  "Not  a  patch  of  thistles  did  we  lind  whicii  iiad  not  l)een  visited  by  them, 
the  headless  stalks  siiowing  clearly  where  the  thistles  had  been  neatlj'  si'vered 
by  the  .sharp,  chisel-like  bill,  while  the  ground  beneath  favorite  trees  wi>uld  be 
strewn  with  the  scattered  down.'" 

According  to  the  observations  of  ^Ir.  Augu.st  Koch,  publislicd  in  "Forest 
and  Stream,"  Sejttember  24,  IHDl,  they  also  feed  on  tiie  red  blossoms  of  a  species 
of  maple  {Acer  nthriim).  In  the  vicinity  of  F(U"t  Smith,  Arkansas,  during  tim 
fall  and  winter  of  18(!0-61,  I  frequently  .saw  tlocks  of  the.se  birds  in  usage  orange 
trees,  whicli  attain  a  lai-ge  size  here,  biting  off  tiie  fruit  and  feeding  on  the 
tenck'r  buds;  liei'e  they  were  also  accused  of  doing  considerable  injury  to  Indian 
corn  wiiile  still  in  the  milk,  and  many  were  shot  for  this  reason,  and  there  is  no 
doubt  that  they  do  more  or  less  damage  to  both  fruit  and  grain. 

Although  clumsy -looking  l)irds  on  the  ground,  it  is  astonishing  how  readily 
they  move  al)out  on  the  slenderest  limbs  in  tree^,  freipu-ntly  hanging  head  down, 
like  Crossbills  and  Hedpcdls,  nipj)ing  off  the  seed  bidbs  of  the  sycamores,  etc., 
and  swinging  themselves,  with  the  assistance  of  their  powerful  beaks,  from  the 
extremity  of  one  branch  to  another. 

Their  Hight,  whii'h  is  more  or  less  undulating,  reseml)l('s  both  that  of  the 
l*as.senger  I'igi'on  and  again  that  of  the  Falcons;  it  is  extremely  swift  and 
graceful,  (•nal)ling  them,  even  when  tiying  in  rather  compact  flocks,  to  dart  in 

'  I'roccodiiigH  of  the  Liiinauu  Socict.v,  Now  Vnrk,  I'lir  tUr  year  eiiiliiiK  .Maieli  7,  IH'M. 


THE  CAROLINA  PAKOQUKT. 


and  out  of  tlio  tlonsost  tiinlmr  witli  pt^Hi'ct  ease.  'I'lu'ir  call  udtt-s  an;  slirill  and 
tlisa}rruoal)lo,  a  kind  of  <>;ratinj,s  nu'tallic  shriok,  an<l  tlioy  ari»  I'spocially  uoisy 
wliilo  on  till!  win<>'.  Anionjf  tlm  calls  is  one  rcscnililinj;'  tlic  sln-ill  cry  of  a  jroose, 
wliicli  is  frtMiucntly  uttered  for  minutes  at  a  time.  Formerly  tliey  moved  about 
in  ;i(tod-sized  and  compact  Hocks,  often  nninlu'rinj;;  hundreds,  wliilo  now  it  is  a 
rare  occurreneo  to  see  more  than  twenty  to^i'ther,  more  often  small  companies 
of  from  six  to  twelve.  When  at  rest  in  the  middle  of  the  day  on  some  favorite 
tree  they  sometimes  utter  low  notes,  as  if  talkiuf;-  to  each  other,  liiit  more  often 
thev  remain  entirely  silent,  and  are  then  extnMuely  difhcult  to  discover  as  their 
jdumajie  harmonizes  and  blends  thoroughly  with  the  surrounding-  foliaj^-e. 

They  are  most  active  in  the  early  morninj,''  and  aj^ain  in  tiie  evenin}',  while 
the  hotter  parts  of  the  day  are  spent  in  thick-foliaji'ed  and  shady  trees.  They 
are  partial  to  heavily  timbered  bottom  lands  borderinji'  the  larj^er  streams  and 
the  extensive  cypress  swamps  which  are  such  a  connnon  feature  of  many  of  our 
Southern  States.  Social  birds  as  they  are,  they  are  rarely  seen  alone,  and  if 
one  is  accidentally  wounded,  the  others  liover  around  the  injured  one  until 
sometimes  tho  whole  flock  is  exterminated.  This  devotion  to  one  another  has 
cost  them  <learly,  and  many  thou.sands  have  been  destroyed  in  this  way. 

Mr.  K.  A.  ^Icllheimy  has  kindly  furnished  me  with  tlie  followinj^-  notes  on 
their  habits  as  ob.served  by  him  in  southern  Louisiana,  wheiv  tlm  species  vvan 
still  comparatively  abuiKhnit  a  few  years  a^^o,  hut  lias  now  nearly  disap|)eared: 

"The  ('arolina  PanKjuet  niay  bo  looked  for  in  this  section  al»out  Ajiril  'IF), 
or  when  the  black  imdberries  l)e<fin  to  ripen.  This  fruit  seemed  to  be  their 
favorite  food,  and  in  the  moniin<i-,  from  sunrise  to  about  7  o'clock,  and  in  the 
eveniufi',  from  5  o'clock  to  siULset,  at  which  hours  they  feed,  they  were  to  be 
found  in  the  nudberry  {jfroves.  They  spent  tins  rest  of  the  day  and  roosted  at 
ni^dit  in  the  live-oak  tind)er.  In  tin*  morninji',  just  befortt  suin-ise,  they  mounted 
the  tallest  trets,  conyreffatinfj;  in  small  ))ands,  all  the  while  talkinji'  at  a  fjreat 
rate.  As  the  sun  rises  they  take  tlij-ht  for  the  nearest  mnliierry  <^rove,  where 
they  pai'take  of  their  morninjj  meal  amidst  a  f^reat  amount  of  noise.  After 
they  have  eaten  their  iill  th"y  <;enerally  j>(>  to  tlus  nearest  stream,  where  they 
drink  and  bathe;  they  then  j;o  to  some  dense  oak  timl)er,  wh(;re  they  ])ass  the 
heat  of  the  (hiy.  After  they  <fet  in  the  oaks  they  rarely  utter  a  .sound.  In  the 
afternoon  they  f^o  throu<fh  the  same  performance,  with  the  (exception  of  {jfoinjy 
to  tho  water. 

"'i'he  th<4lit  t)f  the  ('arolina  Parocpiet,  once  seen,  is  never  to  l)e  for;;otten; 
it  is  undulatinj^-,  somewhat  like  tho  wo(»dpecker's,  Itut  very  swift.  While  on 
the  winj;-  they  chatter  and  cry  continually;  this  cry  sounds  lik(t  'cjui,'  with  the 
risinif  inflection  on  the  i;  this  is  repeated  .s«'veral  times,  tho  last  one  bc'inji-  ijrawn 
out  like  '([ui-i-i-i.'  These  l)irds  are  rarely  met  with  in  the  summer,  and  1  do 
not  think  they  nest  here.  They  are  most  plentiful  in  May  and  Septend)er.  In 
the  fidl  they  feed  on  the  fruit  of  the  honey  locust,  and  are  then  more  often  seen 
on  the  ;i-round." 

The  total  extermination  of  the  Carolina  I'anxpujt  is  onlv  a  (piestion  of  a 
few  more  years,  and  the  end  of  the  present  century  will  i)roljal)ly  mark  tiieir 


wrr 


4  IJFK  HISTORIES  OF  NOBTII  AMKIMCAN  HIKDS. 

(lisfippcavaiipo.  (Mvillzatioii  docH  not  aj^rco  with  tlicsc*  liirds,  and  an  tlioy 
ccM'taiiily  do  some  daiiia<^o  to  fruit  in  sectioiiH  whcro  tlu^y  ntill  exist,  notIiiu<r  elso 
tlian  ('oiu])l»'te  aiiniliilatioii  can  bo  looked  for.  Like  tlie  Bison  ami  tiio  Passenger 
Pifreon,  tlieir  days  are  numhere*!. 

Considcriiif,''  liow  common  tliis  l)ird  was  oidy  a  fow  decades  aj^o,  it  is 
astonisliing  how  little  is  really  known  }\l)out  its  nestinj;'  lialiits,  and  it  is  not 
likely  that  we  will  l»e  able  to  learn  nuich  more  about  tliem.  The  fjeneral 
su])|)osition  is  that  they  breed  in  hollow  trees,  such  as  cypress,  oak,  and  sycamore, 
and  that  they  nest  rather  early  in  the  season,  while*  others  tliink  tlie\'  nest  rather 
late.  There  are  two  e<;<js  in  the  United  States  National  Museum  collection,  No. 
1770!!,  in  rather  poor  condition,  which  aro  entered  as  having-  Ikcu  taken  in 
St.  Mary's  Parish,  Louisiana,  March,  1878.  I  have  endeavored  to  obtain 
s(»me  further  j)articulars  about  them,  but  have  been  misucce.ssful.  One  e;i<r  laid 
in  captivity  by  a  bird  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  K.  Kidjiway  was  dejxisited  in 
Auffust,  1877,  and  another  in  July,  1878,  and  one  in  September,  1883.  There 
are  also  a  couple  of  e<r<js  in  tiie  collection  of  the  American  Museum  of  Natural 
History,  New  York  City,  collected  by  the  late  Dr.  S.  W.  Wilson,  of  (ieor}>ia, 
which  I  believo  are  {genuine;  these  aro  said  to  have  been  taken  on  Ai)ril  2(>, 
18.5.'),  from  a  hollow  tree,  the  e<^gs  being'  deposited  on  a  few  chips  in  the  cavity  ; 
the  exact  locality  where  they  were  obtained  is  not  <,''i\i"n,  but  tiie  collection 
was  chiefly  made  on  St.  Simon  Island  and  in  Wayne  and  Mclnto.sh  counties, 
Georgia. 

Mr.  William  lirewster,  of  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  (n-er  alert  to  obtain 
new  information  about  the  habits  of  our  birds,  while  on  a  visit  to  Florida  elicited 
the  following,  published  by  him  in  "The  Auk"  (Vol.  VI,  1H81»,  pp.  SiUi,  337), 
which  is  well  worth  inserting  here.  Ho  says:  "  Whih;  in  Florida,  din-ing  Febru- 
ary and  March,  188!),  1  (piestioned  evervbody  whom  I  met  regarding  the  nesting 
of  tlie  Parrakeet.  Only  three  peiwtns  professed  any  knowledge  on  this  sul>ject. 
The  tirst  two  were  both  uneducated  men,  })rofessional  hiuiters  of  alligators 
and  plume  birds.  Each  of  them  claimed  to  have  seen  Parrakeets'  nests,  which 
they  described  as  Himsy  structures  built  of  twigs  and  placed  on  the  brauclms  of 
cypress  trees.  One  of  them  .said  he  found  a  nest  only  the  previous  sunnner 
(1888),  while  iishing.  liy  means  of  his  pole  he  tip})ed  the  nest  over  and  secured 
two  voung  birds  which  it  contained.  This  account  was  so  widely  at  variance 
witii  what  has  been  i)reviously  recorded  regarding  the  manner  of  nesting  of  tliis 
species  that  I  considered  it  at  the  time  as  a  men;  fal)rication,  but  afterwards 
it  was  unexpectedly  and  most  strongly  corroborated  \>y  Judge  U.  h.  Long,  of 
Tallahassee.  Tiie  latter  gentleman,  who,  by  the  way,  has  a  very  good  general 
knowledge  of  the  birds  of  our  Northern  States,  assured  me  that  he  had  examined 
many  nests  of  the  Parrakeet  built  jn-ecisely  as  above desciilx'd.  Formerly,  when 
tlie  birds  were  altundant  in  the  surnmnding  region,  he  used  to  lind  them  breed- 
ing in  large  coltinies  in  the  cypress  swamps.  Sevc^ral  of  these*  colonies  contained 
at  least  a  thousand  birds  each.  They  nested  invarial)ly  in  small  cypress  trees, 
tho  favorite  position  being  on  a  fork  near  the  end  of  a  slender  horizontal  branch. 


THE  OAUOLTNA  rAROQUET. 


"Kvorv  siicli  fitik  woiiM  be  occupied,  and  lie  lias  soon  iis  many  as  forty 
or  fifty  nests  in  one  small  tree.  Tlioir  nests  (rlosely  reseniMcd  those  of  the 
Carolina  Dove,  l)ein<;-  similarly  composed  of  cypress  twif^s  put  toyctlier  so  loosely 
that  the  e^j^s  were  often  visible  from  the  {ground  beneath.  The  twij^s  of  the 
cypresH  seemed  to  be  preferred  to  those  of  any  other  kinil  of  tree.  The  iiei;,dit 
at  which  the  nests  were  jilaced  varied  from  5  or  6  feet  to  20  or  30  feet.  Mi'. 
lion;;-  (h'scribed  tin;  ei^iz's  as  bein<>:  of  a  <freeni.sh-white  coh>r,  unspotted,  lie  diil 
not  remember  the  maxinnnn  nun\ber  which  he  had  tbund  in  one  set,  but  thou;iht 
it  was  at  least  four  or  \\\i^.  lie  had  often  taken  younj,''  birds  from  the  nests  to 
rear  or  to  ^ive  to  his  frientla.  He  knew  of  a  small  colony  of  Parrakeets  breed- 
in;;-  in  Waukulla  Swani]»,  about  20  miles  from  Tallaha.ssee,  in  the  sunnner  of 
iSSfi,  and  believes  that  they  still  occur  there  in  moderate  numbers. 

"It  .seems  dilVicuU  to  reconcile  such  te.stimony  with  the  statements  of  Audu- 
bon, Wilson,  and  otliers  that  the  Carolina  I'arrakeet  lays  its  e<f<;s  in  hollow  tree.s. 
It  mav  l>e,  however,  that,  like  the  Crow  Blackbird,  and  some  of  the  Owls,  this 
Parrot  ne.sts  both  in  holes  and  on  branches,  accordiuj^  to  circumstances;  at  all 
evi'uts  the  above  account  has  seemed  to  mo  to  rest  on  evidence  sufHciently  {"ood 
to  warrant  its  publication." 

It  is  (|uite  possible  that  the  Carolina  Paroquet,  from  its  exceediufjlj-  social 
nature,  was  comijelled  where  very  numerous  to  resort  to  open  nestinj;-  sites  from 
neces.sitv,  as  siiital)le  cavities  are  rarely  found  in  surticient  (piantities  dose  to  each 
other  to  accommodate  any  considerable  mnnber  of  ))airs.  We  find  this  to  l)e  the 
cfxse  with  I{<illi()rhi/)irhus  moiiticliits  ]{oddiirt,  tha  Green  Parotpiet  of  Paraj^uay, 
Uruj^iiav,  and  tlui  Arjjentine  Republic,  which  suspends  its  nests  from  tlu;  extremi- 
ties of  branches,  to  which  they  iire  firmly  woven.  Mr.  Gibson  descrilx's  their 
nests  as  follows:  "New  nests  ccmsist  of  only  two  clunnbers,  the  porch  and  the 
nest  pro|)er,  and  an^  inhabitetl  by  a  single  pair  of  birds.  Successive  nests  are 
added  until  some  of  them  come  to  wei;;h  a  (piarterof  a  ton,  and  contain  material 
enouj;li  to  fill  a  lar;i'e  cart.  'IMiorny  twi<>s  firndy  interwoven  form  the  <iidy  mate- 
rial, and  there  is  no  lining-  in  the  breedin<if  chand)er  even  in  the  breedinjf  season. 
Some  old  forest  trees  have  seven  or  ei<;'ht  of  these  hufi'e  structures  suspended 
from  the  branches,  while  the  }>round  underneath  is  covered  with  twiji's  and 
remains  of  fallen  rocks.'" 

Another  species  the  Pata^onian  Parrot,  Coiiurus  pntaffOHUn  (Vieillot),  found 
in  the  Ar<fentine  Kepuldic,  and  in  Patajronia,  excavates  its  nest  in  perpendicular 
banks,  like  i>ur  Kinji'tisher;  while  the  Gnmnd  I'arrakeet,  J'r^oporits  /ormosit.s 
Latham),  of  Australia  nests  in  tall  "(rass. 

Although  nearly  all  the  species  of  this  nximerous  family  nest  in  hollow  trees, 
as  stated  above,  theni  are  exceiitions  tr.  this  rule,  and  it  is  (piite  probable  that 
some  of  (un*  Carolina  Parocpiets  nested  at  times  in  Fh»rida  as  ,Iu(l}>e  R.  L.  Loufi' 
described,  and  a<>ain  both  in  conununities  in  large  hollow  tree.s  and  singly,  as 
Alexaniler  Wilsou  states,  all  of  these  difi'erent  assertions  bein;^  prol»ably  correct. 
We  have  no  ])ositive  information  about  the  number  of  e<><«s  laid  by  this 
species  in  a  wild  state. 

>  Arcoutiiio  Oruitliulud;},  Vul.  II,  1889,  pp.  43-40. 


w 


iClL; 


I 


11 


6 


LIFK  IIISTOUIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


Dr.  Karl  Iluss,  ot"  Hcrliii,  (Jcrnmiiy,  in  liis  iiitcrostiiifif  iirt'u'lc  on  tl'iis  spocics 
in  his  work  on  "Die  Fninidliindisclion  8tnl»i'nv((<rol,  Dio  l*!ipnji«'i('n"  (Vol.  Ill, 
1H7!),  pp.  22l-*23(J),  nKsntions  sovc'iil  in.stun<'(',s  of  the  Carolina  Parocpiets  bniotl- 
inj;  in  captivity  in  (Hcrinany,  wluiro  tlie  i'<^{js  were  deposited  in  .June  and  .Inly, 
two  beinj;:  tlie  nnnii)er  laid;  l>ut  in  his  "Ilandhncli  fiir  Vil^^-elliebhaber,"  lie  f>ives 
the  nnniber  from  tl'ice  to  live,  and  he  describes  these  as  pnre  wiiite,  fine  }>rained, 
very  ronnd,  and  qnite  ;^lossy,  like  Woodpeckers'  oj^jis,  iueasuriu<!'  38  by  3<) 
millimetres,  or  ai)ont  l..">0  )»y  1.4"J  inches. 

^Ir.  Robert  l{id<i\vay's  l)irds  would  not  use  the  ne.stinj>-  boxes  provided  for 
them,  and  l)oth  females  deposited  their  e}r;;s  on  the  floor  of  the  caj^e;  they  were 
laid  in  .luly,  Aufiust,  and  September,  respectively.  None  of  these  ej!f<is  can  be 
called  rountl;  they  vary  from  ovate  to  short  ovate,  and  are  rather  i»ointed.  They 
are  white,  with  the  faintest  yellowish  tint,  ivory-like  and  cpiite  <;lossy,  the  shell 
is  rather  thick,  close  fjfrained,  and  deeply  i)itted,  not  ludike  the  effjjfs  of  the 
African  Ostrich  (Stnitliio  cdmclits),  but  of  course  not  as  noticeable,  lloldiufj-  the 
eg<f  in  a  strong  light,  the  inside  appears  to  be  i)ale  yellow. 

These  eggs  measure  36.32  by  2(;.!»2,  34.r)4  by  27.18,  an<l  33.27  by  20.92 
millimetres,  or  1.43  by  LOG,  i.3«  by  1.07,  and  1.31  by  1.0(5  inches. 

The  deep  pitting  is  noticeable  in  e\ery  specimen,  and  there  can  be  no 
possilde  (h)ul)t  about  the  identity  of  these  eggs.  Tiie  other  eggs  in  the  collection 
about  whose  prctper  identification  I  um  not  so  certain,  and  whose  measurement.'^ 
I  therefore  do  not  give,  have  a  nmcli  thinner  shell,  and  do  not  show  the  peculiar 
pitting  already  referred  to.  Hiere  is  no  diflicnlty  whatever  in  distinguishing 
thes(^  eggs  from  those  of  the  llurrowing  Uwl  or  the  Ivingfisher,  both  of  which 
are  occasionally  'iil)stitnted  for  them. 

The  ty]»e  s])ecimen,  No.  20784  (PI.  1,  Fig.  1),  was  laid  in  confinement  on 
July  1!),  1<S78,  and  is  the  smallest  of  the  tin-ee  eggs  whose  measurements  are 
given  above. 


Family  CUCULID.lv     The  Cuckoos,  Anis,  ktc. 
2.     Crotophaga  ani  LixXiKUs. 

niK  AM. 

Crotophaga  atii  Linnaeus,  Systcma  Naturn".  oil.  10,  I,  175.S,  Ki.'i.    Type  ('.  idh  Linnauis. 
(0  iitiXu,  C  USH,  R  389,  C  425,  V  (:\S:i).) 

(rEOORArnicAi.  liANOK:  W'osit  India  I.slaiuls  and  iiortlicrii  Soutli  Aiiiprioa,  east  of 
tlie  Andes;  soutli  to  nortliorn  Argentina;  (ULsually  nortli  tu  tlic  soulliern  (°nitc<l  8tatcs, 
Florida  and  Louisiiiiui. 

The  Ani,  also  called  Black  Ani,  Black  Witch,  lUacklard,  Savaiuia  lUackbird, 
and  Tickbird,  can  only  be  considered  as  a  straggler  within  the  borders  of  the 
southern  Unite<l  States.  It  is  a  conunon  resident  species  in  the  West  India 
Islands  and  in  northern  So.ith  America  east  of  the  Andes  ]\lountains,  and 
reaches  the  southern  limits  of  its  range  in  northern  Argentina.    There  are  two 


THE  ANI. 


s|i('ciiiuiis  in  tlic  rnih'd  States  Natiuiuil  Musouiii  collection,  taken  within  the 
limits  (if  the  I'nited  States — one  tVctni  the  Dry  Tortiif^as  by  Mr.  .F.  Wiinlenian, 
on  .lune  24,  IHoT;  the  other  l»y  Mr.  (r.  A.  lioanlnian,  tVoin  Cliarlotte  Harbor, 
Florida. 

A  small  tlock  of  five  of  these  birds  was  seen  in  July,  1H!»3,  at  IHaniond, 
Louisiana,  opposite  Point  la  Hache,  and  one  of  these  was  shot.  'I'his  is  now  iu 
the  possession  of  Mr.  (iieor<^'e  K.  Heyer,  who  considers  the  Ani  a  rej^ular  sunnner 
resident  in  that  locality. 

The  Ani  is  most  commonly  found  at  altitudes  below  1,000  feet  and  rarely 
above  ;{,0()0.  One  of  its  i)rin(ipal  call  notes,  according'  to  Mr.  John  S.  Northrop, 
who  o)(serve(l  tiiis  species  on  Andros  Island,  one  of  the  IJahamas,  is  "wee-eep," 
tlie  second  s\  llal)le  uttered  in  a  nnu-h  hi<;her  key  than  the  first;  aiiothercomnutn 
call  sounds  likes  "(pie-yu."  Wlu^n  perched  on  trees  tliey  are  said  to  sit  very 
ido.se  toj^ether  in  rows,  and  being  goud-natured  .sociial  birds,  they  are  rarely 
seen  alone. 

The  most  complete  account  of  the  general  habits  of  the  Ani  is  that  of  Mr. 
Charles  H.Taylor,  Kae  Town,  Kingston,  Jamaica,  iu  "The  Auk"  (\'ol.  IX,  18!I2, 
pj).  .'5(;'.l-;571). 

"The  Ani  ai)]iears  to  be  ulmndant  in  all  parts  of  the  island.  It  is  one  of 
the  commonest  liirds  near  Kingston,  and  in  most  open  or  sparsely  wooded  lauds 
or  ill  the  vicinity  of  cultivated  clearings  little  groups  or  companies  may  nearly 
always  he  seen.  Hlackbirds  are  invariably  present  wherever  cattle  are  pastured. 
I  can  not  recollect  an  instance  in  which  I  have  noted  a  herd  of  cows  at  jiasture 
without  a  Hock  of  these  birds  a|)pearing  in  company  with  them  or  in  their 
immediate  vicinity.  Tiiis  association  is,  doubtless,  chiefly  foi-  the  j)urpose  of 
feeding  on  the  ticks  and  tither  parasites  on  the  animals,  a  good  work  largely 
shared  liy  the  (Jrackles  (^(JitisialKs  cnis.sirosfris).  It  is  most  interesting  to  watch 
a  comjiany  of  Hlackl)irds  when  thus  engaged.  Many  are  jierchi'd  on  the  backs 
of  the  cattle  (two  or  three  .sometimes  on  one  cow);  others  are  on  the  ground, 
hopping  about  fearksssly  among  the  grazing  herd,  .searching  for  insects  at  the 
roots  of  the  herl)age,  <ir  capturing  those  <listurbed  by  the  feet  of  the  cattle.  At 
this  time  one  or  more  Iu<livid'.ials  are  stationed  on  some  tree  close  b\',  from 
which  ihey  now  and  again  call  t<i  those  in  the  oj)eu  with  that  remarkable  ci-y, 
variously  syllalticated  by  some,  but  which  1  have  at  times  thought  strangely 
like  tile  wailing  of  a  young  cat.  Insects  of  all  orders  and  their  larvic,  ticks, 
grnlis,  etc.,  form  their  chief  food.  Occasionally,  perhaps,  a  few  small  lizards 
are  taken,  and,  I  believe,  the  eggs  of  other  birds,  as  I  once  fomid  in  the  stomach 
of  a  female  portions  of  an  egg,  apparently  that  tif  some  siiiiill  bird,  (iosscs 
records  having  sih-u  these  birds  eating  the  rijie  berries  of  the  fiddles  wood,  l)ut  I 
haM-  not  noticed  tiieiu  at  any  time  eating  vegetable  food. 

"The  Hlackbirds  at  their  be.st  have  a  very  lean  and  shabby  appearaiu'c,  and 
are  slow  and  awkward  in  their  niovenusiits.  I  haves  watched  an  individual  makes 
se-ve-ral  iiiefVe'e-tiial  atte-mpts  to  alight  on  the  fronel  of  a  coe-oanut  palm;  lint  e-ve'ii 
among  tiw  Itranclies  of  other  tre-e's  tlu'ir  actie)ns  appear  awkwarel.     Their  flight 


LIFK  IIISTOKIKH  ()P  NORTH  AMKKK'AN  llUtDS. 


in  slow  and  {flidinji'i  somewhat  liilMtrwl,  juul  of  littlr  iliinition,  tlio  l)inls  ofton 
iippcariii^r  to  fall  short  of  the  point  ori<iiiially  aimed  at.  Yet  they  will  chase  tho 
lar^fe  vi'liow  Imtterliies,  and  I  was  shown  a  hir^e  ;;reen  locnst  that  one  of  tlieso 
hirds  was  seen  to  rajitiM'e  in  lli^lit  and  ath-rwards  dropt  in  the  jirof^ross  of  a 
tloek  from  place  to  plac(!  they  do  not  nsnally  tiy  all  to<iether,  Imt  move  away  in 
stra<ff>lin^  "Troiips  or  couples.  One  or  more  individnals  (irst  start  off  with  their 
wailinji' call,  tollowed  soon  after  by  two  or  three;  after  a  little  delay,  then  two 
mortf  fro;  another  jtanse,  then  one,  tlion  three,  and  so  on.  If  a  tree  lias  very 
dense  foliaj^'e,  they  ali;;ht  (with  nnich  awkward  scrandilinff)  on  the  tojjs  or 
extremities  of  the  hijihest  Itranches,  where  they  may  j^ain  a  clear  and  iniintei'- 
rni>t«'d  view,  ami  this  is  usually  the  case  when  they  are  traversinj;-  very  open 
country. 

"Their  nestinji'  hal)its  are  ((xceedinj-ly  curious  and  intercstinj;.  Many  indi- 
viduals (possild)-  mendx'rs  of  oiu*  tlock)  work  to}>ether  in  the  construction  of  a 
lar}|;e  nest,  in  which  all  the  females  of  the  company  lay  their  eg<rs.  Tlu^  mnnlier 
of  ojfifs  deposited  in  dilferent  nests  varies  <>reatly,  hut  is  of  course  dejtendent  on 
the  nund)er  of  hirds  in  a  company.  Six  and  ei/^ht  cff^s  an*  couunoidy  found. 
I  once  took  eleven,  and  in  Au;;'ust,  last  year,  I  saw  a  (dutch  of  twenty-one  that 
liad  been  taken  from  a  sin<jle  nest.  It  is  probable  that  normally  not  more  than 
two  ejjj^s  are  deposited  by  each  bird,  but  nothin;;'  detinite  can  be  said  on  this 
point.  'I'he  nest,  which  is  usually  placetl  hi^h  up  in  a  tall  tree,  very  frerjuently 
in  a  clump  of  mistletoe  on  a  'liastard  cedar,'  is  a  larfye,  loosely  constructed  mass 
of  twi;^s,  entircdy  lined  with  dried  leaves.  Hut  the  most  remarkable  circum- 
stance in  connection  with  the  nesting  of  these  birds  is  the  deposition  of  the  e<(<fs 
in  re<yular  layers,  with  leaves  between.  This  custom  1  had  lon<r  heard  of  before 
an  opportunity  offered  for  jiersonal  observation.  In  the  first  nest  I  examined 
the  e<i;i-s  were  in  two  distinct  layers,  sojjarated  by  a  <leep  bed  of  dry  leaves;  the 
bottom  layer  consisted  of  four  e<jfg's,  and  these,  stran<^(!  to  say,  were  all  infertile. 
I  believe  this  sinjjular  habit  is  practiced  in  all  cases  where  a  larf^e  nundier  of 
birds  I'esort  to  tiie  same  nest.  The  e<j^<;s  are  a  deep  bluish  green,  but  when 
freshly  laid  are  covered  with  a  white,  chalky  coat,  which  soon  becomes  nnich 
scratched  and  erased  on  all.  Now,  what  seems  very  singular  is  that  (;ompara- 
tively  little  of  this  chalky  covering  gets  rubbed  off  the  sides,  where,  from  the 
turning  over  of  the  eggs  in  the  nest,  we  should  expect  to  see  the  greatest  extent 
of  <lenudation,  whereas  one  or  both  ends  are  nearly  always  wholly  demided. 
That  this  circnmstatice  is  not  merely  accidental  I  feel  sure,  as  in  a  large  series  of 
clutches  that  I  have  examined  mori*  than  two-thirds  of  the  niu»d)er  of  eggs  show 
this  peculiarity.  So  «leanly  antl  evenly  is  it  done,  and  to  such  an  extent,  that  1 
feel  confident  that  it  is  the  work  of  the  birds  themselves,  their  beaks  alone  being- 
able  to  accomplish  it.  At  the  same  time  it  is  easy  to  see  that  the  marks  and 
scratches  at  the  sides  are  the  result  of  friction  with  the  twigs  and  leaves  of  the 
nest.  Average  measurements  of  the  eggs  are  1.33  by  l.'IO  hwhcA.  I  have  found 
eggs  and  }'<>ung  in  February  and  tlu'oughout  the  succeeding  months  to  August, 
twi»  < >r  three  1  a< lods  probabl.)'  being  reared.    I  have  also  seen  young,  fully  fledged, 


TRE  ANl. 


9 


but  uniihln  to  fly,  lio|)])iii};  nbout  tlu*  hrimclios  of  tlio  iicstinj,'  tree;  iiiid  on  anotluT 
<)cciiHion,  Honio,  more  lulvaiicod,  soiirchiii},''  for  insects  in  the  <;rn8H  iit  the  rootn  of 
u  hn'j,'o  H'uanfjfo  tree,  in  company  with  many  ohi  l)ir(ls." 

'I'ho  effffs  of  tlio  Ani  art*  j,Hancoii«-l»hie  in  coha-,  and  this  is  overlaid  and 
liidden  hy  a  thin,  chalky,  white  deposit;  as  incnhation  arlvancos  the  eff^fs  hecome 
more  or  less  scratched  and  the  hlne  nnderneatli  is  then  plaiidy  visilile  in  places, 
jrivinjf  them  a  very  jiecnliar  appearance.  In  shape  they  vary  from  oval  to 
elliptical  oval;    the  shell  is  fine  j^rained,  rather  stron;;-,  and  witliont  Inster. 

The  average  measin-ement  of  forty  e;jifs  in  the  Tniti-d  States  National 
Mnsenni  collection,  mostly  from  the  West  Indies,  is  ;54.G(!  l»y  '2i>  millimetres,  or 
aliont  IM  by  1.02  inches.  The  lar;re.-<t  v<i:>i  <»f  t^'o  series  nieasnres  li\).(i'2  by 
2(;.67  millimetres,  or  IM  by  1.05  indies;  the  smallest,  2l).21  by  2;{.;{7  millimetres, 
or  l.lf)  by  0.JI2  inches. 

The  type  s])echnen.  No,  (J048  (I'l.  I,  Fifj;.  6),  from  a  nest  containin<(  seven 
efrjifs,  was  tukeu  bv  Mr.  W.  T.  March,  near  Spanish  Town,  Jamaica,  on  .July  30. 
1862. 

3.     Crotophaga  sulcirostris  Swaixson. 


UUOOVK-UILLKl)  ANl. 
Crotophaga  milcirogtrin  SWAINSON,  Tliilosopliiciil  MaRnzinc,  I,  ISL'7,  1 10. 

(15  _,  (J  _,  u ;«»(),  V.  iL'ti,  r  ;{,S4.) 

(tEoobapiiical  ifAN(iK:  Along  tlu*  wi'steni  slopes  of  tliti  Aii(lc.'»,  in  South  America, 
to  the  racilic  coast;  from  I'enuiortli  throa};li  Cunlriil  Aiiiprica  on  both  coasts,  ani)  fliroagli 
Mexico  to  tlio  lowei  IJio  Gniiidc  Valley  in  Texas,  anrl  soutliern  l^owcr  <'alifornia.  (Casual 
in  tlic  United  iStates  in  southern  Florida,  suuthein  Louisiana,  southern  Aii/caia,  and 
California. 

The  breedinpf  ran<?e  of  the  Groove-billed  Ani  or  .Tewbird  within  th(>  United 
States  is  a  very  limited  one  and  appears  tob(!  conlined  to  the  Lower  Ivio  CJrande 
Valley  in  Texas,  where  it  was  first  discovered  near  l^omitu  by  Mr.  Georj^e  15. 
Sennett,  on  May  If),  1878,  and  added  by  him  to  our  fauna.  Sinc(i  then  it  has 
been  found  breeding?  in  snudl  numbers  in  chapaiTal  in  the  vicinity  of  Hrowns- 
ville,  and  its  nest  and  three  seta  of  egfys  were  taken  there  and  are  now  in  the 
Ralph  collection  in  the  United  States  National  Museum. 

It  straji'f'les  ficcasionally  alonj"-  tlie  Gulf  coast  to  soutlu'ni  Ijonisiana.  Mr. 
p].  A.  ]\lcllhenny  shot  one  of  these  )»irds  on  Avery's  Island  on  Aujiust  2.'5,  18!)1, 
which  is  now  in  his  collection,  and  it  has  also  been  taken  in  Florida.  It  is  a 
conmion  resident  in  suitable  localities  throuj^hout  the  jrreatcr  i)art  of  Mexico, 
the  southern  parts  of  Lower  California,  the  whole  of  Central  Anu'riea,  alonjy 
both  coasts,  and  those  portions  of  South  America  situated  on  the  western  sloj)es 
of  the  Andes  south  to  Peru.  It  is  a  bird  of  the  lowlanils,  bein<>'  rarely  met  with 
at  altitudes  over  700  feet,  and  it  is  f^eiu'rally  resident  wherever  found. 

Prof.  A.  L.  Ilerrara,  of  the  Natidiial  Museum  of  the  (Jity  of  Mexico,  has 
kindly  fimiished  mo  with  the  followiny  notes: 


m 


10 


LI  IK  IlKSTOIflKS  OK  NOKTII  AMEUICAN  UIKDS. 


^'('rntophdfia  snkirostris  is  known  Id  the  inhal)itantH  lion^  iis  the  I'ljoii  iind 
(hirropittini.  It  is  a  social  Itird,  bci'i^'  usually  t'oiiiid  in  small  »oiii|iaiiics  of  fVnm 
six  to  lil'tfcii  individuals,  ahsoliitcly  nmnojianious,  scdt  iiiarv,  aiul  of  st'iiiiiloincs- 
ticatcMl  liahits,  tiviiiicntiufi-  tlic  liacicndaH  and  tlic  iii'Ids  and  imHtuics  in  their 
vicinity,  and  as  it  is  considered  vei  \  nsel'nl  liecause  of  its  lial)it  of  destroying;' 
larji'e  nnnd)ei's  of  parasites  infestin;;-  the  cattle,  it  is  not  molested  \>\  the  inhabi- 
tants, and  becomes  very  tame.  It  extracts  the  l.niiirs  and  other  Araridaiis  with 
remarkable  skill,  withont  cansinff  ulcerations  which  nii<i;ht  result  fnan  the  pro- 
l)oscis  or  sucker  remainin^f  in  the  lii)ers  of  the  skin,  and  it  must  be  rej;arded  as 
one  of  tlu^  most  useful  itirds  oi'  Mt-xico,  esjiecially  of  the  warm  re;;ions,  so 
aboundin;>-  in  parasites  of  all  kinds.  It  is  noteworthy  that  all  the  ('iofoi>fi(iff(C  I 
have  collected  were  remarkably  lean,  which  the  natives  assert  is  their  normal 
condition;  and  without  exception  the  Ciandpalctu  is  found  in  all  the  warmer 
parts  of  Mexico  where  there  are  cattle." 

Mr.  ]•].  Kirby  Smith,  of  dataplan,  Vera  Crnz,  Mexico,  writes  me  that  the 
rJroove-billed  Ani  is  locally  known  there  as  the  ('hiciii/a,  usually  iidiabitiiifjf 
the  thick  chaparral  and  utterinji',  almost  constantly,  a  peculiar  crackinj^'  .sound 
Ho  has  found  their  nests  in  l>rusli  thickets,  usually  not  more  than  (I  feet  from 
the  ;j;round — rather  loose  structures,  resenddiu},''  the  nests  of  the  (.ardinal 
(CariliiKtlis  (■(inliiHilis'),  but  lar<;'er,  and  has  observed  as  man}'  as  tifteen  e;;';i-s 
in  a  nest. 

Mr.  Charles  W.  Hichmond  has  kindly  furnished  me  with  the  followin<j 
notes  on  tlu;  general  habits  of  this  species  as  observed  by  him  in  the  vicinity  of 
Hluelields,  Nicaraj;iia: 

"A  very  abundai.t  resident.  It  .appears  to  l)reed  at  varions  times  during 
the  year,  as  1  have  found  fre^h  e<>gs  July  (!,  18!)2,  and  younj;'  birds,  recently  from 
the  nest,  November  21),  the  breeding-  season  spreading  over  seven  months  of  the 
year  at  least,  as  it  begins  nesting  earlier  than  the  date  of  taking  my  first  egg.-t. 
Ne.sts  are  frecpiently  built  in  the  heart  of  a  thick,  thoi-ny  orang(*  or  lemon  tree, 
and  this  appears  to  b(^  a  favtn'ite  situation.  In  this  case  the  nest  is  from  4  to  7 
feet  from  the  ground,  and,  besMes  being  difhcult  to  get  at,  is  sonu'what  protected 
from  invasion  by  tlu^  wasps  which  almost  invariably  take  up  their  abode  in  the 
same  tree.  In  going  through  a  small  lemon  grove  I  found  an  old  nest  of  this 
s])ecies.  In  the  cavity  there  were  no  eggs,  but  on  ))(»king  the  nest  to  pieces  six 
badly  decayed  (*ggs  rolled  out. 

"One  nest  containing  three  eggs  in  the  proper  place  and  two  others  at  the 
bottom,  nnder  the  lining  of  green  leaves,  was  located  in  a  bamboo  al)out  12  feet 
from  the  ground.  The  eggs  were  fresh,  an<l  more  would  probably  have  been 
deposited;  tin*  leaves  forming  the  lining  were  .still  green.  TIk^  parent  birds 
w»!re  away  at  tint  time.  iVnoth'.T  nest  was  sitnated  in  .some  vines  which  hail 
overrun  an  old  tree  stub,  and  was  about  lo  I'eet  from  the  ground. 

"It  may  be  that  where  numerous  eggs  are  deposited  in  one  ne.st  only  those 
eggs  that  are  deposited  in  the  jnoper  place  and  directly  iuHuenced  l)y  the 
incul)ating  bird  are  hatche(l,  while  those  placed  among  the  sticks  forming  the 


TIIR  (HIOOVK  lUMiHI)  ANI, 


11 


hiilky  oxtcrior  iin»  left  iiiiliatciind.  It  woiiM  In-  iiitcM'cHtiiif,'  to  wiitcli  tlif  pro}ji"<'xs 
of  ii  Iiir;,'c  iit'stt'iil  of  i'ii<xx  hikI  nottt  results.  'I'lic  iicstn  fouml  'ty  iim*  were  all 
(•oiiii»os('(l  ol'  ticad  lilack  twi^rs,  rather  loosely  put  together,  very  bulky  ami 
(touspicuous  structures,  lined  with  ^ireeii  leaves,  or,  if  old  nests,  with  leaves  that 
hail  tho  appearance  of  haviu},''  hecn  pieked  j;Teeii.  <  »n  one  occasion  1  saw  a 
bird,  with  nestinj''  material  in  its  liill,  takin;^-  short  tliji'lits  from  one  hamlioo  to 
another,  followed  l»y  sevc^ral  other  oir<ls  co:nposin>;'  the  (ompany,  l>nt  none  of 
tlu'se  latter  had  nestinj;  material  with  tlmm. 

"At  Mr.  Havmond's  plantation,  on  the  Kscondido  IJiver,  altove  IMuefields, 
this  s|)ecies  was  unusually  plentiful,  owin^f,  no  doubt,  to  a  lar;;(t  innnher  of  cattlo 
kept  there.  Tim  birds  follow  thoso  animals  as  they  meander  ovt  r  tho  jtastures, 
hoppinj;  alon;^  on  each  side  of  an  aninuU,  catchin<.>-  ;,'rassli(>pperrt  and  other  insects 
which  the  cow  <listurl)s  as  it  movos  iilon;,'.  frequently  tho  cow  moves  too 
rapidly  and  the  birds  lii<f  behind,  when  they  inakt*  short  Hij;hts  to  the  front 
iinfaiti,  passint^  ovor  ono  another  after  tho  niauuer  of  th(»  (rrackles  when  fcedinfj^ 
in  a  fii'ld.  Only  half  a  dozen  birds  or  ho  follow  ii  »ri  \v  usually,  and  not  many 
c( injjrof^ate  in  ono  flock,  oxcc^pt  when  roostiu;,''.  On  this  plantation,  wherci  tho 
sp«H■i(^s  is  more  abundant  than  usual,  tlii>  birds  appear  to  roost  iu  numl)er.s.  An 
oranyo  tree  near  tho  Ikuiso  was  a  favorite  plact^  where  thirty  or  forty  birds  camo 
to  jiass  the  nif^lit,  tlyin<f  in  from  the  surroimdiiiji'  pasture  about  dusk,  and  after 
afew  short  tlij;hts  from  onetreo  to  another,  passed  into  the  roost  outf  or  two  at  a 
time,  hojipiii}''  about  na  if  seekinf;'  a  favorable  perch,  utterinj;'  their  ])et;uliar  nolo 
meanwhile.  ( )ut  of  this  roost  I  shot  seventeen  bii'ds  one  evening',  and  the  males 
greatly  j)redominated;  there  wen*  only  live  females  in  tho  lot.  'I'he  note  of 
this  spcH'ies  rominils  ono  soinewhat  of  tlu*  Flicker,  dnlitjilrs  iiitnitiis,  but  may 
bo  bettor  roi)r(fsouted  by  tho  combination  'plee-co,'  rapidly  repeated,  with  tho 
accent  usually  on  tho  first  syllable,  but  sometimes  on  the  last.  I  ha\i'  treipionth' 
found  ono  of  tho  small  Hocks  restinjf  on  a  bush  or  bamboo  alon;;'  the  water's 
odf^o,  ])orfoctly  silent,  imtil  my  near  approach  started  them  oil",  ono  or  two  at  a 
time,  scoldin<f  as  tlu!y  wont.  Thoir  flij^ht  is  i  ven,  slow,  as  .short  as  possibh-,  and 
consists  of  a  few  flaps  of  the  win<fs,  followe(l  by  a  short  sail,  then  a  few  more 
lla]>s,  etc. 

"The  food  of  thoso  exan\inod  by  jne  on  bauiuia  ])lantatioiis  consisted  almost 
entirely  of  small  ^grasshoppers,  the  stomachs  beinj;'  much  distended  with  thes(> 
insects.  From  the  fresh  earth  found  on  flu*  bill  and  feet  of  thoso  birds,  I  should 
judye  they  also  feed  on  the  ground,  'i'ho  Crotojihdf/d  is  jirefrariinis  all  the  \-oar 
roinid." 

'['lie  followinji'  observations  on  tho  nestinjj  habits  of  this  species,  based  on 
manuscript  notes  of  Mr.  Anastasio  Alfaro,  director  of  tlut  N.itional  Museum  of 
(!osta  IJica,  at  San  Jose,  and  recently  ])nblislie(l  bv  ]^Ir.  Ooorgo  K.  Cherrie,  are 
especially  intc'rosting. 

"Tho  Zopilofillo  (.so-peo-lo-teo-yo),  also  known  as  'Tijo-tijo'  (ti-e-ho),  in 
imitation  of  its  peculiar  notes,  which  seem  to  repeat  the  \vord  fijn  i)\i-v  and  over 
again,  is  very  abundant  in  tlio  fields  near  Tambor  (a  littlo  town  about  20  luiles 


I 

Mil 


12 


LIKIC  lI18T(mii:8  OF  NOIJTII  AMKItlCAN  ItlKDH. 


nurtlnvcst  of  Sim  .FDst'),  wluTc,  aloii;;;  tlic  lu'<l;r,.r(nvs  nut]  in  tlio  Hcni)»ltv  tiiiihor, 
iiHwcll  iiH  III  tlir  Mkiti  of  till-  Ditflc,  tlii'V  fiiiil  tlioso  iiiHofts  wliirli  I'oiiHtitittt'  tlittir 
fond.  'I'lio  wooiltickH,  or  ;>!irro|mtos,  from  tlic  Icj^h  iiiiil  iilioiit  flic  luiiil  iiiul  in'ck 
of  tlui  ciittlo  iiro  «'sUa'Mio<l  iiliovc  nil  clsr  n  fiiv«)rito  morsel,  in  tlii.s  loctilifv 
I  Imvo  colli'ctrd  flircd  iicsts  (luriii;r  llic  month  of  .Mny,  the  lirst  with  iiino 
*'Hii>*,  tln)  Mt'coiiil  with  ficvcii,  iiiul  tlif  liist  with  thirtcdii.  Some  yi-ars  iiy;o  I 
remember  Heein;;'  ii  nest,  situated  in  the  hriiiiches  of  a  maii;^<»  tree,  that 
contained  fourteen  v<^i<;>*. 

"The  nests  that  I  have  collected  a;fre(*  with  the  ohservations  made  liy 
Zeledoii.  'I'he  structure  is  \ohiminoiis,  comiMtscfl  chieliy  of  coarse  dead  twi^s, 
but  presents  one  |tecnliarity  not  observed  in  any  other  bird,  namely,  the  nost 
bein;;  lined  with  fresh  <,'reen  leaves.  My  throo  specimens  were  all  placed  in 
low  trees,  and  neither  was  found  at.  a  ^^reater  liei;4ht  than  .'{  metres.  One  hail 
boon  built  above  an  old  nest  of  one  of  the  larjfer  Tjirainiiihi: 

"It.  will  not  be  without  interest,  I  think,  to  insert  my  obsorvations  relativo 
to  ono  of  these  nests.  On  the  2()tli  of  May  I  iioticecl  a  Xo/tiliitillo  with  a  flry 
stick  in  his  bill,  which  was  immediately  carried  to  a  point  in  the  licd<;erow,  where 
it  waH  deposited  with  thret^  others.  After  assuriiiff  myself  that  tint  bird  was 
buildin;,''  its  nest  there,  I  retired,  with  the  intention  of  returning,'  at  a  more  oppor- 
tum^  moment.  And  when,  one  week  later,  1  returned  totlai  .same  spot,  what  was 
my  surjirise  to  see  not  only  the  nest  completed  and  containin;;'  six  ej^j^s,  but 
inoro  than  this — in  the  thorns  and  loaves  about  it  were  scattered  sevtMi  more 
e^fj^s!  iVs  a  conse(pience,  if  that  collection  was  not  the  work  of  the  Zdiiilofillos 
collectively,  the  poor  owner  would  have  had  to  deposit  thret?  t'^i^H  <laily.  In 
the  iindin^'  of  some  of  the  e<f<;s  scattered  in  the  loaves  was  revealed  one  of  tho 
architect's  jieculiarities  A  hole  had  been  left  in  the  center  of  tho  nest  and  only 
recentlv  tilled  with  htaves,  whose  fresh  ^iiven  color  testilied  tliat  they  had  lieen 
cut  and  placed  there  later  than  tlit;  others  forminj^'  the  carpetin;^  to  the  bottom 


of  tl 


us  common  men 


bat 


or. 


"The  e;;-;;s  were  all  fresh,  the  six  occu])yin^'  the  nest  liavinj,''  the  character- 
istic ron^h,  white,  calcareous  surface,  perfectly  clean,  and  without  the  slightest 
variation  in  coha-.  Not  so  with  the  e^";i's  found  about  tho  outside  of  tho  lufst. 
'I'hose  found  in  contact  with  the  leaves  had  taken  on  a  dirt\'  yellowish  tinjire. 
Thost^  held  suspended  ainou^'  the  leaves  and  thorns  sliowed  various  spots  and 
lines  of  the  lustrous  blue  color  formin;;'  the  base  for  the  chalky  external  coat. 
Tho  scratches  had  been  caused  by  a  too  clos(!  contact  with  the  thorns."' 

'{'here  can  no  lonj;-er  bo  any  doubt  that  the  ^^ciieral  nestiiifi'  hal)its  of  this 
sj)ocies  ai'(!  similar  to  those  of  the  .\ni,  and  that  frecpu'utly  nion^  than  one  female 


'•} 


th 


iivs  111  the  sai 


.me  lu^st,  altlioiiiih  this  habit  ina\"  not  bo  so  luiiversal  as  wi 


th  tho 


pn 


'ocedmir  species 


The  tiiree  sets  of  oj>'<rs  from  the  Ralph  collection,  taken  near  Hrownsville, 
Texas,  contained,  resjiectively,  lour,  iive,  and  liv(*  ejiji's;  in  two  of  these  tho 
ojf<^s  were  fresh,  and  in  tho  other  incubation  had  jii.st  c(»nunencod  when  taken, 


I  The  Auk,  Vol.  IX,  18U2,  pp.  ;tl'5,  ii'M. 


THK  (inoOVK  UlLLIil)  ANI. 


18 


(III  Miiv  2M,  1S!)2.     TIh'wc  H«<tM  appriir  to  liiiv«'  hocii   Iniil  liy  one  liini,  ll jf;;H 

ill  ciicli  wrt  rcsciiililiiiu'  I'lifli  dtlicr  very  cluHcly.  'I'licy  were  iilincd  in  lisiisiiclii' 
litcH  {Aauia  J'tnuisiiiiia),  fruiii  I!  to  lo  t'cct  tVoiii  tin*  jjroiiinl,  in  ratlnT  opi'ii 
wootis, 

A  nest  now  lict'on'  inc,  taken  l»y  Mr.  ('Iiailcs  W.  Uirliiiioiid,  nt-nr  tlic 
KKcoiiiriilo  Uivcr,  Nicimi^niii,  on  .Inly  (!,  1H!I2,  containiiifi'  tlircc  tVcsli  {><i\ix  wlicn 
I'oninl,  ix  ('oniiioHcil  of  small  twifjs  of  a  vine,  iiiixcil  witli  a  few  lilmlcs  of  i  fine 
leaves,  anil  tlie  center  is  lilleil  with  ii  layer  of  leaves  of  difVereiit  s|ie(ies.  It  is 
II  nitiier  loose  strnetnre,  aliont  !(>  inches  in  ilianieter  anil  (  inches  in  height. 
Pile  inner  cup  nieasnres  4  inches  in  ilianieter  liy  2.^  iiu'hes  in  depth.  N'othiii;; 
iletinile  is  known  alioiit  tho  time  of  incniiation,  nor  whether  the  male  assists  in 
this  diitv;  from  three  to  fne  eji'fi's  seem  to  lie  laid  liv  I'licli  female,  and  two  or 
three  iiroods  are  prolitilil\'  raised  in  a  season. 

The  e;if's  are  mostly  oval  in  shape,  lint  occasionally  <iiie  is  found  that  may 
lie  culled  elliptical  ovate.  'I'hey  resemlile  those  of  the  Ani  very  closely  and  the 
same  description  will  answer  for  lioth,  with  the  exception  that  the  chalky  matter 
coveriiiff  the  {ilancous-liliUf  <;roinid  color  appears  to  lie  heavier  in  the  present 
species,  (fivin^  them  a  more  nniform  milky  blue  appearance,  and  that  they  ari^ 
also  cotisideralily  smaller. 

'i'lii!  iiverajie  measurement  of  forty  i'\:^\r,A  in  tli««  United  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  ;{l.i;{  liy  2.'{.!l.'{  millimetres,  or  about  1.23  by  (t.!l4  inches. 
The  larji'est  ejij;'  of  the  series  measures  .'J.'J.'i.S  by  25.1.')  milliiiietres,  or  \.\\'l  by  O.'.dl 
inches;  tlu;  smallest,  27.(;h  liy  21.H4  millimetres,  or  l.(t!»  liy  (S.Sd  inches. 

The  type  .specimen,  No.  lS.^i(i,''i  (I'l.  1,  Ki;;'.  7),  from  a  set  of  live  e;:jfs,  was 
taken  liy  Mr.  L.  Heldiii}?,  near  San  .Jose  del  Carbo,  Lower  (!alifornia,  on  April 
2l»,  1SS2,  and  reiiresents  an  unscratched  specimen. 


4.     Geococcyx  californianus  (Lkshon). 


UOAU-KIINNKK. 


SdMriithrn  ciili/oniiiiiia  liKssoN,  ('oiii|>l('iin'iit  ilcs  (ICavrcs  ilc  I'.iifl'oii  \'l,  I.SL'!t('),  120. 
liiucovcij.r  vuli/orniiiuHH  ilAilMi,  liirdi)  of  Niirlli  jViiu'iicii,  l.S."if>,  7.'{. 

(11  0.S,  (J  L'8»,  It  385,  C  127,  I'  .185.) 

(iKOdUAl'lliCAi,  llANiii;:  Ceiitiiil  and  iiortliciii  .Mexico  anil  ailjoiiiiii^  iioitioiis  of  tlio 
United  States;  oust  tliroii};li  tin-  western  lialf  of  Texiis,  and  cxtieiiie  weHteni  liidiiin 
Territory;  north  to  soiitliweslern  Kansas,  soiitliern  CoUaadu,  .soiillierii  Uliili.  .soiitliei'ii 
Nevada,  and  soutli western  Oregon  ( t);  ]jo\vcr  California. 

The  lload-runner,  ocpially  well  known  as  the  "Cluiparral  Cock,"  and  occa- 
sionally called  "Snake-killer,"  "Ground  'luckoo,"  "Lizard  Hird,"  and  liy  the 
Spanish-speakiii};'  popidation  of  our  southern  b<irder  '' I'disaiio"  and  "■('anr- 
camiiKt,"  is  f>ouorally  a  resident  and  lireeds  wherever  found,  exceptinj,^  jierhaps  in 
the  extremis  northern  portions  of  its  ran^c.  This  it  reai-hes  in  Shasta  ('ounty, 
("aliforiiia,  mi  the  western  slopes  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  in  about  latitude  40°  N., 
while  on  the  east  side  of  these  mountains  it  has  as  yet  not  been  tibserved  north 


14 


LIFK  IIISTOltlES  OF  NOllTH  AMEUICAIs  BIRDS. 


of  Inyo  Ctmiity,  Calif'i)niin,  al)imt  latitudo  iJ(!°  N.  In  southwcstorn  Kiuisas  it  is 
uiulimlitiMlly  quite  niro  and  can  only  Iks  considorod  as  a  strufffflcr.' 

Its  jreiiLTal  lia])its  nvi'  far  more  terrestrial  than  arl)oroal,  spendinjf  most  of 
its  time  on  tiio  <j;idund  in  search  of  food,  and  fre(iuontinj>'  the  drier  desert  tracts 
adjacent  to  river  valleys,  and  tiie  lower  foothills,  covered  by  cactus,  yuccas,  and 
thorny  under<fro\vth.  It  rarely  ventures  into  the  hi<iher  mountain  ran<res  among 
the  conifers,  but  breeds  occ-asionally  among  the  oaks  bordering  the  pine  belt.  It 
is  most  abundant  at  altitudes  ranging  from  ■2,000  to  i{,,")('Of<et,  and  is  seldom  seen 
witiiin  the  United  States  al)ove  5,000  feet;  but  in  the  San  Pedro  Martir  range, in 
Lower  California,  Mr.  A.  W.  Antiiony  has  met  with  the  Uoad-runner  at  an  altitude 
of  7,000  feet  above  .sea  level,  and  at  Glorietta,  New  Mexico,  it  has  recently  been 
reported  as  breeding  at  a  height  of  S,00()  feet. 

Tiie( 'hajtarraK'ock  is  rather  unsocial  in  its  habits,  audit  is  rare  to  see  more 
than  a  couple  together  excepting  after  the  breeding  season,  when  the  yoimg  still 
follow  one  of  tht!  parents.  Its  food  consists  almost  entirely  of  animal  matter, 
suclias  gra.sshoppers,beetle.s,  lizards,  small  snakes,  land  snails,  the  smaller  rodents, 
and  not  unfrecjueutly  of  young  binls.  On  the  whole,  these  birtls  do  far  more 
good  than  harm.  When  the  fig-like  fruit  of  the  giant  cactus  is  ripe  they  also 
feed  on  this;  in  fact,  man'v  mannnals  and  birds  seem  to  be  very  partial  to  it.  It 
is  astonisliing  how  large  an  animal  can  be  swallowed  by  one  t>f  these  birds.  I 
have  found  a  species  of  garter  snake  fully  20  inches  htng  in  the  crop  of  oue 
shot  in  Arizona. 

Mr.  Anthony  writ»!S  me  on  this  subject  as  follows:  "A  half-grown  bird 
wliich  I  shot  at  San  (Juentin,  liower  California,  presented  an  uiuisually  bunchy 
ajjpearance  about  the  throat  and  neck,  a  fullness  which  was  ac(!ounted  for  upon 
dissection  by  the  discovery  of  an  innnense  lizard  which  had  been  swallowe<l 
entire  but  a  few  moments  before  the  bird  was  shot.  I  know  of  several  in.stances 
of  Uoad-ruiuiers  making  a  meal  of  a  nest  of  young  Ilou.se-finches,  Carpodacus 
lucjckdiiiis  frontalis,  and  other  small  birds." 

I  am  aware  that  there  is  a  pretty  general  belief  in  localities  where  the  Koad- 
runner  is  connnon,  and  where  the  rattlesnake  is  nsuall}'  more  so,  that  these  birds 
are  more  than  a  match  for  even  tiie  largest  of  these  reptiles,  and  attack  an<l  kill 
them  wherever  found,  an  as.sertion  I  Acry  nmch  ([uestion.  It  is  said  when  one  of 
these  l)irds,  while  rambling  about,  meets  a  rattlesnake,  coiled  up  and  asleep  after 
a  good  meal,  it  (juietl}' hedges  the  reptile  in  with  a  ring  or  fence  of  the  joints  of 
thv.  Cliolla  iwfits,  tmi]  after  having  done  so,dropsa  similar  jt)int  from  above  on  the 
sleei)ing  reptile,  which,  being  i'nrage<l  thereby,  thrashes  around  and  soon  becomes 
covered  with  the  sharp  spines,  ami  then  falls  an  easy  vi«!tim  to  the  bird,  after 
lu'coming  exhausted  in  vain  attempts  to  free  itself.  The  bird  is  said  to  first  pick 
its  eyes  out  and  so  render  it  entirely  helpless.  This  is  a  very  plausible  story, 
and  while  1  am  only  too  well  aware  of  the  sliarj)ness  of  the  si»ines  of  the  Cliolla 

'III  a  litter  roci-ivod  I'lniii  Jh.  A.  W.  Aiitlimiy,  writtiMi  on  AugiiBt  5,  1SS8,  ami  over!  joUcmI  by  me  wlii'ii 
tliis  iirlicld  was  wrilteii.  Im  iiiriiiins  iiic  lliat  a  Knail  riimuT,  lu'ciiiiipanii'il  liy  tliicii  yoiiiiK,  was  Hern  liy  a 
tra\  din;;  i'<iin|iant<iii  of  his  wlio  kiii^w  tliosi'  birds  well,  on  tlio  lino  of  railroail  liittwcon  .\ninny  and  Anliland, 
Ui'oKon,  aliunt  30  luiliss  MuiitU  uf  Albuuy,  sumu  time  iu  Aiignat,  18tj7.  This  uxtuuds  itH  ruiige  vuuHiderably 
iiurthwatd. 


THE  KOAD-KUIfNEK. 


15 


cactus,  T  know  tliat  siidi  a  lit'(l<ro  proves  no  Imrriur  to  tliene  snak*  •<.  antl  tliiit  thoy 
do  not  mind  sucli  obstructions  in  the  least,  i)as8in<>-  over  witlioiit  toucliinj--  tiieni.  I 
consi<ler  tliis  story  on  a  par  with  the  f^enerally  aceopted  belief  of  hunters  and  fron- 
tiersmen in  the  West,  that  rattlesnakes  will  not  cross  over  horseliair  ropes,  when 
laid  around  one's  bed  while  camping  out.  I  admit  liavinj,'  heard  this  freipiently 
from  j)ersons  1  had  no  reason  to  doubt,  that  I  was  a  tirm  believer  in  the  state- 
ment, and  nuido  use  of  this  snake  protector  for  a  innnber  of  years;  but  at  last 
my  faith  was  rudely  shattered  by  seeiii<>'  a  mediinn-sized  rattlesnake  deliber- 
ately crawlinj;;  over  such  a  rope  which  1  had  stretched  around  my  tent.  'I'lie 
snake  paid  no  attention  to  the  hair  roj>e,  but  sli<>htly  curved  its  body  where 
about  to  come  in  contact  with  it,  jflidinff  over  without  touclnuf''  it,  and,  tindin<,f  a 
sunny  spot  at  the  side  of  the  tent,  coiled  up  to  take  a  rest,  part  of  its  body  lyin<>- 
direct!}  on  the  rope.  Since  witnessin<^  this  performaiu-e  I  have  naturally  lost 
faith  in  this  belief,  and  have  wished  many  times  since  that  it  had  not  been  so 
rudely  shaken,  especially  when  in  .sections  of  the  country  where  these  reptiles 
are  al)undant  and  where  one  is  liable  to  find  his  blankets  occupied  by  one  or 
more  rattlers. 

Road-runners  are  ordinarily  rather  shy  and  suspicious  birds,  and  not  as 
often  seen  as  oni;  would  think,  even  wlu-re  comparatively  conniion.  Within  the 
Uniti'd  tStates  they  are  most  abundant  alonjf  the  southern  borders  of  Te.xas  and 
Arizona,  and  in  southern  ('alifornia.  1  found  them  <[uite  conunon  in  the  vicinity 
of  my  camp  on  Killito  Creek,  near  Tucson,  Arizona,  and  also  near  Analieim, 
Oraufre  C!ounty,  California,  and  I  have  examined  a))out  twenty  of  tlieir  nests. 
Notwithstandinir  their  natural  .shyness,  they  are  in(piisitive  birds,  and  where  they 
are  not  constantly  cha.sed  and  molested  will  .soon  become  used  to  man.  One  of 
these  binls  paid  Impient  vi.sits  to  my  camp,  often  perchinj;-  on  a  mesipiite  stump 
for  half  an  hour  at  a  time,  within  20  yards  of  my  tent.  While  so  perched  it 
would  usuall}-  keej)  uj)  a  continuous  coohi<jf,  not  ludike  that  of  the  iMournin<;- 
Dove,  varied  now  and  then  by  a  cackle  reseml)ling  that  of  a  <lomestic  hen  when 
callinji'  her  brood's  attention  to  some  choice  morsel  of  food.  Tiiis  call  sounded 
like  "(lack,  (lack,  dack,"  a  mnnber  of  times  repeated.  Another  peculiar  sound 
was  .sonuitimes  jM-oduced  by  snappin}^'  its  mandibles  rajjidl}  together.  While 
uttering  tliese  notes  its  long  tail  was  almost  constantly  in  motion  and  ])artly 
expanded,  and  its  short  wings  slightly  drooped.  In  walking  about  at  ease,  the 
tail  is  somewhat  raised  and  the  neck  partly  contracted.  When  suddenly 
alarmed  the  feathers  of  the  body  are  compressed  and  it  trusts  almost  entirely 
to  its  legs  for  escape,  running  surprisingly  fast.  While  running  it  can  readily 
keej)  out  of  the  way  of  a  horse  on  a  fair  galloji  on  comparatively  open  ground, 
and  should  the  pursuer  gain  too  much  on  the  bird,  it  su(hleidy  (huibles  on  its 
course  and  takes  advantago  of  any  thickets  or  broken  ground  in  tlu;  vicinity, 
and  is  soon  lost  to  .sight.  Its  flight  is  ajtparently  easy  and,  considering  its  short 
wings,  is  rather  swift. 

In  .southern  Arizona  the  breeding  sea.son  begins  sometimes  as  early  as  tli(! 
middle  of  March,  but  the  majority  of  tlit^  birds  there,  as  well  sis  throughout 
the  balance  uf  their  range,  do  not  connneuce  nesting  before  April,  and  nidifi- 


\"l  '■ 


16 


LIFK  IIISTORII':S  OP  NORTH  AMEBIC  AX  BIRDS. 


cation  lasts  throu^fli  tlm  suiiKner  montlis,  two  and  occiwionally  tlireo  Ijrootls  being 
raiswl  in  a  season.  WHiilo  tlio  first  sot  of  eggs  lai<l  by  such  si)ocies  as  rear  more 
than  one  brood  in  a  season  is  usually  larger  in  number  than  sub8e([uent  ones, 
it  seems  to  me  tliiitwith  the  Koail-runner  tlie  reverse  is  tluj  case. 

During  tlu;  month  ot"  April,  1872,  I  found  several  nests,  none  of  which 
contained  more  than  three  eggs,  all  well  incubated  when  found;  similar  small 
sets  were  found  during  the  first  half  of  A[ay,  while  in  June  and  July  the  sets 
numbered  from  four  to  six  eggs,  the  latter  the  largest  sets  observetl  by  me  in 
Arizona.     The  following  explanatii-n  may  account  for  this: 

In  southern  Arizona,  during  the  sj»rinj-'  months,  insects  and  reptiles,  which 
form  the  bulk  of  the  food  of  these  birds,  are  rather  svMhh^,  while  in  .Tune,  as 
soon  as  the  rains  connnence,  and  later  through  the  summer,  suitable  food  is  far 
more  abundant  and  a  larger  f  unily  can  be  much  more  readily  cared  for,  and  I 
am  of  the  opinion  that  these  birds  know  this  and  act  accordingly.  Occasionally 
a  larger  number  of  eggs  is  found,  however,  and  Lieut.  II.  C.  Uenson,  Fourth 
Cavalry,  United  States  Army,  writes  me  that  lus  saw  a  nest  of  this  species,  near 
F(»rt  Iluachuca,  containing  six  young  birds,  all  of  difl'ereHt  sizes,  and  two  eggs; 
the  largest  of  the  young  was  about  ready  to  leave  the  uest,  and  the  smallest 
only  a.  day  ( >r  two  old. 

Their  nt^sting  sites  are  (juite  variable.  In  southern  Arizona  the  majority 
of  nests  founil  by  me  were  placed  in  low  mest[uito  trees  or  thick  bushes,  and  in 
different  sptfcicss  of  cacti,  such  as  tlie  prickly  pear,  ch(»lla,  and  others.  Occasion- 
ally one  of  their  nests  is  placed  on  top  of  a  mes([uite  stump,  surrounded  by 
green  sprouts,  or  in  a  hackbeny  or  barberry  bush.  I  f(jund  one  nest  in  a  jjalo 
verde  tree,  and  anotluM-  in  a  willow  thicket;  in  the  latter  case  the  birds  did  not 
build  their  own  nest,  but  appropriated  one  of  the  Crissal  Thrasher,  Itarporlii^n- 
cliHs  cri.s.safis.  Mr.  F.  11.  Fowler  writes  me  from  Fort  Bowie  that  he  saw  a  nest 
near  there,  jjlaced  in  the  hollow  of  a  dead  stump. 

In  Texas  the  Uoadrumier  sometimes  nests  in  ebony  bushes,  and  in  Cali- 
fornia it  has  been  known  to  use  the  nest  t)f  the  California  Jay,  Aphdoroma 
ailifonika,  in  oak  trees,  sometimes  fully  K!  feet  from  the  ground.  Usually  the 
nests  are  placed  from  3  to  8  feet  from  the  ground,  and  only  in  rare  instances 
higher.  Sometimes  they  are  found  in  cpiite  open  situations,  but  generally  they 
are  well  concealed  from  view. 

A  typical  nest  of  tlie  lload-runner  may  be  described  as  a  rather  flat  an*! 
shallow  but  coin]iactly  Ijuilt  structure,  about  12  inches  in  diameter  and  varying 
in  tliii'kness  from  -4  to  (i  incites,  witii  l)ut  litth^  depression  interiorly.  The 
ground  work  consists  of  stii^ks  from  5  to  10  inches  long,  HiumI  more  or  less 
regularly  with  finer  material  of  the  same  kind  and  finished  off  with  dry  grasses. 
Occasionally  Itits  of  dry  cow  or  horse  dung,  a  few  feathers,  \\\v  inner  bark  of 
the  Cottonwood,  ilry  mes(piite  s(H'd  pods,  hits  of  snake  skin,  and  small  grass 
roots  are  used,  and  now  and  then  no  lining  is  found,  the  eggs  lying  on  a  simple 
])latform  of  twigs. 

The  num))er  of  eggs  to  a  s(!t  \aries  in  diU'erent  localities  fr<»m  two  to  nine, 
and  occasionally  as  many  as  twelve  have  been  found  in  a  uest,  possibly  the 


THE  ROAD-BUNNER. 


17 


product  of  two  birds.  Sets  ranging  from  four  to  six  eggs  are  the  rule.  In 
large  sets  several  sterile  eggs  are  nearly  always  found,  and  I  believe  that 
rarely  more  than  five  young  are  hatched  at  one  time.  Incubation  begins 
sometimes  with  the  first  two  eggs  laid,  especially  when  the  set  is  to  be  a  large 
one,  and  again  I  have  taken  apparently  full  sets  of  four  eggs  in  which  there 
was  no  perceptible  difference  in  the  size  of  the  embryos.  Occasionally  an  egg 
is  deposited  daily,  usually  only  (fvery  other  day,  and  sometimes  the  intervals 
are  still  greater.  Incubation  lasts  about  eighteen  days,  and  both  sexes  assist  in 
this  labor. 

The  parents  are  devoted  to  their  young,  and  when  incubation  is  well 
advanced  the  bird  will  sometimes  allow  itself  to  be  caught  on  the  nest  rather 
than  abandon  its  eggs.  The  nestlings,  when  disturbed,  make  a  clicking  noise 
with  their  bills.  When  taken  young,  they  are  readily  tamed,  soon  becoming 
attached  to  tlieir  captor,  showing  a  great  deal  of  sagacit}',  and  making  amusing 
and  interesting  pets. 

Tlie  eggs  of  the  Road-runner  are  white  in  color  and  unspotted,  mostly 
ovate  and  short  ovate,  and  rarely  elliptical  ovate  in  shape.  The  shell  consists  of 
two  layers,  the  lower  one  close  and  fine  grained,  always  pure  white,  without 
gloss;  the  upper,  a  mere  film  similar  to  that  covering  the  ground  color  of  the 
Anis,  but  more  firm  and  not  so  easily  scratched  or  rubbed  off.  This  overlaying 
film  gives  these  eggs  sometimes  a  very  pale  yellow  tint  and  a  moderately 
glossy  appearance. 

The  average  measurement  of  one  hundred  and  one  eggs  in  the  United 
States  National  Museum  collection  is  3!). 12  by  29.97  millimetres,  or  1.54  by  1.18 
inclies.  The  largest  egg  of  the  series  measures  44.45  by  29.97  millimetres,  or 
1.75  by  1.18  inches;  the  smallest,  36.07  by  28.19  millimetres,  or  1.42  by  1.11 
inches. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  204C4  (PI.  1,  Fig.  2),  from  a  set  of  four  eggs, 
Bendire  collection,  was  taken  by  the  writer  near  Tucson,  Arizona,  on  June  18, 
1872,  and  represents  an  averaged-sized  egg  of  this  species. 


5.     Coccyzus  minor  (Gmelin). 

MANGROVE  CUCKOO. 

Gttouliis  minor  Gmelin,  Systema  Natiini',  1,  i,  1788,  411. 
Coccyzus  minor  Cauanis,  Juiii'Dat  fur  OniitUolofjie,  18r)(!,  104. 

(B  71,  0  29L>,  H  380,  C  429,  IT  38«J.) 

Oeooraphicai,  ranoe:  TIu'  Wost  India  Lslands,  exceptinR  the  lialiainas;  the  coast 
regions  of  iiortliern  Soutii  America  from  (liiiitiia  to  Colombia,  thence  north  throu({h  Central 
AmiTiia  on  both  coasts;  on  tlie  Pacifu^,  t »  tlie  Isthmus  of  TuUuantei)ec;  on  tlie  Gulf  cott.st 
to  Tiimi)i('o,  Mexico,  aud  probably  still  farther  north;  in  the  United  States  to  the  coast  of 
Loui.-siana,  aud  in  southern  Florida,  on  the  west  side  mainly,  north  to  iibout  latitutle  27°30'. 

The  breeding  range  of  the  Mangrove,  also  known  as  the  "Black-eared" 
Cuckoo,  and  on  the  Island  of  Jamaica  as  the  "Young  Old-man  Bird,"  is,  in 
the  United  States,  as  far  as  known,  a  very  restricted  one,  being  mainly  confined 

168!m— No.  :i 2 


f 


18 


LIFE  niSTOBIES  OP  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


to  the  Keys,  and  the  west  coast  of  southern  Florida,  north  to  about  latitude  27°, 
and  to  the  Gulf  coast  of  Louisiana.  In  Florida  it  appears  to  be  rather  rare, 
while  in  southern  Louisiana  it  is  reported  as  somewhat  more  common. 

Audubon  firat  met  with  this  species  on  Key  West  and  states  that  its  habits 
are  nmch  tlio  same  as  those  of  the  better  known  Yellow  and  lilack-billed 
Cuckoos.  It  seems  to  be  found  only  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  coast, 
among  the  mangroves,  live  oaks,  and  dense  shrubbery  usually  found  growing 
in  such  localities.  Mr.  E.  A.  Mcllhenny  writes  me:  "The  Mangrove  Cuckoo 
is  not  an  unconunon  summer  visitor  on  the  coast  of  southern  Louisiana,  where 
it  usually  amves  about  JLnrch  15  and  leaves  in  September.  Here  it  frei|iient8 
the  live-oak  timber  near  streams  or  swamps,  and  usually  nests  on  horizontal 
branches  of  wax  myrtle,  from  4  to  12  feet  from  the  ground. 

"The  earliest  date  on  which  I  have  taken  a  nest  was  on  April  17,  1891; 
this  contained  three  eggs.  On  July  27,  1892,  I  took  a  set  of  four  eggs,  and  I 
believe  that  two  broods  are  raised  in  a  season.  Both  of  these  nests  were  placed 
in  wax  myrtles,  and  were  almost  flat  and  rather  poorly  constructed  platforms, 
composed  of  dry  twigs  of  the  wax  myrtle,  no  lining,  and  with  barelj'  any  depres- 
sion in  the  center.  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  the  Mangrove  Cuckoo  is  niore 
connnon  now  than  formerly,  and  also  less  shy.  It  does  not  begin  to  incubate 
until  the  full  set  of  eggs  has  been  deposited.  When  disturbed  on  the  nest  the 
female  almost  always  shows  fight;  that  is,  she  will  raise  her  feathers,  spread  her 
tail,  and  fly  at  you  very  much  as  a  hen  would  when  guarding  her  young,  and 
at  the  same  time  slie  utters  a  clucking  sound  which  resembles  that  of  a  domestic 
hen  Aery  closely.     Its  food  consists  of  locusts,  grasshoppers,  etc." 

Audubon  states  that  it  is  fond  of  sucking  the  eggs  of  all  kinds  of  birds  in 
the  absence  of  their  owners,  and  that  it  also  feed?  on  fruits  and  various  kinds  of 
insects. 

There  are  no  fully  identified  eggs  of  this  species  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum  taken  within  our  borders,  but  a  number  collected  by  Mr.  W.  S.  March, 
near  Spanish  Town,  Jamaica,  in  May,  1862,  are  unquestionably  referable  to  tliis 
Cuckoo.  They  are  pale  glaucous  green  in  (•oU)r,  and  vary  in  shape  from  blunt 
ovate  to  nearly  a  perfect  oval.  The  shell  is  close  grained,  rather  thin,  and 
without  gloss.  The  egg  resembles  that  of  the  better  known  Yellow-billed 
Cuckoo  very  closely,  but  averages  a  trifle  larger. 

The  average  n)ea8urenient  of  twelve  eggs  from  Jamaica  is  30.88  by  23.45 
millimetres,  or  about  1.21  by  0.92  inches.  The  largest  egg  measures  32.51  by 
24.(i4  miir.nietres,  or  1.28  by  0.97  inches;  the  smallest,  29.72  by  21.59  milli- 
metres, or  1  17  by  0.85  inches. 

The  type  si)ecimeii,  No.  6052  (not  figured),  from  a  set  of  six  eggs,  was 
taken  by  Mr.  W.  S.  March,  referred  to  above,  near  Spanish  Town,  Jamaica,  in 
Mav,  1862. 


.(■         » 

f*^'  ' 

'■\i 

**    • 

L 

MAYNABD'S  CUCKOO. 


19 


6.    Coccyzus  minor  maynardi  Ridqway. 

MAYNABD'S  CUCKOO. 

Coccyzus  maynardi  Uidqway,  Manual  North  American  Birds,  1887,  274. 
CoccyziiH  minor  maynardi  Allen,  Ms. 

(B  71  part,  C  292  part,  R  386  part,  0  420  part,  U  380fl.) 

Geooraphical  bange:  Bahama  Islands  and  southern  Florida;  Cubat. 

Within  the  United  States  the  range  of  Maynard's  Cuckoo,  a  somewhat 
smaller  and  paler  race  than  the  preceding,  and  from  whicli  it  has  been  separated 
within  the  last  decade,  is  a  still  more  restricted  one,  and  it  has  so  far  only  been 
found  at  Key  West,  where  it  is  rather  rare,  but  it  is  thought  to  breed  there  in 
limited  numbers.  It  is  likely  to  occur  also  in  suitable  localities  at  points  along 
the  east  coast  of  Florida,  north  to  about  latitude  27°  and  possibly  still  farther. 
It  is  evidently  only  a  summer  visitor  to  our  shores,  retiring  south  again  in  winter. 
It  is  said  to  be  common  throughout  the  Bahamas,  and  Mr.  J.  S.  Northrop,  on  a 
recent  visit  to  Andros  Island,  in  the  spring  of  1890,  obtained  several  specimens 
of  this  Cuckoo  there  and  saw  others.  Their  notes  were  frequently  heard  by  liim 
in  the  mangroves  or  near  by.  The  stomachs  contained  the  remains  of  small 
insects  and  grasshoppers. 

Their  general  habits,  mode  of  nidification,  and  eggs  doubtless  resemble 
those  of  the  Yellow  and  lilack-billed  Cuckoos  very  closely.  There  are  no 
positively  identified  eggs  of  Maynard's  Cuckoo  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection,  but  they  are  not  likely  to  differ  any  in  color  or  much  in 
size  from  those  of  the  preceding  species. 


7.     Coccyzus  americanus  (Linn^us). 

ykllow-billed  cuckoo. 

CuchIhx  (imericanun  Linnaeus,  Systema  Naturns,  ed.  10, 1, 1758,  III. 

CoccyztiH  amcrivaiiuK   Honai'AETe,  Journal  Academy  Natural  Sciences,  Phila.,   Ill,  ii, 


1824.  307. 


(B  69,  0  291,  K  387,  C  429,  U  387.) 


OEorrBAPHiCAL  RANGE:  Eastern  North  4merica;  north  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada 
to  Nova  Scotia,  southern  New  Brunswick,  southern  Quebec,  and  Ontario  to  about  latitude 
4.')0  30'.  In  the  United  States,  through  southern  Maine,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  southern 
Minnesota,  and  South  Dakota;  west  to  Nebraska,  Kansas,  the  Indian  Territory,  and  Texas; 
soiitli  to  Florida,  the  Gulf  coast,  and  the  West  India  Islands;  in  winter  to  eastern  Mexico, 
and  Costa  Hira,  Central  Anieriita.  Casual  to  eastern  Colorado,  Wyoming,  and  North 
Dakota.    Accidental  in  Greenland,  Great  Britain,  and  Belgium. 

The  breeding  range  of  the  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo,  also  known  as  "Rain 
Crow"  or  "Rain  Dove,"  "Kow-Kow,"  "Wood  Pigeon,"  "Indian  Hen,"  and 
in  some  of  the  West  India  Islands  as  "May  Bird,"  is  coextensive  with  its  geo- 
graphical distribution  in  the  United  States  and  the  southern  portions  of  the 


m 


20 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTU  AMERICAN  IJIBDS. 


Dominion  of  Canada;  and  it  alao  breeds  on  u  number  of  the  West  India  Islands, 
but  in  the  Lower  Rio  Grande  Valley  and  in  the  extreme  western  parts  of  Texas 
it  is  replaced  by  the  California  Cuckoo  during  this  time.  It  is  a  moderately 
connnon  bird  in  suitable  localities  throughout  the  greater  part  of  its  range  in  the 
United  States,  excepting  along  our  northern  border,  but  on  account  of  its  shy 
and  retiring  ways  it  is  much  more  fre(piently  heard  than  seen;  it  is  only  a 
summer  visitor  throughout  the  greater  portions  of  its  range  in  the  United  States, 
excepting  Florida  and  parts  of  the  Gulf  coast,  where  some  of  these  birds  are 
known  to  winter,  but  by  far  the  greater  number  retire  still  farther  south  to  the 
West  India  Islands,  and  others  through  eastern  Mexico,  as  far  as  Costa  Hica. 
The  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo  usually  an-ives  in  the  Northern  States  about  the 
commencement  of  May,  and  remains  there  until  the  end  of  September  or  the 
early  part  of  October.  It  is  decidedly  arboreal  in  its  habits,  and  is  rr.rely  seen 
on  the  ground,  where,  on  account  of  its  short  and  weak  feet,  its  movements  are 
rather  awkward;  but  on  the  wing  it  is  exceedingly  graceful;  its  flight  is  noiseless 
and  swift,  and  it  moves  or  rather  glides  through  the  densest  foliage  with  the 
gi-eatest  ease,  now  flying  sidewise,  and  again  twisting  and  doubling  at  right 
angles  through  the  thickest  .shrubbery  almost  as  easily  as  if  passing  through 
unobstructed  space,  its  long  tail  assisting  it  very  materially  in  all  its  complicated 
movements.  Few  of  our  birds  show  to  better  advantage  on  the  wing  than  the 
Yellow-billed  Cuckoo.  It  rarely  indulges  in  protracted  flights  on  its  breeding 
grounds,  but  keeps  mostly  in  the  shadiest  trees,  in  den.se  thickets  along  water 
courses,  or  on  small  islands,  shrubbery  bordering  country  roads,  tlie  outskirts 
of  forests,  and  were  it  not  for  its  peculiar  call  notes,  which  draw  attention  to  its 
whereabouts  at  once,  it  would  be  much  less  frequently  seen  than  it  usually  is, 
even  where  fairly  connnon;  on  the  whole,  it  must  be  considered  as  a  rather  shy, 
retiring,  and  suspicious  bird. 

Its  call  notes  are  much  more  varied  than  is  generally  supposed,  but  it  is 
impossible  to  positively  distinguish  them  from  those  of  its  somewhat  smaller 
relative,  the  Black-billed  Cuckoo,  which  is  likewise  found  througliout  a  consider- 
able portion  of  its  range,  and  it  is  extremely  ditticult  to  indicate  these  notes  on 
paper.  On  tiio  whole,  I  consider  those  of  tiie  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo  to  be  the 
louder  of  the  two,  but  this  is  only  a  'natter  of  opinion,  and  it  is  rather  ditticult 
to  state  just  what  difference  exists  between  them.  One  of  their  conmionest  notes 
is  a  low  "noo-coo-coo-coo;"  another  sounds  more  like  "cow-cow-cow"  or  "kow- 
kow-kow,"  several  times  repeated;  others  resemble  tiie  syllables  of  "ough,  ough, 
ougli,"  slowly  and  softly  uttered;  some  remind  mo  of  the  "klof>])-kloop"  of  the 
Bittern;  occasionally  a  note  .something  like  the  "kiuh-kiuli-kiuh"  of  the  Flicker 
is  also  uttered;  a  low,  sharp  "tou-wity-whit"  and  "hweet  hwee"  is  also  heard 
during  the  nesting  season.  Though  ordinarily  not  wliat  might  be  called  a 
social  bird,  I  have  sometimes  during  the  mating  .season  seen  as  many  as  eigiit 
in  the  same  tree,  and  on  .such  occasions  tiiey  indulge  in  (piite  a  number  of  calls, 
and  if  the  listener  can  only  keep  still  long  enough  lu*  lias  an  excellent  oppor- 
tunity to  hear  a  regular  Cuckoo  concert. 


TUE  YELLOW-BILLED  CUCKOO. 


ai 


From  an  economic  jjoint  of  view  there  are  few  birds  which  do  more  good 
than  the  YeHow-billed  Cuckoos,  as  they  Hvo  almost  entirely  on  caterpillars,  and 
even  the  hairy  and  sharij-spined  ones  are  eaten  by  them  in  large  numbers. 
Among  tlie  most  important  on(  s  ho  destroyed  are  the  cankerworm,  the  tent 
caterpillar  (Clisiommpu  mticrinoia),  and  that  of  Vanensa  antiopa,  as  well  as  of 
numerous  other  butterflies,  }>rasHhop|)ers,  beetles,  cicadas,  small  snails,  etc.,  and 
dift'erent  kinds  of  fruit,  as  berries,  nudberries,  grapes,  and  others.  Mr.  J.  L. 
Davi.son,  of  Lockport,  New  York,  has  also  observed  it  catching  winged  ants, 
like  a  Flycatclier.  I  am  awan^  that  this  species  has  been  accu.sed  of  destroying 
the  eggs  and  even  of  eating  the  young  of  smaller  birds,  but  1  am  strongly  inclined 
to  beUeve  tliat  this  accusation  is  unjust,  and  in  my  opinion  recjuires  more  sub- 
stantial confirmation.  I  have  never  yet  had  anj- reason  to  susjtect  their  robbing 
smaller  birds'  nests,  and  the  very  fact  that  they  live  in  ajjparent  harmony  with 
such  neighbors,  who  do  not  j)rotest  against  their  jiresonce,  as  they  are  in  the  habit 
of  doing  should  a  Hlue  Jay,  Grackle,  or  Crow  come  too  close  to  their  nests, 
seems  to  ccmfirm  this  view.  I  am  upheld  in  this  opinion  by  a  lunnber  of  careful 
observers  whom  I  have  questioned  on  this  im|)ortant  subject.  Only  two  of  my 
c  )rrespondents  seem  to  be  inclined  to  believe  this  charge  to  be  well  founded. 
iMr.  William  Hrewster,  of  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  writing  me  on  this  subject, 
says:  "While  I  have  never  seen  either  of  our  Cuckoos  destroy  the  eggs  of  other 
birds,  nevertheless  I  think  they  do  it  occasionally.  One  of  my  reasons  for  this 
beli<;f  is  that  many  of  our  smaller  birds,  Warlders,  SpaiTows,  etc.,  show  great 
anxiety  whenever  the  Cuckoos  ajiproach  their  nests,  and  they  inu'sue  and  peck 
at  them  when  they  take  wing,  behaving  toward  them,  intact,  exactly  as  they  do 
toward  the  Crows,  Jays,  and  (Jrackles,  which  we  know  eat  eggs  when(!ver  they 
can  get  a  chance.  My  other  reason  is  that  one  of  my  friends  once  shot  a  Cuckoo 
(('.  aniericaiiiis,  I  think  it  was)  whose  bill  was  smeared  all  over  with  the  fresh 
yolk  of  an  egg."  Mr.  II.  P.  Attwater,  of  San  Antonio,  Texas,  although  he  has 
not  observed  it  personally  either,  informs  me  that  in  his  neighborhood  this  bird 
is  locally  known  to  the  bo}'^  collectors  as  the  Egg-sucker,  and  that  some  claim 
to  have  observed  it  in  the  act  of  stealing  eggs. 

Should  an  occasional  pair  of  these  birds,  however,  l)e  guilty  of  .such 
reprehensible  conduct,  which  I  am  not  yet  prejiared  to  admit,  it  by  no  means 
follows  that  it  is  a  conmion  jjractice.  All  of  our  Cuckoos  deserve  the  utmost 
protection;  it  is  simply  astonishing  how  (juickly  a  pair  of  these  birds  will 
exterminate  the  thousands  of  caterpillars  infesting  orchard  and  other  trees  in 
certain  seasons;  it  makes  no  difference  how  hairy  and  spiny  these  roay  ])e,  none 
are  rt^ected  by  them,  although  no  other  birds  will  touch  them,  and  the  walls 
of  their  stomachs  are  sometimes  comj)letely  i)ierced  by  the  sharp,  stiletto-like 
hairs,  without  injury,  .and  apparently  not  incommoding  these  birds  in  the  least. 
Their  benefit  to  the  horticulturist  is  inunense,  and  he  has  certainly  no  better 
friends  among  our  birds. 

Although  the  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo  generally  arrives  in  our  Northern  States 
about  the  middle  of  May,  and  occasionally  a  week  or  so  earlier,  it  usually  nests 


22 


LIFE  H18TOKIE8  OF  NORTU  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


rather  late,  and  oftener,  I  believe,  in  the  firHt  week  in  .Inly  tlian  in  .Tnne.  Like 
nioHt  birds,  they  are  more  noisy  durinj^  mating  time  than  at  other  seasons,  and 
they  are  most  often  heard  during  damp,  eloudy  weather  or  before  a  storm,  and 
on  this  aeconnt  they  are  often  railed  "Rain  Crows,"  their  eontinuous  calls  beiny 
Hupposed  to  jiresaf^e  wet  weather. 

As  a  rule  they  are  shy  and  silent,  unobtrusive  birds,  their  plain,  {^"ayish- 
brown  upper  j)arts,  with  a  faint  la-onze  luster,  harmoniziujjf  so  j)eH'ectly  witli  their 
surroundiuf^s  that  they  are  readily  overlooked  in  tins  dense  folia}>e  and  tanfj;h'il 
luidergrowth  which  they  usually  frecjuent,  and  it  is  no  easy  matter  to  study 
them  closely,  though  occasionally  a  pair  will  select  its  nesting  site  close  to 
human  habitations  and  even  in  cities,  when  they  lose  their  natural  shyness  to 
ttome  extent. 

Mr.  Mark  L.  C.  Wilde,  of  Camden,  Now  Jersey,  writes  me:  "On  June  22, 
1893,  while  passing  the  corner  of  Sixth  and  Market  streets,  I  was  surprised  to 
see  a  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo  fly  off  her  nest,  which  was  built  on  the  limb  of  a 
maple  tree  that  hung  over  Market  street,  on  which  the  electric  cars  run  every 
ten  or  fifteen  minutes.  The  nest  contained  two  fn^sh  eggs.  Then^  are  no 
woods  nor  open  fields  within  a  mile  or  so  of  the  tree  in  which  the  nest  was  built, 
although  there  are  a  number  of  shade  trees  around  the  city  and  plenty  of 
caterpillars  for  them  to  feed  upon." 

In  the  southern  j)ortions  of  their  range,  including  Florida  and  tiie  Gulf 
States,  niflification  begins  occasionally  early  in  April,  and  fresh  eggs  may  be 
found  sometimes  in  the  last  two  weeks  of  this  month;  but  the  majority  of  these 
l)irds  rarely  commence  laying  here  before  the  second  week  in  May.  In  the 
District  of  Colundna  a  few  jjairs  nest  in  the  latter  part  of  this  month,  but  the 
greater  portion  do  not  before  June,  and  occasionally  not  before  July,  wliile 
instances  of  fresh  egg.s,  j)ossibly  second  layings,  have  been  foiuid  in  the  latter 
part  of  August  and  even  in  the  beginning  of  September.  In  tim  northern  por- 
tions of  its  range  the  breeding  sea.son  is  at  its  height  during  tiie  latter  part  of 
June  and  the  first  week  of  Jul)',  and  here  one  brood  only  is  raised,  while  in  the 
south  they  sometimes  raise  two. 

Mr.  O.  Widmann,  of  Old  Orchard,  Missouri,  has  kindly  .sent  me  tiie  following 
notes  on  this  sj)ecies:  "The  Yellow-billed  Cuckoos  begin  to  lay  here  May  15. 
If  the  eggs  are  taken  and  none  left  in  the  nest,  the  birds  aliandon  it  and  build 
another;  but  I  do  not  think  that  two  Imxids  are  raised  in  a  seas(»n.  This  species 
begins  to  arrive  here  in  the  last  days  of  April,  but  to  get  tlu^  earliest  dates  one 
must  be  up  at  2  a.  ni.,  when  their  call  is  heard  from  time  to  time.  After  daybreak 
they  are  seldom  heard  before  the  first  days  of  May,  regularly  only  after  the  .'»th. 
I  found  them  very  numerous  in  tiie  St.  Francis  region  the  second  week  in  May, 
where  they  were  among  the  most  conspicuous  birds.  At  that  time  they  seemed 
to  live  mostly  on  a  large  kind  of  May  or  willow  fly  (^l'Jj)liriiicni),  which  tiie  male 
l)ird  caught  and  brought  to  his  mate,  who  kejjt  ijuieth'  jjerclied  and  apjiarently 
awaiting  iiis  attenticms.  He  alighted  gi-acefully  on  her  back  and  ju'esented 
complaisantly  the  choice  morsel,  which  was  received  with  half-tumed  head  and 


i^'. 


THE  YELLOVV.BILLJiD  CUCKOO. 


28 


(>])('ii  l»ill — the  wliolf  ii  picturo  of  lovo  and  devotion  pleasant  to  witnesH,  and 
not  iiiiim-d  l)y  any  unoHtlu-tic  act  or  motion.  One  of  tlie  favorite  foods  of  tiie 
Cnckoo  in  September  is  tlu*  eideriierry,  and  tlie  last  week  of  this  month  may  be 
set  down  as  tlio  time  for  its  final  de|iarture." 

The  Yellow-billed  Cnckoo  is  one  of  the  ))oorest  neat  builders  known  to  me, 
and  tnidonbteoly  the  slovenly  manner  in  whicii  it  constructs  its  nest  causes  the 
contents  of  many  to  be  accidentally  destroyed,  and  this  probably  accounts  to 
some  extent  for  the  many  apparent  irrejrularities  in  their  nestiuff  habits.  The 
nests  are  shallow,  frail  jtlafforms,  composed  of  small  rootlets,  sticks,  or  twi^js,  few 
of  these  beiufr  over  4  or  f)  inches  in  lenjith,  and  amon<r  them  a  few  dry  leaves 
and  l)its  of  mosses;  raffs,  etc.,  are  occasionally  mixed  in,  and  the  surface  is  lined 
witii  drv  blossoms  of  the  horse-chestnut  and  other  flowerinf^-  jdants,  the  male 
aments  or  catkins  of  oaks,  willows,  etc.,  tufts  of  ifrasses,  pine  and  spruce  needles, 
and  mosses  of  ditt'erent  kinds.  These  materials  are  loosely  placed  on  the  top  of 
the  little  jdatform,  which  is  frequently  so  small  that  the  extremities  of  the  bird 
project  on  l»oth  sides,  and  there  is  scarcely  any  de])ression  to  keej)  the  ejrgs  from 
rolling  out  even  in  only  a  moderate  windstorm,  unless  one  of  the  parents  sits  on 
the  nest,  and  it  is  therefore  not  a  rare  occiUTence  to  find  broken  ejygs  lyinjj^ 
under  the  trees  or  busluis  in  which  the  nests  are  placed.  Some  of  these  are  so 
slifjhtly  built  that  the  ejffjfs  can  be  readily  seen  thnmgh  the  bottom.  An  average 
nest  measures  about  5  inches  in  outer  diameter  by  IJ  inches  in  depth.  They 
are  rarely  placed  over  20  feet  from  the  gnumd,  generally  from  4  to  H  feet 
upon  horizontal  lind)s  of  oak,  beech,  gum,  dogwood,  hawthorn,  mulberry,  pine, 
cedar,  fir,  apple,  orange,  fig,  and  other  trees.  Thick  bu.shes  j)articularly  such  as 
are  overrun  with  wild  grape  and  other  vines,  as  well  as  hedgerows,  especially 
those  of  osage  orange,  are  also  frecjuently  selected  for  nesting  sites.  The  nests 
are  ordinarily  well  concealed  by  the  overhanging  and  surrounding  foliage,  and 
while  usually  shy  and  timid  at  other  times,  the  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo  is  gen- 
erally coiu'ageous  and  bold  in  the  defense  of  its  chosen  home;  the  bird  on  the 
nest  not  unfrequently  will  raise  its  feathers  at  right  angles  from  the  body  and 
occasionally  even  fly  at  the  intnider. 

The  lunnber  of  eggs  in  a  set  varies  from  two  to  five;  sets  of  three  are 
most  common,  while  those  of  four  are  not  at  all  rare.  Now  aiul  then  as  many 
as  six  and  seven  have  been  found  in  one  nest,  but  it  is  always  more  or  less 
questionable  if  such  large  sets  are  the  product  of  the  same  fenuxle.  Usually  an 
egg  is  dejjosited  daily,  and  as  a  rule  incubation  does  not  commence  until  the  set 
is  comjjleted;  but  there  are  also  exceptions,  and  the  bird  may  conmience 
incubation  when  the  first  egg  is  laid,  and  at  the  same  time  continue  laying  at 
iiTcgular  intervals,  varying  from  two  to  eight  days,  so  that  one  will  occasionally 
find  birds  of  different  ages  and  eggs  in  various  stages  of  incubation  in  the  nest. 
I  nuist  confess  that  no  such  instances  have  come  inuler  my  own  observation,  but 
this  fact  has  been  so  well  established  that  there  can  be  no  question  of  it.  It  is 
also  well  known  that  this  species  will  occasionally  deposit  an  egg  or  two  in  the 
nests  of  the  Black-billed  Cuckoo,  and  the  latter  returns  the  compliment,  and 


w 


;  ij'l 


84 


LIFK  UISTOItlKS  OF  NORTH  AMKUIUAN  BlUDS. 


now  and  then  ono  of  tliuir  e^gH  Iiiih  been  t'ouiul  in  tlio  nestH  of  otliur  specioH, 
such  118  tlie  Wood-tlirusli,  Robin,  Catbird,  Ci'diir-bird,  Hlack-tliroati'd  S|>arro\v, 
Cardinal,  and  Mournin^r  Dovu.  Such  instancoH  a|)|)t'ar  to  be  much  rarer,  liow- 
uver,  tluui  thoso  in  wliich  thoy  intorhiy  with  each  otiutr,  and  the  inajority  of  thcHc 
may  well  be  due  to  accident,  their  own  uent  having  possibly  been  capsized,  and 
necessity  coinj)elled  the  bird  to  dejxjsit  its  ej,');  elsewhere.  Such  iustaiices  do 
occur  at  times  with  species  that  can  not  possibly  bo  (diar^^ed  with  parasitic 
tendencies. 

There  is  a  set  of  four  ep^gs  of  the  Mcuvdow  Lark  (Ralph  collection)  before 
me  now,  taken  on  May  (I,  181)2,  in  Volusia  Ciuuity,  Florida,  wliich  in  addition 
contained  an  egg  of  the  Florida  (juail;  another  set  of  four  eggs  of  the  Gray- 
tailed  Cardinal,  taken  by  Mr.  II.  P.  Attwater,  near  Rockport,  Texas,  on  Aj)ril  28, 
1893,  and  presented  to  the  collection  here,  contains  also  an  egg  of  the  Scissor- 
tailed  Flycatcher,  and  I  might  cite  other  instances  if  I  deemed  it  necessarj. 

It  is  indisputable,  however,  that  some  latent  iraoes  of  parasitism  exist  in  our 
Cuckoos,  but  these  are  not  very  frecpient  and  seem  to  be  princijmlly  contined 
among  themselves,  and  are  ap])arently  more  ])revalent  among  the  Black-billed 
species  than  the  present  one.  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  tells  me  that  he  found 
both  species  nesting  in  an  aj)ple  orchard,  near  Mount  Carmel,  Illinois,  in  June, 
1864,  in  adjoining  trees,  the  two  nests  being  not  over  10  feet  aj)art. 

Incubation,  1  think,  la.sts  about  fourteen  days,  and  I  believe  the  female 
performs  the  greater  portion  of  this  duty.  The  young  when  first  hatched  are 
repulsive,  blf.ck,  and  greasy-looking  creatures,  nearly  naked,  and  the  sprouting 
quills  only  add  to  their  general  ugliness.  If  the  eggs  are  handled  the  bird 
freciuently  forsakes  the  nest,  either  throwing  them  out  or  abandoning  them. 
The  eggs  are  elliptical  oval  in  shape,  about  equally  obtuse  at  either  end ;  the 
shell  is  close  grained,  rather  thin,  and  without  gloss.  The  gi'ound  color  varies 
from  a  uniform  Nile  blue  to  pale  gi'eeni.sh  blue  when  fresh,  fading  out  in  time  to 
a  pale  greenish  yellow.  They  are  unsjjottcd,  but  occasionally  one  or  two  eggs 
in  a  set  present  a  sort  of  mottled  appearance,  the  ground  varying  somewhat  on 
different  parts  of  the  shell.  Their  color  is  one  of  those  subtle  tints  which  it  is 
difficult  to  describe  accui-ately.  Many  of  the  eggs  resemble  in  tint  some  of  the 
lighter-colored  Heron's  eggs. 

The  average  nu'asurement  of  sixty-six  specimens  in  the  United  States 
National  Museum  collection  is  30.28  by  22.94  millimetres,  or  about  l.li)  by  0.90 
inches.  The  largest  egg  in  the  series  measures  33.03  l)y  2."). 40  millimetres,  or 
1.32  by  1.00  niches;  the  smallest,  27.94  by  21.34  millimetres,  or  1.10  by  0.84 
inches. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  20977  (PI.  f),  P^ig.  1),  from  a  set  of  three  eggs, 
was  taken  by  Mr.  I).  H.  Burrows,  near  Lacon,  Marshall  County,  Illinois,  on  July 
5, 1893,  and  presents  the  mottled  appearance  previously  referred  to. 


THE  CALIFORNIA  CUCKOO. 


25 


8.    Coccyzus  americanus  occidentalis  Hidowav. 

CALIKORMA  CUCKOO. 

C'occyzwi  americatitis  occiilenfalU  Uiuuway,  Manual  North  Amoricun  lUrdH,  1887. -'T.'l. 
(H  _,  C  — ,  It  ;W7  part,  C  421t  part,  IT  tiSla.) 

(iKooiiAiMiiCAr,  KANOE:  WeHteni  Nortli  Amfrlca;  north  to  this  Mouthern  portionsol 
Hritish  Cohinibia;  tMiHt  to  the  Kocky  MoiintuinH  and  southeru  Texas;  south  over  the  table- 
hiudH  of  Alexiuo;  northern  Lower  California. 

Till)  bri'tMliiiff  raiiffp  of  tlio  California  Cuckoo,  for  which  the  naiiio  "Westoni 
Yelldw-hilU'd  Cuckoo"  weeum  to  bo  nioro  appropriate,  Ih  coextensive  with  its 
distribution  in  the  United  States.  As  far  as  yet  known  it  reaches  the  northern 
limits  iif  its  breeding  range  about  latitude  .00'^  4.0',  near  Kandooj)8,  in  British 
Columbia,  and  its  southern  and  eastern  limits  in  the  lower  Rio  Grande  V'alle}', 
in  southern  Texas.  The  eastern  slopes  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  ajjpear  to  form 
the  eastern  limits  of  its  range  in  this  direction.  Although  nowhere  connnon,  it 
seems  to  be  generally  distributed  over  the  Pacific  Coast  States  and  Territories. 

Mr.  F.  Stephens  writes  me:  "I  consider  the  California  Cuckoo  n  rare  sum- 
mer resident  of  the  valleys  of  southern  California.  The  only  instance  of  its 
breeding  here,  that  I  know  of,  was  in  the  San  Rernardino  V^dley;  I  saw  the 
l)arent  fly  from  the  nest,  which  was  in  a  slender  willow  growing  in  a  thicket  in 
a  moist  location.  The  little  tree  leaned,  but  was  too  strong  to  admit  of  my 
pulling  the  nest  within  reach;  I  therefore  attempted  to  climb  to  the  nest  and 
succeeded  in  spilling  the  eggs,  which  broke  on  striking  the  ground.  The 
fragments  were  i)ale  green.  The  eggs  were  fresh  and  aj)peared  to  be  two  in 
nund)er.     I  think  the  date  was  the  latter  jiart  of  May,  1882." 

Mr.  Charles  A.  Allen,  of  Nicasio,  has  found  this  subspecies  breeding  in  the 
willow  thickets  along  the  Sacramento  River,  California,  where  it  ajipears  to  be 
not  uncommon  in  suitalile  localities.  Dr.  Clinton  T.  Cooke  considers  it  moder- 
ately common  in  the  vicinity  of  Salem,  Oregon,  and  Mr.  R  11.  Lawrence  nut 
with  it  occasionally  in  the  ColumV)ia  River  Vallev,  in  Clarke  Cimntv,  Wasliinirton. 
It  appears  to  reach  the  center  of  its  abundance,  the  lower  Rio  Grande  Valley, 
in  Texas,  about  the  beginning  of  April,  and  sometimes  nests  there  in  the  latter 
part  of  this  mouth,  l)ut  ordinarily  not  before  May,  while  in  southern  Arizona  it 
appears  to  amve  considerably  later.  I  noticed  it  first  on  June  10,  1872,  among 
the  willows  in  the  Rillito  Creek  l)ottom,  and  again  on  the  liith,  l)ut  failed  to 
find  a  nest  before  July  17,  but  after  this  date  I  found  several  others;  two  of 
these  as  late  as  August  22.  Its  general  habits,  call  notes,  and  food  are  very 
similar  to  those  of  its  somewhat  smaller  eastern  relative,  and  excepting  this 
difference  and  its  stouter  and  larger  beak,  it  Is  otherwise  Indistinguishable.  On 
the  whole,  it  appears  to  be  more  connnon  west  of  the  SieiTa  Nevada  and  the 
Cascade  Mountains  than  in  the  interior,  where  I  only  met  with  it  on  a  single 
occasion,  near  Old  Fort  lioise,  at  Keeneys  FeiTy,  on  the  Oregon  side  of  Snake 
River,  and  here  1  found  a  nest  of  this  subspecies  on  August  2,  1876,  contuiuiug 


i 


86 


LIFE  ilKSTUUlES  (»F  NOUTH  AMKIilCAN   ItlltlKS. 


tlirpo  half-f^own  yuuiiff.  'I'lm  lumt  wiik  |i1iu'(m1  in  u  clmiiii  of  willows,  wifliin  a 
t'l'W  f'nct  of  wlitd'd  I  wiiH  caiiiiKMl,  ami  my  alfciitioii  was  first  iittnictcd  to  it  l>y 
tlio  uiifaHy  iiiaiiiu'i'  in  wliicli  tltu  parents  iiHivt-d  tiiroiinli  tlai  willows,  constantly 
tlittiufr  hark  an<l  forth,  ami  always  with  a  larj^e  hlack  cricket  (Aiidhus  simpltj- 
or  purinttvtiis)  in  their  liiils,  on  which  tlu'V  seenietl  to  feed  their  yonn^f  entirely. 
'I'hey  picked  most  of  these  rupnlsive-lookin^f  creatnres  from  jjriiss  stalks  and 
low  shrubs  on  which  they  were  feeding;,  and  althonj^h  there  were  nnmhers  of 
them  to  Ite  found  all  around,  as  well  as  in  camp,  they  f,'enerally  went  off  some 
little  distance  to  ^et  them.  The  nestlin^js,  only  two  or  three  days  old,  were 
Ufjly-lookinj,'  creatures,  and  their  bodies  were  almost  naked.  The  parents  M»m 
hmt  their  fear  caused  by  my  proximity,  and  (lew  back  and  forth  at  Hhort  inter- 
vals durin<i;  tht^  three  hours  of  daylij^ht  in  which  I  had  aiioppoi  "uitv  toobservu 
them,  '['he  younj,'  uttered  occasionally  a  low,  wheezy  note,  like  "U},^!,  tiffh," 
but  on  the  whole  both  parents  and  youn;;  were  rather  tilent.  This  sid)species 
has  also  iieeii  nu't  with  in  Utah,  and  Mr.  A.  \V.  Anthony  observed  a  ( "uckoo  wlii«'h 
is  un(piestionably  referable  to  this  subspecies  near  Kiisenada,  Lower  (.'alifornia. 
If  the  (lalifornia  Cuckoo  showed  the  same  parasitic  habit  <if  occasionally 
dejiositing  one  or  more  of  its  egfjfs  in  tlm  nests  of  other  birds,  as  its  eastern 
relatives  are  now  and  then  known  t()  do,  I  believe  that  I  should  have  oltserved 
the  fact  in  southern  Arizona.  Hen?  I  found  ei;;ht  of  their  nests  with  cf^Mis,  and 
fully  livi^  Inuidnid  nests  of  smaller  birds,  which  nested  in  similar  localities  amonj^ 
th((  willow  thickets  and  mes(|uite  bushes,  overrun  with  vines,  in  the  creek 
bottoms,  but  not  a  siuf^le  instance!  of  parasitism  came  under  my  ol)servation. 
Tlu!  California  Cuckoo  ))uilt  its  own  nest  in  every  case,  and  wliih^  it  {generally 
was  a  loo.se,  slovenly  affair,  without  any  jtretence  to  architectural  beauty,  I  think 
(Ui  the  whole  it  comj)ar(!d  favorably  with  the  nests  of  om*  two  Itetter-knowu 
eastern  species;  some  at  least  wen^  fairly  well  lined  with  dry  jjrasses  and  the 
Idossoms  of  a  speciies  of  Evax,  and  there  was  irenerally  a  slij;ht  depre.ssif)n  in 
the  center  of  the  no.st  for  the  ogj^s  to  rest  in.  1  took  my  first  set,  containing  two 
fresh  egg.s,  on  July  17,  1H72;  on  the  25th  of  this  month  I  found  another  set  of 
four  eggs  in  which  incubaticm  had  .slightly  and  nniforndy  begun.  On  duly  27 
I  seciu'ed  two  more  setsy  one  of  four,  the  other  of  three  eggs,  })oth  fresh;  and 
I  did  not  find  any  more  in'.L'.'  .vugust  21,  when  I  took  a  .set  of  three,  <nie  of 
which  contained  a  largo  endnyo,  another  one  somewhat  less  advanced,  and  the 
remaining  egg  was  addled.  Next  day  1  found  two  more  nests,  one  containing  a 
set  of  three,  in  which  incul)ation  had  connnenced  evenly,  the  other  held  two 
fresh  eggs,  and  on  August  24  I  found  the  last  nest,  which  contained  a  single 
fresh  egg,  to  which  no  others  were  achled.  'l\vo  of  these  nests  contained 
incomplete  sets  when  foinid,  and  an  i"^ir  was  added  in  each  case  on  succeeding 
days.  As  a  rule,  incubation  does  not  begin  imtil  tla^  set  is  complettul,  and  an 
e^^  is  deposited  daily,  lioth  sexes  assist  in  incubation  and  in  the  care  of  the 
young.  I  believe  only  one  brood  is  raised  in  southern  Arizona  in  a  season. 
The  nests  here  were  placed  in  willow  or  mescpiite  thickets,  from  10  to  15  feet 
from  the  ground,  and  they  were  usually  fairly  well  concealed  by  the  suiTound- 
ing  foliage. 


THE  CAMFOIINIA  CUCKOO. 


27 


Tlie  (>>?)rH  of  tlio  Cnliforniii  (Juckoo  ai««  iiwimlly  tlin><»  or  four  in  niiinlH  r. 
Tlii'V  aro  lij^lit  frrcfiiiMli  hliio  in  rolor,  uiiMiHittcd,  anil  in  tinn'  tliin  niistiil)lt'  tint 
fadcH  to  a  unit'orni  palo  ycllowiHli  j^roen.  'I'lu^y  an-  mostly  il!i|itinil  oval  in 
Hiia|»(»;  a  tow  may  Iw  railed  tdliptical  ovjito,  onti  «'nd  licinjr  nlinlitly  niDic  pniiitcd 
tlian  tlu'  otliur,  'i'lu>  mIioII  in  tino  (frainiMl,  rather  thin,  and  without  ^-loss.  'I'lic 
I'triTA  avt-rafft'  a  tritlf  larjft-r  than  thomt  of  thi)  Ycllow-ltiilcd  Cuckoo. 

Tlio  averajrc  mcaMurcnu'iit  »)f  forty-thrcn  spccinii'iiH  in  the  I'liirtMl  States 
National  Mnscinn  collection  is  .'30.85  hy -».'{. K!  millimetre.s,  or  ahoiit  l.lM  liy  O.'.H 
inohc'H.  The  larjrost  of  those  e«,'i,'H  measnres  lV.\I}:i  hy  2I.:J8  millimei'.  or  l..'J2 
liy  (>.!!()  inches;   the  Hmallest,  27.4a  l)y21.(>H  millimetres,  or  l.OH  hy  0.k;{  inciies. 

The  typo  specimen,  No.  20470  (PI.  ;'),  Fi>,'.  2),  lUindiro  collection,  from  a  set 
of  fonr  e;,'}rs,  was  taken  by  tlio  writer  on  Itillito  Creek,  near  Tncson,  Arizona,  on 
.July  27,  1872.  This  is  one  of  the  largeHt  vgga  in  the  serit'b,  and  is  sliphtly 
faded,  fresh  eggs  looking  somewhat  brighter. 


9.     Coccyzus  erythrophthalmus  (Wu.son). 

IlLACK-IIII.I.Kn  ( i'UKOO. 

(UichIuh  rrythrophthalmuH  WiLSON,  Anu'rieivn  Ornithology,  IV,  1811, 1«,  PI.  L'S. 
Ciwri/zKH  vijitliniphlhalinu*  BoNArAKTK,  .loarnal  Auiuleiny  Natural  Uc.iuuves,  I'liiiit.,  ill,  ii, 
1«L'4,  ;j«7. 

(H  7(>,  C  2W},  It  388,  ('  \'2H,  U  ;WH.) 

ORoORAi'iiinAi..  RANOK:  Eastern  North  A MiciiL'n;  north  in  tla;  Dominion  of  Canada 
to  Nova  Hi'otia,  New  lti'aMs\vii'k,southvra(jucl)oc,uial  Ontario,  to  aliout  hititudu  17  ,iiiul  in 
the  provinces  of  Manitoba  and  eastern  Assiniboia  to  about  lutitn(lc.'"»l  ;  wust  in  liic  I'nitc'l 
.States  to  the  ea.'^tern  foothills  of  the  liocky  Moantains,  Montana,  Wyoininji,  Colorado,  and 
Texas;  south,  in  winter,  to  the  West  India  Islands,  Central  America,  ami  northern  South 
Amei'icii.     Accidental  in  (ireat  Britain  and  Italy. 

The  IJlaek-billt'd  Cuckoo,  u  slightly  smaller  bird  tlian  the  Yellow-billod,  is 
likewise  known  by  the  dift'erent  local  names  of  the  latter,  and  is  (d'ten  mistaken 
for  it.  It  apjtears  to  bo  somewhat  hardier,  extendinjj  its  mioratioMs  several 
degrees  farther  north,  and  it  breeds  throughout  its  range  from  about  latitude  'A^t'' 
nortinvard.  Occasionally  it  luis  been  reported  as  breeding  still  farther  soutii, 
but  below  th(f  latitude  named  it  must  be  considered  as  an  irregular  and  rare  sum- 
mer resident.  In  ea.stern  North  America  it  reaches  the  northern  limits  of  its 
raiig(^  in  about  latitude  47°,  while  in  the  interior,  in  the  provinces  of  .Maiiitolia 
and  eastern  Assiniboia,  it  has  been  found  as  far  north  as  latitude  .'')1",  and  it 
ranges  |)robably  still  farther  in  this  direction.  The  ea.stern  slopes  of  tint  liocky 
Mountains  appear  to  form  the  western  limits  of  its  habitat.  Here  it  lias  been 
<tbtainod  at  Pryor's  Fork  of  tiie  Yellowstone,  Mtmtana,  and  I  found  it  breeding 
on  the  Little  Horn  River,  neai  Fort  Custer,  on  June  2.5,  inH.").  Mr.  W.  (!.  Smith 
has  observed  it  in  Larimer  County,  Colorado,  where  lie  believes  it  brei'ds,  but  it 
is  rare.  It  is  a  fairly  common  species  in  suitable  localities  throughout  the  greati-r 
part  of  its  range,  and  in  the  more  noithem  portions  it  outnumbers  the  Yellow- 


,'i 


«< 


28 


LIFK  HISTORIES  OF  NOKTll  AMKHICAN  iJIRDS. 


ii'. 

i 

r,- 

!•   . 

1  k^ 

billed  Cuckoo  considerably.  In  winter  it  occurs  to  some  extent  in  Florida  and 
jdong  the  (Julf  coast,  but  by  iar  the  {greater  number  pass  i)evond  our  borders  to 
tln'  West  India  Islands,  and  even  throu<^li  Mexico  and  CJentral  America  to  northern 
S(mth  America.  It  usually  reenters  the  I'nited  States  from  its  winter  haunts  in 
the  South  durin<>'  tlm  lirst  half  of  April,  arriviuf;- on  its  more  northern  bn'edin;r 
{^rounds  {renerally  about  a  week  earlier  than  the  VeUow-billi'd  Cuckoo.  The 
return  miyrati«m  in  the  fall  ordinarily  be;>ins  in  the  latter  j)art  of  Sej)temb('r, 
while  a  few  of  these  birds  linurr  sometinu's  well  in  October  and  occasionally 
even  until  early  Novend)er. 

Its  {general  habits,  ]iluma}j:e,  manner  of  llif^ht,  food,  an<l  many  of  its  call 
notes  are  very  similar  ti)  those*  of  tht!  Vellow-billed  species,  and  it  is  rather 
dilKcult  to  distin;;uish  one  from  tim  other  unless  very  clo.sci  to  them,  lake  tlu) 
species  referred  to,  it  is  eminently  Itcnclicial,  and  deserxcs  the  fidlest  protection, 
'riiey  freijuent  the  same  kind  of  localities,  and  are  especially  partial  to  tho 
slirulibery  alon;;'  water  courses,  lakes,  ponds,  hillsiih'S  iiordeiinj;'  wet  meadow.s, 
overjiTown  here  and  there  with  clum])s  of  bushes,  iind  the  outer  ed;j(s  of  low- 
lyin;;'  forests,  while  they  are  far  le.ss  often  ob.served  in  hi;ili  and  drv  situations 
any  distance  away  from  water.  On  the  wiiole,  its  call  notes  appear  not  to  be 
(piite  so  loud  as  the  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo's,  and  rather  mon*  pleasinj;'  to  the  eai-. 
Their  i>rdinary  note  is  a  soft  "coo-coo,"  a  numlu'r  of  times  re|)eate(l.  Mrs.  Olive 
Tliorno  Miller,  well  known  as  an  enthusiasti)'  and  painstaking'' observer,  <h-scribes 
their  alarm  note  as  "cuck-a-nuk,"  and  ^ives  a  very  full  and  interestin^i-  account 
of  the  actions  of  a  ]iair  of  these  birds  in  her  charmingly-written  "Little  ihotli- 
ers  of  the  Air."  From  personal  observations,  I  am  inclined  to  iielieve  that  tin- 
Hlack-billed  Cuckoo  is  more  irrej,ndar  in  its  nestin<>-  habits  than  the  Yellow-billed, 
and  that  cases  of  parasitism  are  of  more  freipient  occinrence.  I  also  think  their 
ejiys  are  nuich  oftener  found  in  dilVerent  stayi-s  of  incubation  than  appears  to  be 
tho  case  with  the  Yellow-l)illed  spe<'ies, 

Mr.  J.  li.  Davi.son,  of  Lockport,  New  York,  well  k""^vn  as  a  careful  an<l 
reliable  ornitholoffist,  in  his  list  of  liirds  of  Niapira  Comity,  New  ^'ork,  orij;i- 
nallv  published  in  "Forest  and  Stream,"  September,  ISSit,  makes  the  foliowiiifiC 
remarks  about  this  Cu<'koo: 

"1  have  ofti'U  found  the  ('jij^s  of  this  s](ecies  in  the  nest  ol' C  fN/^r/vV^MM.v, 
but  oidv  once  have  I  found  it  in  the  nest  of  any  other  binl,  .lune  IT,  1H82,  I 
found  a  lihu'k-billed  Cuckoo  and  a  Mourninf;-  I  )o\  »■  sittiuf^'  on  a  IJobin's  nest 
toiredier.  The  Cuckoo  was  the  lirst  to  leave*  the  nest.  ( )n  securiu"-  this  I  found 
it  contained  twoejif^'s  of  the  Cuckoo,  two  of  tin*  Mournin}>-  Hove,  and  one  Kobin's 
cfifj.  The  i{<)biu  had  not  quite  iinished  the  nest  when  the  Cuckoo  took  posses- 
sion of  it  and  tilled  it  nearly  full  of  rootlets;  but  tlu>  Kobin  ^nt  in  and  laid  one 
e<i'^'.  Incubation  had  commenced  in  the  l{ol)in  and  Cuckoo  ej^j^s,  but  not  ;:>  tho 
Mourniu}^  Dove's  efjfjs.     I  ha\  e  the  nest  and  e}i|;s  in  my  collection.     *     *     * 

"I  am  alsixpiite  certain  that  I  have  seen  the  Ulack-billed  and  Yellow-billed 
Cuckoo  feediuff  youn<f  in  the  same  nest,  an  account  of  which  was  published  in 
'  Forest  and  Stream  '     Since  then  I  have  found  a  number  of  nests  containing 


^■i^ 
J 

M 


■i 


THE  BLACK  BILLED  CUCKOO. 


29 


the  o<r{js  of  l)otli  species,  and  have  como  to  the  conchision  that  I  was  not  mis- 
taken ill  tliat  oliservatidii.  On  Septoniher  10,  18H;5,  I  found  a  nest  of  tlie  IMaek- 
bilU'd  Cuekoo  containiii'i'  two  yoiiiiff  liirds  not  more  thiin  one  day  out  of  the 
shell;   the  two  pnnioiis  nij-lits  we  had  severe  frosts  that  destroyed  vef?(^tablea." 

While  instances  of  the  IMack-biiled  Cuckoo  laying;  in  the  ne.sts  of  the 
Yellow-hilled  me  not  especially  rare,  cases  where  it  lays  its  e^'^s  in  those  of 
other  species,  esjiecially  smaller  ones  than  itself,  are  decidedly  uncommon.  1 
have  never  si'cn  a  case  of  this  kind,  hut,  nevertheless,  several  well-authenticated 
instances  liave  liceii  recorded  which  leave  no  room  for  douht;  of  these  I  will 
oiilyipiote  one,  puidished  liy  Dr.  V.  K.  Clarke,  of  Kiii}>ston,  Ontario,  ('anada, 
who  says:  "In  an  orchard  we  discovered  a  Black-billed  Cuckoo  sittinj;  in  a 
Chipping'  Sparrow's  nest,  and  the  bird  did  not  attempt  to  move  till  we  almost 
touched  it.  it  now  seemed  very  evident  that  the  case  aj^ainst  the  I)ird  was  a 
stroiif'-  one,  and  when  a  (hickoti's  eii}i-  was  found  in  the  nest  the  chain  of  evi- 
dence was  completer.  The  ejfj?  was  hatched  and  produced  a  tyrannical  youuff 
Cuckoo,  who  turned  his  companions  out  of  the  ne.st  and  made  himself  as  com- 
fortalile  as  j)ossible  as  \on<x  as  was  necessary,  'i'wo  of  lis  saw  the  oUl  (hickoo 
actually  sittiii"'  in  the  nest,  and  there  was  no  (hmiit  alxmt  the  matter.  We  have 
been  informed  tliat  the  erratic  nestin}>-  of  the  Cuckoo  has  been  rejieated  in  the 
same  orchard  since  the  occasion  referred  to,  l)iit  of  this  wo  have  no  accurate 
information."' 

It;  -"x^s  have  been  found  in  tlu*  nests  of  the  Wood  Pewee,  Yellow  Warbler, 
Catbird,  tnd  others.  Nidilication  commences  rather  late,  rarely  before  the 
middle  of  May;  full  sets  of  e;'<;s  are  sometimes  found  abimt  the  end  of  this 
month,  but  much  more  freipieiitly  durinjif  .liine  and  duly  Oecaalonally  a  .set  is 
met  with  in  the  latter  part  of  .Viifiiist,  probiiidy  a  second  clutch.  The  earliest 
nestiiij,"-  record  I  know  is  one  of  May  7,  I87H,  whert^  Mr.  Uoliert  Kidj^way  found 
a  set  of  these  e<"-;is  nciir  Mount  Carmel,  Illinois;  these  iire  now  in  the  United 
States  National  Museum  collection,  (hdinarily  an  e<T{f  is  dejiosited  daily  until 
the  set  is  completeil,  but  not  imfriMpieiitly  they  are  laid  jit  considerably  loii};-er 
intervals,  and  it  is  well  known  that  yoiinj;'  of  ditferent  af^cs,  as  well  as  effj^s  in 
various  stages  of  incubation,  are  sometimes  found  in  the  same  nest. 

The  nests  of  the  IJlack-liilled  Cuckoo  appear  to  be  slijjhtly  bi'tter  built 
than  those  of  the  V('llow-l)ille(l  species;  the  plattonn  is  usually  constructed  of 
finer  twiji's,  the  soft  inner  Imrk  of  cedar,  fine  rootlets,  weed  stems,  etc.,  and  there 
is  ji^enerally  more  lininj>'.  This  consists  of  the  ametits  of  oak,  white  and  black 
iish,  and.mjiple,  willow  catkins,  ioid  the  (lowers  of  tlu*  cudweed  or  everlastin<>; 
{(iHiijilKiliKm),  dried  leaves,  and  similar  materials.  The  majority  of  the  nests  are 
placed  in  nitlier  low  situations,  mostly  not  over  (i  feet  from  the  i>;round,  on 
iiorizontid  lindis  of  bushy  (n-erj;reens,  pines,  cedars,  and  hemha'ks,  or  in  decid- 
uous tri'cs  tnid  shrubs,  such  as  tlii^  box  elder,  chestnut,  thorn  apple,  and  beech 
trees;  also  in  lied<j;es,  briar  and  kalmiji  pate  lies,  oecasionalK' on  old  lo;>s,  and 
now  and  then  even  on  the  >iToiind.     Dr.  I'.  L.  Match  reports  such  in.stances  in 

>  Truiifmcticiim  ol°  tin'  taiwidiaii  liiKtilntc,  Oct.,  1890,  Vol,  I,  Part  I,  pii.  IS-Oil. 


30 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NOETH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


his  "Birds  of  Minnesota,"  1892  (p.  222).  There  is  but  little  difference  in  the 
size  of  their  nests  from  those  of  the  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo,  and  the  same  meas- 
urements will  answer  for  both. 

The  IJlai'k-billed  Cuckoo  is  apt  to  desert  its  nest  if  it  knows  it  has  been 
discovered.  Judge  J.  N.  Clark,  of  Saybrook,  Connecticut,  writes  me:  "Of  all 
the  Cuckoos'  nests  which  1  have  found,  before  the  set  was  complete,  if  the  bird 
was  at  the  nest,  and  one  generally  is,  the  next  visit  would  always  find  the  nest 
deserted  and  one  or  more  of  the  eggs  gone;  at  least  such  has  been  my  fretjuent 
experience."  On  the  data  sheet  of  a  set  of  three  eggs  of  this  species  in  the 
Ealph  collection,  taken  on  May  29,  1879,  by  Mr.  W.  W.  Worthington,  on 
Shelter  Island,  Suffolk  County,  New  York,  I  find  the  following  entiy  in  the 
collector's  handwriting:  "On  visiting  this  nest  firet  it  contained  two  eggs;  the 
following  day  it  was  empty.  I  then  left  it  one  day,  and  on  the  /I'.xt  visit  it 
contained  three  eggs.  I  have  carefully  examined  these  eggs,  and  they  certainly 
look  as  if  they  had  all  been  laid  by  the  same  bird."  I  had  a  somewhat  similar 
experience  with  the  only  nest  of  this  species  I  found  near  Fort  C.!ster, 
Montana,  on  June  22,  1885.  This  was  placed  in  a  bull  or  buffalo  beiry  bush 
{Slicphmlia  aificnteii)  close  to  the  banks  of  the  Little  Honi  River,  alx)ut  4  feet 
from  the  groimd.  I  noticed  the  bird  slipping  off  as  I  approached,  and  on 
looking  into  the  bush  and  separating  the  branches  I  found  the  nest  and  saw 
that  it  contained  only  a  single  egg,  which  appeared  to  be  very  peculiarly 
marked.  I  did  not  tcmcli  this,  and  left  the  vicinity  at  once.  On  revisiting  the 
place  again  on  the  24th,  I  found  the  nest  empty  and  no  trace  of  the  e^g  on  the 
ground  below  the  nest.  I  was  much  provoked  at  not  having  taken  the  egg 
when  I  first  found  the  nest,  as  it  was  a  very  deeply  colored  one,  and  after 
making  a  thorough  search  through  the  thickets  on  that  side  of  the  river,  I  gave 
it  up  for  that  day,  but  retm'ned  again  on  the  25th  and  examined  a  patch  of 
wild  rose  bushes  about  100  yards  from  the  old  site  and  on  the  opposite  Ijank. 
Almost  as  soon  as  I  entered  this  thicket  I  saw  a  Cuckoo  flying  up  into  a  willow 
sapling  and  acting  in  a  very  excited  manner;  a  few  minutes  later  I  found 
a  nest,  containing,  to  the  best  of  my  belief,  the  identical  egg  I  had  seen  in  the 
first  one.  The  second  nest  was  evidently  built  in  a  luuTy,  and  consisted  simply 
of  a  vcr)'  slight  platform  of  dry  twigs,  with  scarcely  any  lining  whatever.  It 
was  j)laced  8  feet  from  the  ground,  in  a  dense  clump  of  wild  rose  bushes,  and 
was  well  concealed  froni  view.  To  make  siu'e,  this  time  I  took  the  single  egg, 
which  is  the  most  peculiarly  colored  one  I  have  yet  seen  of  this  species,  and  is 
reproduced  on  PI.  5,  Fig.  3. 

Although  not  whnt  might  be  called  a  very  social  bird  at  any  time, 
occasionally  in  some  particularly  suitable  place  a  number  of  pairs  may  bn  found 
nesting  close  together.  Mr.  II.  W.  Flint,  of  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  writes 
me:  "I  know  of  one  spot  in  this  vicinity  where  the  Black-billed  Cuckoo  miglit 
almost  be  said  to  breed  in  colonies — a  sloping  hillside  near  a  traveled  road. 
Here  I  have  found  seven  nests  of  this  species  within  an  hoiu',  none  of  tliem 
placed  over  3  feet  from  the  ground.     I  have  also  frequently  fomid  their  nest  on 


m 
•I 


■  'I' 


'?8 


THE  BLACK-BILLED  CUCKOO. 


31 


a  fallen  limb,  the  top  of  which  was  resting  upon  underbmsh.  As  an  exception 
to  their  low  nostiiif;-,  I  once  found  a  nest  containiufr  two  well-feathered  younj? 
and  two  fresh  egf^s  over  1 8  feet  from  the  ground,  placed  in  the  to[)  of  a  cedar 
tree,  in  a  dense  thicket  of  other  cedars." 

Both  sexes  assist  in  incubation  as  well  as  in  the  care  of  the  young;  they 
appear  to  bo  devoted  parents,  and  the  fact  that  they  are  occasionally  willing  to 
ai)andon  their  young  to  the  mercy  of  foster  parents  apj)ears  rather  unaccount- 
able, to  say  the  least,  especially  when  it  is  positively  known  that  they  occasionally 
remove  their  eggs,  as  well  as  the  young,  from  one  nest  to  another  in  order  to 
better  protect  them  from  possible  harm.  In  my  opinion,  tlie  real  causes  for  the 
so  utterly  inconsistent  behavior  on  the  part  of  some  of  these  birds  are  not  yet 
fully  understood. 

The  munber  of  eggs  laid  to  a  set  varies  from  two  to  seven;  sets  of  three  or 
four  are  most  common,  and  those  of  over  five  are  rare.  Dr.  Louis  15.  Bishop  found 
a  set  of  seven  eggs  of  this  species  near  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  on  June  7, 
18!)3,  in  which  three  eggs  were  fresh,  in  two  incubation  had  just  begun,  in 
anotlier  it  was  somewhat  more  advanced,  and  in  one  egg  the  embryo  was  well 
formed.  Tliere  is  frecpiently  considerable  difference  in  size  among  the  eggs 
found  in  the  same  set,  although  apj)arently  laid  by  the  same  bird.  In  a  set  of 
three  eggs,  for  instance.  No.  2G()19,  United  States  National  Museum  collection, 
taken  by  Mr.  Thad.  Surbe.,  near  White  Sulphur  Springs,  West  Virginia,  on 
June  3,"l8!l3,  the  mea.surements  are  as  follows:  2G.'J2  by  20.07,  24.85)  l)y  1!».81, 
and  22.35  by  18.rj4  millimetres,  or  LOG  by  0  79,  0.98  by  0.78,  and  0.88  by 
0.73  inclies;  the  ditterence  is,  of  course,  not  always  so  great,  but  is  often  quite 
perceptible.  The  eggs  of  the  Jilack-bilied  Cuckoo  are  more  nearly  oval  than 
elliptical  oval,  and  sliorter  and  rounder  than  those  of  the  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo, 
and  nuu'h  more  dee))ly  colored.  Like  these,  they  are  unspotted;  the  shell  is  thin 
and  fine  grained,  with  litth^  or  no  gloss.  Their  color  is  difficult  to  describe 
exactly,  varying  from  nile  blue  to  pale  beryl  green,  and  occasionally  the  shell 
shows  a  decidedly  marbled  ajjpearance,  caused  by  different  shades  running  into 
each  other,  an  illustration  of  which  is  shown  in  PI.  5,  Fig.  3.  Aside  from  their 
dee))er  color,  they  are  also  readily  distinguished  from  the  eggs  of  the  Yellow- 
billed  Cuckoo  by  their  smaller  size. 

The  average  measurement  of  foi-ty-two  specimens  in  the  United  States 
National  Museum  collection  is  27.23  by  20.53  millimetres,  or  about  1.07  by  0.81 
inches.  The  largest  egg  of  the  series  measures  29.97  by  22.86  millimetres,  or 
L18  l)y  0  90  inches;  the  smallest,  22.35  by  18.54  millimetres,  or  0.88  by  0.73 
inch. 

The  type  sjjecimen,  No.  22444  (PI.  5,  Fig.  3),  a  single  q^^,  Bendire  collec- 
tion, was  taken  by  the  writer  near  Fort  Custer,  Montana,  on  June  25,  1885,  and 
is  a  very  peculiarly  colored  specimen,  while  No.  2()019  (PI.  5,  Fig.  4),  from  a 
set  of  three  eggs,  and  taken  by  Mr.  Thad.  Surber,  on  June  3,  1893,  near  White 
Sulphiu"  Springs,  West  Virginia,  represents  about  an  average  egg  of  this  species. 


WW 


82 


lilFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


10.     Cuculus  canorus  telephonus  (Heine). 

8IBEKIAN  CUCKOO. 

Cuculus  tehphonu»  HEINE,  Journal  fiir  Oriiitliologie,  18»!3, 352. 

CuculuH  canorus  telephonus  >Stejnegeb,  Biilletiu  29,  U.  S.  National  Museum,  1885,  p.  224. 

(B— ,  R— ,  C— ,  U  [388.1.]) 

Geogbaphical  bange  :  Eastern  Asia,  casually  to  the  Pribilof  Islands,  Alaska. 

The  Siberiiin  Cuckoo  claims  a  jjlace  in  oiir  fauna  on  the  strength  of  a  HinjOfle 
specimen  having'  been  taken  by  Mr.  William  Palmer  at  Northeast  Point,  St. 
Paul's  Island,  Ala.ska,  on  July  4,  1890,  which  is  now  in  the  United  States 
National  Museum  collection.  Mr.  Palmer  states  "  when  collected  it  was  busily 
engaged  capturing  some  large  flies  whidi  are  abundant  on  these  islands,  and 
with  which  its  stomach  was  literally  packed.  It  had  been  seen  by  the  natives  in 
the  same  place  for  more  than  two  weeks,  and  was  probably  the  same  individual 
seen  by  myself  on  June  13,  when  becalmed  in  a  fog  off  the  eastern  side  of  the 
same  island,  on  which  occasion  it  circled  overhead  like  a  gull  for  some  time, 
while  calmly  inspecting  the  boat,  and  then  moved  off  northward.'" 

As  far  as  I  can  learn,  nothing  definite  has  as  yet  been  ascertained  regarding 
its  nesting  habits  and  eggs.  The}'  inidoubtedl}'  coirespond  closely  to  those  of 
its  well-known  western  relative,  the  conmum  Eiu'opean  Cuckoo,  Cuculus  canorus, 
and  Dr.  Stejneger  tells  me  that  in  its  general  habits  and  call  notes  he  could  not 
detect  the  slightest  difference  from  those  of  the  latter.  At  his  suggestion,  I  hfive 
sub.stituted  the  name  of  "Siberian"  for  "Kamschatkan"  Cuckoo,  which  is  more 
applicable  to  the  bird  described  by  him  as  Cuculus  pemnsulce,  from  Kamschatka. 


Family  TROGONID^.     Trogons. 

II.     Trogon  ambiguus  Gould. 

copperv-tailed  trogon. 

Trogon  ambiguus  Gould,  Proceedings  Zoological  Society,  18.35,  30. 

(B  (!5,  C  284,  R  384,  C  422,  U  389.) 

GEOGBAPnirAL  RANGE:  Southern  Mexico  from  Oaxaca  and  Guerrero,  north  to  the 
valley  of  the  lower  Kio  Grande,  in  Texas,  and  the  mountains  of  southwestern  New  Mexico, 
and  southern  Ari/.ona. 

The  Coppery-tailed  Trogon,  the  only  representative  of  this  magnificently 
plumaged  family  in  the  United  States,  nmst  be  considered  as  a  ratlier  rare 
summer  resident  within  our  borders,  and  very  little  is  yet  known  about  its 
general  habits.  There  is  no  loMger  any  doubt,  however,  that  it  breeds  in  some 
of  the  mountain  ranges  of  southern  Arizona,  and  probably  also  in  the  San  Luis 
Mountains,  in  the  extreme  southwestern  comer  of  New  Mexico.     First  Lieut. 


'  The  Auk,  Vol.  XI,  18U1,  p.  325. 


THE  COPPEBY-TAILEI)  TltOdON. 


33 


IT.  (!.  Hciisoii,  Fourth  (Cavalry,  United  States  Army,  secured  a  youn^f  male  in  its 
first  i)luina}fe  in  the  lltiaelnica  Mountains,  Arizona,  on  An;>ust  24,  18H5,  and  an 
a(hilt  female  was  sliot  in  the  same  vicinity  by  Mr.  F.  H.  Fowler  in  tlii^  first  part 
of'Au^fUst,  181)2.  Another  adult  female,  which  evidently  had  a  nest  close  hy, 
was  obtained  bv  Or.  Edgar  A.  Moarns,  United  States  Army,  on  June  23, 1892,  on 
the  east  side  of"  the  San  Luis  Mountains,  close  to  the  Mexican  boundary  line. 
Tlie  lou}^  tail  feathers  in  this  sj)eeimen  are  much  worn  and  abraded,  and  look  as 
if  the  l)ird  had  passed  consideral)le  time  in  very  limited  quarters.  Its  mate  was 
also  .seen,  but  not  secured.  'udgiujjf  from  tlie  character  of  the  country  this 
species  inhabits  in  southern  Arizona,  that  is  pine  forest  regions,  it  is  probaldy 
only  a  straggler  iu  the  lower  Rio  Grande  Valley  in  Texas,  and  does  not  breed 
there. 

l)r.  A.  K.  Fisher  has  kindly  furnished  me  with  the  foUowing  notes  on  this 
s])ocies:  "  Soon  after  arriving  at  Fort  Huachucia,  Arizona,  I  learned  that  the 
"^I'rogon  was  not  luicoinmou  among  the  pines  in  the  neighboring  mountains.  A 
reliabl((  young  man  informed  me  that  ho  had  killed  three  during  tlu;  previous 
season  (1<S!)1),  and  a  rancher  who  raises  fruit  in  Ramsay  (Janyon  stated  that  the 
species  visited  tlm  gardcjns  in  considerable  lunnbers,  especially  during  tlie  period 
when  cherries  were  ripe.     He  had  noti('ed  the  first  arrival  on  May  1 7. 

"On  Jmvi  9,  in  company  with  Capt.  J.  L.  Fowler  and  liis  son  Frederick, 
I  mad(!  a  trip  toward  the  head  of  Tanner  or  Garden  Canyon,  as  it  is  more  com- 
monly designated  in  the  vicinity.  While  riding  up  the  shady  trail  among  the 
])ines  a  beautiful  male  Trogon  Hew  across  the  })atli  and  alighteil  among  the 
trees  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  narrow  canyon.  It  was  impossible  to  follow  it 
and  to  pass  through  the  thick  underbrush  and  hjose  rocks  without  making  con- 
siderabhi  noise,  whicli  startled  ihe  bird,  and  it  was  finally  lost  among  the  tliick 
foliage.  Tliglier  up  in  the  mountains  w*;  heard  its  j)eculiar  note,  which  was 
uttered  at  regular  intervals,  and  closely  resend)led  that  of  a  hen  'l\u'key. 
Later  in  the  afternoon,  f)n  the  way  down,  another  was  heard,  and  by  carefullv 
approaching  along  the  hillside  a  male  was  discovered  sitting  on  the  lower  limb 
of  a  j»ine.  It  sat  straiglit  upright,  with  the  tail  lianging  pei'pendicular  to  the 
body,  and  while  uttering  its  n(jte  the  head  was  thrown  backward  and  the  bill 
extended  nearly  upward.  After  watcliing  the  bird  for  a  few  moments  it  was 
secured.  The  testes  were  well  developed.  The  stomach  eontainetl  a  few  smooth 
caterpillars." 

The  general  habits  of  the  Coppery-tiiilv,.!  Trogon  probably  do  not  differ 

nnuli  from  tlios     of  other  members  of  this  family  ab(mt  wliich  a  little  more 

is  known.    According  to  Gould,  who  published  a  magnificent  monograph  of  this 

family,  "Trogons  are  usually  found  singl)  or  in  pairs,  and  keej)  mostly  in  the 

shade  of  forest  trees,  perching  on  the  lower  ]ind)s  of  these.     1  )uring  the  breeding 

season   they   are   continually  calling  to  each   other,  and   arc^   called  '  17w/rt.s' 

(Widow.s)  by  tlie  Mexicans;  tliey  are  easily  located  on  this  account  and  are  not 

])!irticularly  sliy.    Their  food  consists  of  fruit,  grasshoppers,  and  other  insects, 

and  in  tlieir  actions  while  catching  tlu;  latter  they  are  said  to  resemlde  a  Flv- 

catcher,  starting  and  returning  from  a  porch  like  these  birds,  and  often  sitting 
1U8UG-N0.  3 — 3 


34 


Lll'H  1IISTOKIKS  OK  NOIiTII  AMKIilCAN  WWIDH. 


lor  liours  in  tlic  saiiio  pliico.  Tliey  are  (ittuu  iiit;t  aiiiuiij^-  flocks  ot"  other  birds, 
such  as  Flycatciiors,  'raua<ft'rs,  Creepers,  and  VV^oodpeckers." ' 

All  of  the  Troffons,  whose  mode  of  niditication  is  known,  resort,  to  natural 
cuvities  in  trees  or  to  some  of  the  larj^er  woodpecker  holes,  the  I'^i'^s  Ijuinj;'  depos- 
ited in  the  liottoni  of  the  hole,  on  the  rubbish  or  chips  wliidi  may  l>o  found  in  it. 
Tiiese  are  said  ti>  vary  from  two  to  four,  more  likely  the  former  numl)er.  As 
far  as  known,  they  are  unspotted;  tiie  eji}^  of  the  handsome  (^nezal  (l'li(tniinrrus 
nioriiiiio)  is  descril»ed  as  of  a  pale  l)luisli-^reen  color;  that  of  tiie  .Mexican  Tro;idU 
(^Troi/on  mcxiriiiiiis)  is  said  to  be  very  i)ale  greenisli,  wliile  the  eggs  of  Troijuu 
siintiiiit  from  Paraguay  are  said  to  be  pure  white. 

I  have  seen  eggs  ])ur|)orting  to  belong  to  this  species;  but  tlieir  large  size, 
as  well  as  tlie  source  from  which  they  came,  do  not  warrant  uw  in  giving 
measurements  or  a  description  of  these  specimens,  and  as  far  as  1  know  genuine 
eggs  of  the  Coppery-tailed  Trogou  still  remain  to  be;  described. 


% 


;3 


'■■:<■ 


Family  AI.C^KDINID.K.     Kinokisiikks. 
12.     Ceryle  alcyon  (liiNN.KUs). 

BELTKl)  KINCiFISUKK. 

Alcvdo  alvyoii  LinN/EUH,  Syst.onia  Nattuw,  ed.,  10,  I,  17."i8,  ll.'i. 
Ceryle  •dcyon  Bonai'AKTK,  Proceedings  Zoological  Society,  18.57,  108. 

(H  117,  C  286,  It  382,  V  423,  IJ  390.) 

GEooKArnioAL  UANOE:  North  America  generally;  south  to  I'iuiaiiia  and  the  West 
Indies. 

The  '.{cited  Kingfisher,  ordinarily  simply  called  "Kingtishor,"' is  one  of  our 
best-known  birds,  and  it  is  mMierallv  distributed  in  suital)le  localities  thi-ou<!liout 


the   North  American  Continent,  thouuli  seldom   verv  ( 


onnnon  anvwhere. 


Its 


breeding  rangi'  extends  from  Florida  and  'I'exas  north  to  the  shores  of  Labrador, 
Hudson  Jiay,  the  Arctic  Ocean,  and  Bering  Sea.  In  the  more  noi'thern  parts  of 
its  range  it  is  onlv  a  sunnner  resident,  but  not  a  few  wintin*  in  some  of  the  Nc 
Kuiiland  and  other  Xortliern  States,  a 


s  w( 


11 


in  Or 


('"•on  and 


WasI 


w 

nnn'ton,  on 


the  Pacific,  coast.  These  birds  which  brave  the  severe  Avintcr  climate  along  our 
northern  border  are  probably  migrants  from  tlu^  far  North,  and  better  adapted 
to  withstand  the  cold,  the  only  re(|uisite  being  sutHcient  o]»en  water  to  enable 
them  to  obtain  their  necessary  supply  of  food.  In  the  mountain  regions  of 
Colorado,  Wyoming,  and  Montana  they  range  to  an  altitude  of  !»,()00  feet  in 
suminer,  and  perhaps  .still  higher,  while  in  the  southern  Sierra  Nevada  thev 
reach  nearly  the  same  elevations. 

In  its  general  appearance  the  Kingfisher  is  a  striking  but  rntlicr  top-lieav}' 
looking  bird;  its  satin-like  plumage  feels  dense  and  smooth  to  the  touch,  ns  if  it 
was  oiled,  while  its  soft,  weak  feet  look  out  of  all  proimrtion  to  its  rather  large 


m 


'  Mc)n()gi'U|ih  uf  the  Trogouiilii',  2il  oil.,  1875,  I'l.  VllI,  not  pa^ed. 


THE  BELTED  KINGFISHER. 


35 


head  fuul  body.  Thoy  seem  almost  inadequate  to  support  its  weij^lit,  and  cer- 
tainly do  not  apiK'ur  to  be  much  adapted  to  walking,  an  exercise  which  I  have 
never  seen  one  indulge  in. 

In  its  disiMKsition  it  nuist  be  classed  among  the  unsocial  and  qnarrelsome 
birds,  and,  excepting  during  the  mating  and  breeding  season,  it  is  rare  to  see  two 
together.  As  in  everything  else,  liowever,  there  appear  to  be  exce])tions  to  this 
rule,  as  Mr.  W.  E.  Loucks,  of  I'eoria,  Illinois,  writes  me:  "Along  the  Cedar 
liiver,  in  Iowa,  I  fimnd  tiicse  birds  in  great  lunnbers.  A  large  clay  bank  along 
the  river  re.sembled  a  honeycomb,  so  numerous  wvvv  the  holes  made  by  these 
birds.  This  is  the  only  case  that  I  know  of  where  Kingfishers  have  been  found 
bre(.'ding  in  close  i)roximity." 

As  ii  rule  eacli  pair  of  birds  seem  to  claim  a  certain  range  on  some  suitable 
stream,  lake,  or  mill  pond,  and  should  others  intrude  on  this  they  are  (piickly 
driven  off.  Cleiu-  .streams  t)r  ponds,  bordered  with  per|)endicular  banks  and 
low,  l)rusli-covered  shores,  are  their  favorite  resorts,  and  along  such  places  one 
will  not  have  to  g(j  far  before  hearing  the  characteri.stic  rattle  of  the  Kingfisher, 
or  perhaps  seeing  one  jjerched  on  a  partly  submerged  snag  or  rock,  on  a  pile  of 
driftwood  near  tiie  .shore,  or  on  some  small  branch  directly  overhanging  the 
water.  Every  bird  seems  to  have  several  favorite  jjerches  along  its  range,  each 
perlia))S  ipiite  a  distance  away  from  tlie  next,  to  which  it  Hies  from  time  to  time, 
generally  uttering  its  well-known  shrill  rattle  in  doing  so.  It  is  a  .sedentary 
bird,  but  ever  watchful  and  rather  shy,  sitting  freriuently  for  an  hour  at  a  time 
in  the  sanu^  ])osition,  occasionally  moving  its  head  back  and  forward,  watching 
for  its  |)rey  as  a  cat  does  for  a  nu)use.  In  such  a  postiu'e  the  Kingfisher  is  one 
of  the  most  charming  featurt  s  of  brook  and  |)ool.  Should  an  unfortunate  fish 
come  within  sight  at  such  times,  our  lone  fisher  is  at  once  alert  enough, 
craning  its  neck  and  looking  into  tin;  water,  intil  tla;  proper  moment  airives  for 
it  to  plunge  downward,  head  first,  (completely  disap])earing  out  of  sight,  and 
usually  emerging  with  a  wriggUng  captive  tinnly  grasped  in  its  bill,  for  it  rarely 
misses  its  victim.  It  generally  rises  some  feet  into  the  air  before  dashing 
perpendicularly  into  the  water. 

While  different  kinds  of  small  fi.sh  undoid)tedly  constitute  a  large  j)art  of 
the  Kingfisher's  food  where  readily  procurable,  various  species  of  Crustacea,  as 
well  as  insects,  such  as  coleoptera,  grassho])j)ers,  and  tluf  large  l)lack  crickets  found 
in  many  of  our  Western  States,  are  also  eaten  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  accord- 
ing to  circumstances;  frogs  and  lizards  an;  also  accejitable  l)rey.  In  southern 
Arizona,  for  instance,  where  running  streams  are  few,  1  have  found  Kingfishers 
breeding  in  localities  where  fish  nmst  have  fonned  but  a  verj-  small  percentage 
of  their  daily  fare;  there  they  lived  i)rinci})ally  on  lizards,  i)eetles,  and  large 
grasshoppers.  I  have  more  than  once  seen  one  of  these  l)irds  perched  on  some 
twig  overhanging  a  dry,  sandy  river  bed,  wher,'  no  watci-  was  to  be  found  within 
several  miles,  on  the  watch  for  the  kind  of  food  procin-al)le  in  such  localities. 

Mr.  W.  iv  Loucks  writes  me  that  he  has  found  nests  of  these  birds  in  the 
banks  of  dried-uj)  streams,  miles  from  any  water  containhig  fish,  and  says  that 


• • »    ••* 


»     ia      « 

I    •     * 


WW 


36 


IJFK  llISTOItlES  OF  NOUTH  AMMHKLVN  MIUUS. 


lio  (loos  Dot  know  upon  wliiit  tlm  piirents  tod  their  jouiiu-.  In  fact,  oven  in 
places  wlu'i'o  tlioy  can  readily  llvo  on  fish,  they  do  not  apjx'ar  to  confnio  tlioni- 
HolvoH  to  such  an  exclusive  diet.  While  stationed  at  Fort  KlaniatJi,  Oro^^on,  I 
placed  a. small  steel  trap  on  top  of  a  post  standiuff  some  10  yards  from  tho 
banks  of  Fort  ( 'reek,  a  clear  mountain  stream  al»oundin<r  in  tisli,  for  tho  purpose 
of  catchin;^'  a  Screech  Owl  I  often  heard  callinj;'  in  th(^  vicinity  and  was  anxious 
to  obtain,  but  was  not  able  to  see  to  shoot  on  account  of  the  ih-nse  iir  trees  it 
fre(|nented.  I  finally  concluded  to  tr}'  trappinj;'  it.  'J\vicc  I  baited  the  trap 
witli  mice,  and  onctnvitha  small  bird,  and  on  the  next  mornin;^'  I  foun<l  a  Kinofisiier 
caujjht  by  the  neck;  it  had  evidently  plunji('(l  down  on  the  liait  to  carry  it  ott". 
'I'he  post  in  (piestion  had,  as  far  as  I  know,  never  been  used  as  a  jjc'rcli  or  lookout 
by  the  Kin;ifishers,  as  it  was  too  far  from  the  creek.  .Fudjiin<>' from  these  occur- 
rences, 1  l)elievo  that  not  a  few  mice,  and  possil)ly  small  bii-ds  also,  are  cauji'ht 
by  then)  durinir  their  nocturnal  rambles,  and  they  are  certainly  fully  as  active 
throughout  the  nijiht  as  in  the  daytime. 

In  fax'orite  spots  where  fish  are  plenty,  and  whore  thert?  is  no  suitabU^  place 
foi'  a  ])ercli,  they  sometimes  remain  jioised  over  such  localities  for  a  minute  or 
more,  hoverin<^in  the  air  sonm  (1  feet  or  mon^  over  the  water,  as  does  tlu!  Spa  now 
Hawk  when  .searchinjif  for  {i'ra.sshoppers  ar.il  mice  in  a  nu-adow.  When  a  fish  is 
cau<;lit  it  is  at  once  carried  in  the  bill  to  the  nearest  percli  or  rock,  aji'ainst 
which  it  is  beaten  until  dead,  and  is  then  swallowo<l  head  first,  'i'lie  indi<j;e.stiblo 
parts,  such  as  bones  and  scales,  are  afterwards  ej(>cteil  in  olilonji'  pellets,  which 
can  be  seen  lyiu}^  around  in  their  burrows  or  about  their  favorite  perciies. 

Hy  far  the  lar<rer  number  of  fish  caufilit  by  tlu^  Kin^^fisher  consist  of  .species 
not  considered  worth  nuu'li  as  food  fishes,  and  tliey  rarely  averaffo  over  3  inches 
in  lenj;th.  Occasionally,  however,  a  larmier  one  is  mastered  by  oii<'  of  these  birds. 
Mr.  Manly  Hardy,  of  Brewer,  Maine,  writes  me:  "  I  shot  a  Kinyfi.sher  last  sj)rin}r 
which  had  swallowed  a  pickerel  consideral)ly  loiiffcr  than  the  bird  from  the  end 
of  the  bill  to  tlu*  tip  of  tlu^  tail,  the  tail  of  tho  fisli  prntrudinji'  from  the  throat, 
whihi  tho  head  was  j)artly  doubleil  back,  causinji'  a  larj^o  protuberance  \\m\v  tho 
vent." 

In  stoi'my  weather,  when  tho  water  becomes  rough  or  nmddy,  these  birds 
suffer  fiToatly  an<l  sometimes  almost  perish  from  want  of  food,  and  then  occa- 
sionally res(a't  to  oatinjf  ve<fotablo  matter  to  sustain  life.  Dr.  Elliott  Cones  has 
])ublished  tho  followiiiff  observations  on  this  subject,  conmnniicated  by  Mrs.  Mary 
Treat,  (Jroon  (Jove  Spriufr,  Florida:  "A  Kinj^tisher  whose  feeding-  ground  is 
just  in  front  f)f  my  windows  fi.-ihos  from  a  private  wharf,  where  lu^  is  si'ldom 
disturbed,  and  has  become  so  tame  that  ho  pursues  his  avocaiions  without  con- 
corn,  though  I  may  be  standing' within  a  few  foot  of  him.  *  *  *  When  th(f 
water  is  so  rough  that  it  is  difficult  for  him  to  procure  fisli,  insteail  of  seeking- 
some  seciuestered  |)ool  ho  remains  at  his  usual  |)ost,  occasionally  making-  an 
inefl'ectual  effort  to  secure  his  customary  prey,  until,  nearly  starved,  he  resorts 
to  a  sour-f^um  tree  {Ni/sso  (tqxatica  L.)  in  the  vicinity,  and  greedily  devours  tho 
berries.      Keturning-  to  his  post,  he  soon  (fjects  a  i)ellet  of  the  largo  seeds  and 


I:; 


:  S;- 


TMR  BELTRT)  KINOFISHKH. 


:Vi 


skins  III'  tlic  I'riiit.  I  luuu  siivcd  sonic  of  tlicst*  polli'ts  as  wi-ll  ns  tlidsf  (•(tinposcd 
of  lisll  IhHII'S  jni<l  scfilcs."' 

'I'lic  tirst  nii;;T!nits  to  rctnni  from  their  winter  (|niirtt'rs  iijipear  in  the  .Middle 
States  ficneraiiv  ahont  the  second  week  in  March,  and  sometimes  a  week  or  so 
hiler.  accordinji'  to  tlie  season,  and  in  hif^her  latitndes  consideraltiy  later  and  not 
until  after  the  ice  connnences  to  break  u|>.  In  our  Southern  States  niililication 
connnences  nsiially  in  Ajiril;  in  the  Northern  ones,  rarely  Ix-fore  the  lirst  week  in 
Miiy,  and  in  arctic  North  America  and  northern  Alaska,  seldom  earlier  than  the 
latter  half  of  dune.  Mr.  ('harles  If. 'rownseml.  of  the  United  States  Fish  Com- 
mission, in  1X8")  found  tltesc  liirds  conmion  and  hrec-din^^'  on  the  slwtres  of  the 
Kowack  IJiver,  near  Kotzei)ue  Soinid,  Alaska,  and  within  tlu'  Arctic  Circle,  the 
most  northern  breedinj;'  record  known  to  mo.  Tho  return  mi;>ration  from  their 
Itreedinji'  f^rounds  in  our  Northern  States  sometimes  hefjins  ahont  the  latter 
part  of  Septend)er,  anil  in  mild  falls  not  l)efor(!  the  middle  of  ( )ctol»er,  and  occa- 
sionally .still  later,  they  ronminin<r  until  tho  streams  become  <-overe(l  with  ice. 

'i'lie  favorite  nestinjj:  sites  of  the  Kin<,''li.sher  are  perju'iidicular  clay  or  rea- 
sonably comj)act  sand  l)anks,  occasionally  mixe<l  more  or  less  with  {i'ravel;  also 
railroad  cuts.  These  banks  or  bluffs  usually  abut  directly  on  water.  A  nearly 
circular  burrow  or  tnimel  is  du};'  into  these,  )ivera<!fin<,''  about  4  inches  in  diameter. 
They  are  excavated  l)y  the  birds;  tlu^  entrance  hole  is  usually  from  2  to  3  feet 
below  the  top  of  the  bank,  but  sometimes  fidly  2(t  feet  from  the  top.  'i'he  bur- 
rows var\'  in  lenji'th  from  4  to  1")  feet,  accordin;;'  to  the  nature  of  the  soil,  and 
sometimes  run  in  perfectly  straight  for  the  entire  distance;  a<iain  they  diver}>e 
at  ditferent  an<rlcs,  at  \arious  distances  troni  the  entrance.  The  nestinj'-  cham- 
ber is  dome-shai)e(l,  usually  from  S  to  10  inches  in  diameter,  and  always  at  a 
slightly  hi<>hor  level  than  tlii'  entrance  hole.  'J1ie  tinu*  reipiired  to  di<"'  out  a 
biu-row  de])ends  lar<i'ely  on  the  natui'e  of  the  soil  to  lu*  remoxed,  taking-  .sf)me- 
tinies  two  or  three  weeks,  but  {generally  much  less.  1  have  personally  seen  an 
iu.stanc(*  where  a  i)air  of  these  l)irds  excavated  a  now  burrow  in  a  rather  friable 
clay  bank  near  Fort  Lapwai,  bhdio,  to  a  depth  of  5  feet  (estimated  measure- 
ment) in  a  little  (ner  three  days,  liow  they  manaj^e  to  dij;-  so  rapidly,  consid- 
erin^i'  their  short  and  weak-lookin;*'  feet,  with  which  they  nmst  remove  the  greater 
part  of  the  material,  has  always  been  u  mystery  to  me,  and  I  would  not  beli<'ve 
them  capaltle  of  accomplishing;'  such  nii  amount  of  work  had  I  not  seen  it  done. 
AVhen  not  disturbed  tlu^  saint;  nestiii}^  site  is  retorted  to  from  year  to  year.  Some- 
times the  male  burrows  an  aihlitional  hide  near  tho  occui)ied  nesting'  sit«%  usually 
not  over  3  feet  deep,  to  which  it  retires  to  feed  an<l  tt>  jiass  the  nijiht. 

])r.  William  L.  Halpli  informs  me  that  he  has  found  them  occujiyin^-  the  ohl 
burrows  of  Kouj;h-win<ied  Swallows,  StclffidDjitrri/.c  .srrripoinis. 

Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher  has  kindly  furnished  me  the  followiufr  notes  on  the  nestiuff 
habits  of  this  species  as  observed  by  him:  ''On  June  G,  ISS'i,  the  writer  found 
two  nests  of  the  Kingfisher  in  the  side  of  a  railroad  cut  near  Croton  Lake, 
Westchester  (bounty,  New  York.     The  burrows  were  placed  in  a  bank  not  over 

'  liiilletin  NiittuU  Oriiitbulogical  Clab,  Vol.  Ill,  1878,  p.  !I2. 


38 


LIKK  IIISTORIK8  OP  N'OlfTII  AMKUICAX  1HRI»8. 


7  fe«^t  iil)()\('  tlic  iihuIIm'iI  ami  witliiii  18  inclicH  of  tli('  top.  'I'lmt  nt'  tli«  first  one 
ran  in  alioiif  7  tret  niul  tiinifil  to  tlic  rifjlit  as  it  entered  tlie  nestin^f  clianiher. 
Tlie  seven  t'resli  v^ixx  wei'e  placed  in  a  nest  of  eoarse  <irass,  wliicli,  altliou^ili 
rather  seanty,  covered  the  Hour  of  the  cavity  (»n  all  sides.  The  i)inro\v  of  the 
second  one  extended  in  altout  IS  feet,  and,  like*  tlu^  other  previously  nientioiiod, 
tamed  toward  the  ri;;ht  as  the  ex])anded  nestiuff  cavity  was  reached.  The  nest, 
which  was  quite  (dal)orate,  was  composed  whtdly  of  iish  scales  and  hones,  airan^icd 
in  a  compact,  saucer-shaped  mass.  'IMie  writer  made  a  tunned  from  the  top  of 
the  hank  so  as  to  intercept  the  iturrow  as  it  entered  the  nestin;,' cavity.  \'i<'W(il 
through  this  hole,  the  nest  was  a  heautiful  affair,  'i'he  scales,  which  looked  as  if 
mad(  of  frosted  silver,  formed  a  dedicate  settinfif  for  tlu*  six  pure-white  <'{j}fs 
lyinif  in  tlu)  center,  an.l  l)y  the  projected  liffht  mado  a  moat  effective  picture. 
On  two  occasions,  near  Sin^r  i^i'iH',  New  York,  the  writer  found  the  lvin<;fislier 
and  K<uij^h-win;i'ed  Swallow  usinjf  huirows  haviuj^  a  conunon  entrance.  It  is 
])rol»al)le  in  each  case  that  the  swallow  had  connnenced  its  divergiii<f  burrow 
after  the  lar^-cr  l)ird  coni]deted  its  work." 

The  uund)er  of  e^fj>s  varies  usually  from  five  to  eifjht,  and  sets  of  six  or 
seven  arc  mo.st  often  found.  Instances,  however,  have  been  recorded  wlicn^  as 
many  as  fourteen  ejrji's  have  been  fiuuid  at  one  time,  and  Mr.  (!harles  A.  ntrawn, 
of  Cerro  CJordo,  Arkansas,  informed  >Mr.  H(d)ert  Hid<,'way,  under  date  of  Maridi 
22,  IHiK),  that  lu'  iiad  taken  eleven  younjf  Kinj^fishers  out  of  a  biu-row  on  \)»<^ 
Hiver,  I  )ou;(las  ( 'ounty,  Cxeorf,na.  flow  the  fenuile  manaj^ed  to  cover  this  innuber 
<»f  efijis  and  hatch  them  all  is  certaiidy  surprisiuji-.  Tf  the  fir.st  set  of  efi'ffs  is 
taken,  the  birds  abandon  the  burrow  and  excavate*  a  second  one  near  by,  and 
freipiently  within  a  few  feet  of  the  first  one,  and  lay  a  second  set,  consistin;^' 
rarely  of  more  than  six  e}jf<^s.  Oidy  a  sinjjle  l)rood  is  raisi^l  in  a  season.  In  a 
newly  excavated  nest  the  Of^'ji's  are  usually  laiil  on  the  bare  "jround,  while  in  such 
as  have  been  occupied  in  previous  seasons  the  e<.><.;'s  are  frequently  found  dcspositerl 
on  (piite  a  thick  layer  of  fish  bones,  scales,  erawfish  shells,  and  win}>'  covers  of 
beetles  remaining-  from  former  years,  but  which  can  not  l)e  considered  as  part  <if 
the  nest.  The  mah*  does  not  assist  in  incul)ation,  but  sup|)lies  its  mate  with  fond 
while  so  eni^iif^ed,  and  she  rarely  leaves  the  nest  after  the  first  e<if>'  has  lieen  laid; 
at  any  rate  I  have  invariably  found  the  l)ird  at  home  if  there  were  any  e<><;s  in 
the  nest.  Incubation  lasts  al)out  sixteen  days.  The  yonnf>-  when  first  hatched 
are  blind,  perfectly  naked,  heli)less,  and,  in  a  word,  very  unprepossessiuo-.  "^riu^y 
scarcely  look  like  })irds  while  crawlinf^  about  in  the  nest,  where  they  remain 
several  weeks,  their  f^rowth  bein}^'  ve'ry  slow.  The  excrement  of  the  yonn}>-  is 
promptly  n'uioveel  and  the  burrow  is  kept  rather  (dean.  They  utter  a  low, 
puffinjif  sound  when  disturbed,  and  freepieutly  vary  cousideral)ly  in  size,  as  if 
iu(!ubation,  in  some  instances  at  least,  liefjan  with  the  first  OfXiX  laid.  The  youiifr, 
even  after  they  hav»i  left  the  ne.st  for  souu>  time,  re([uire  the  attendance  of  their 
parents  before  they  are  able  to  secure  subsistence  for  themselves. 

The  e{rf>a  of  the  Kinjifisher  are  pure  white  in  color;  the  shell  is  stronjr,  fine 
grained,  smooth,  and  rather  glossy,  esi)ecially  so  in  fresh  eggs ;  in  strongly  incu- 


!••:  ■ 

ti 

f-  ■ 

' 

ky. 

THR  DELTED  KIXOFianER. 


30 


bntod  OIK'S  tills  fildss  is  li'ss  noticeable.  Tlioy  are  jfeiu'i-ally  slimt  ovate  and 
soinetinies  rounded  ovato  in  Hlia|)e. 

Tlie  averajie  nu  asurenient  of  oi},dity-sovon  ofrfrs  in  tlie  I'liifefl  States 
Nnti(»nal  Mtiseimi  collection  is  ;M.(t4  l»y  2(1.(17  millimetres,  or  l.iU  by  l.<>.'> 
Inches.  The  larffest  ejr>,'  of  th(»  Hories  measures  37.08  l)y  27.!t4  millimetres,  or 
1.4(1  by  1.10  inches;  the  smallest,  3(».7«  by  26.42  millimetres,  <ir  1.21  by  1.04 
inches. 

The  typo  spoeimoii,  No.  204fi7  (PI.  1,  Fij;.  3),  from  n  set  of  six  e;,'';>'s,  Hen- 
dire  collection,  was  taken  by  tlu(  writer  near  Fort  I.apwai,  Idaho,  on  May  11, 
1S7(»,  and  represents  about  an  averuyo-sized  (><,'},'. 


13.     Ceryle  americana  septentrionalis  Shaupk. 

TKXAN  KIXdFIHllKK. 

Alccilo  vahiinki  TscntiDi,  Fauna  Peruana,  Ornitliologii',  1844,  25.'J. 

CVcy/c  americana  mptentrionaJix  SiiARl'E,  Ciitiiloffac  of    Birds,   Itritisli   Mnscaia,  \'V[I, 
1893,  1.14. 

(B  118,  0  i;87,  11  ;W3,  C  424,  IJ  .HH.) 

(rKOORATiitOAL  iiANOE:  Fpom  tlio  Istliiaus  of  Panama  north  tlnouKlii  "(Mitral  -Vnicru^a, 
to  northern  Mexico,  Oliihuahna,  and  southwestern  Texas. 

The  Texan  Kiiifjfishor,  the  smallest  n-presentative  of  the  Alrriliiiiihp  found 
in  the  I'nited  States,  is  not  nearly  as  well  known  as  the  Jk'lted  Kinj^fisher,  and 
its  brcedin};' ranjjo  is  oonfmod  to  a  comparatively  small  p(U'tion  of  western  'i'exas, 
while  even  hero  it  appeals  to  be  of  rather  irregular  occurrence.  It  is  i-eported 
as  fairly  abundant  alonj;'  a  number  of  the  tributaries  of  the  (luadalupe  iJiver, 
in  Comal  CJounty,  also  on  some  of  the  streams  in  Hexar  and  Edwards  counties, 
and  thence  westward  along-  the  various  tributaries  to  the  Rio  (trande,  like  Devils 
River,  etc.  Dr.  Edgar  A.  Mearns,  I'nited  States  Army,  met  with  it  in  Kenney 
County,  at  Fort  Clark,  at  Strickland's  Springs,  and  Las  Moras  Creek,  and  it 
seems  to  be  present  on  nearly  every  creek  or  stream  whose  waters  are  sulH- 
ciently  dear  to  enable  it  to  make  a  living.  It  is  not  found  regularly  along  tins 
shores  of  mudily  streams,  siicji  as  the  lower  Rio  Grande  and  Xueces  rivers  and 
others  in  southwestern  Texas,  and  its  jiresence  seems  to  depend  almost  entirelv 
on  the  clearness  of  the  water.  It  reaches  the  northern  Hmits  of  its  range  in 
Texas,  as  far  as  known,  in  about  latitude  30°,  but  in  northern  Mexico  it  ranges 
at  least  a  degree  farther  north.  Dr.  Edgar  A.  .Mearns,  I'nited  States  Army, 
while  on  duty  with  the  International  Boundary  Survey,  obtained  a  specimen  at 
Pajon  lionito,  CJhihuahua,  Septend>er  8,  1893,  10  miles  southeast  of  monument 
G(),  close  to  the  Arizona  line,  which  is  the  most  northern  record  known  to  me. 
It  appears  to  be  a  constant  resident  in  southwestern  Texas,  and  breeds  wherever 
found. 

Its  general  habits,  food,  and  breeding  habits  are  similar  to  those  of  the 
Belted  Kinglisher.  Mr.  W.  Brewster  described  the  first  authentic  eggs  of  this 
species  taken  witlnn  (mr  border.s,  in  the  "Bulletin  of  the  Nuttall  Ornithological 
Club"  (V(d.  4,  187i),  pp.  79,  80).     He  says:  "This  beautiful  little  Kingfisher  was 


IF 


l: 


40 


MI'K  IIISTOKIEH  OP  NOKTIf  AMKUIOAV  niRDa. 


found  by  I^fr.  W.  If.  Werner  In  conipiinitiv**  iilMindnnce  iit  Me\eriil  jioIntH  In  Ooiniil 
(-(lunty,  notnltly  iilinnt  Hunie  of  tlio  «|)rin;f,s  timt  empty  info  the (inmliilupe  River. 
A  Het  of  nix  ej>ys  tiiken  in  April,  1S78,  wuh  iintlieiiticateil  I»y  tlie  enptnre  of  Iioth 
pnrent  liirds,  the  female  Ixiinir  ciinjflit  on  tlie  nest.  •  *  •  'I'lie  nestin;,' eavity 
wart  in  u  wand  hank  near  the  water's  otlf^e;  tlu^  cffjrs  were  laid  on  tint  har»t 
no  fish  hones  or  otiier  extraneous  material  i»ein;r  near.  The  entrance  wa  i 
(|uito  If  inelies  in  ilianietur,  and  tliu  liolo  extenderl  inward  from  the  face  of  tho 
bank  al»ont  :\\  feet."     •     *     • 

The  nests  of  many  of  these  little  Kinfffishers  are  ^■early  destroye<l  l)y  hiffli 
water  flooding;'  their  Ituri'nws,  causeil  l»y  heavy  rains  and  <'l(iud-l»ursts,  whicdi  aro 
nioro  or  less  prevalent  in  southern  and  western  Texas.  It  is  not  uncouinioii  on 
both  tint  Medina  and  San  .\ntttnio  rivers,  and  a  nestini;  site  on  the  last-mentioned 
stream  found  liy  Mr.  ( !.  II.  Kearny,  in  flu*  sprinj>' of  1K!»2,  containinjr  six  fresh 
e}rf(a,  is  described  by  him  as  beiiiff  located  in  a  liank  about  1  ft  feet  lii},di  and 
about  r>  feet  above  tlut  water  level.  T\\v  iie.stini,' chand>er,  which  was  slif'htly 
larger  than  the  tinniel  leadiiiff  to  it,  was  i)laced  about  2  feet  fnan  the  mouth  of 
the  hole.  'I'lient  was  no  nest  pro|ier,  l)iit  a  few  lish  Immu-s  and  scales  were  scat- 
tered about  the  i'<i;ii>*.  In  tlm  .sauui  bank  a  number  of  Mank  Swallows  (i'lii'iiola 
ripnr'ui)  had  taken  up  tcMiiporarv  homes,  and  one  of  their  holes  was  locatcMl  within 
a  foot  of  that  of  the  Kinylishers.  Tiu'V  ai'e  devoted  parents,  and  these  '  i 
•will  usually  allow  themstdves  to  be  caujiht  rather  than  forsakt^  their  e;;}fs. 
jjenerally  are  live  or  six  in  iunid)er,and,  like  the  egji's  of  nil  Kin<r|isher8,tlie^  ■ 
pure  white  in  color  and  unspotted.  The  shell  is  clo.se  jrrained,  but  rather  thin, 
and  while  some  sets  are  (pii 


ite  ji'l 


ossv,  otiiers  sliow 


■  litti 


e  or  no 


histe: 


ley  are 


usually  rounded  elliptical  oval  in  shajH',  and  not  short  ovate,liko  the  nuijority  of 
the  ejiii's  of  tile  Melted  Kini>fislier. 

'I'he  avcraj^-e  measurement  of  fourte<'n  <'ff}^s  is  24. 3K  by  18. .')i}  millimetres,  or 
O.On  by  ().7;{  inch.  The  laryest  ejfjj  nu^asures  2"). 40  by  1  !).••"•  millimetres, or  1  by 
O.Tf)  inch;   the  smallest,  23.(i2  by  18.2!)  millimetres,  or  ().!I3  liy  0.72  inch. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  2(»4(iH  (I'l.  1,  Fi<,^  4),  from  a  set  of  five  e<,'';,''s,  Hen- 
dire  collection,  was  taken  near  New  Braunfels,  To.xas,  on  March  4,  1X79,  and 
represents  an  averajfo  eyg  of  this  species. 


14.     Ceryle  torquata  (Linn/F.us). 

RINGED  KINOFISIIKK. 

AhrAn  tofiiiwtn  TilNN/Kt'S,  Systoina  Natarie,  vd.  12,  I,  1700, 180, 
Ciri/k  torqitatii  BoiK,  Isis,  1828,  31(i. 

(B  _,  c  — ,  K  — ,  0  —  IT  [3!M>.1].) 

GKooRAriiiCAi,  UAN(tK:  From  southern  Argentina  iiortli  tliroafjb  South  and  Contr.il 
Americii  to  northeastern  Mexico  (Nuovo  Leon),  and  casuaiij  to  the  lower  Uio  (irande 
Valley  in  Texas. 

This  handsome  Rufous-breasted  Kingfisher,  tho  largest  found  on  the  Ameri- 
can continent,  has  a  wide  distribution,  occurring  in  suitable  localities  thi'oughout 
the  greater  part  of  South  America,  the  wlioK'  of  Central  America,  and  most  of 


THE  niNiJKI)  KINC.PIHIIKIl. 


41 


Moxico.  It  has  only  rt'Cfiitly  Im'cii  ndilcd  t<>  niir  rniiiiii,  iiiul  it  in  (lunhtful  it'  it 
ItrcciJH  witliiii  our  liordi  tm.  An  mlult  Irniiilc  wiissliot  liy  Mr.  (J<'oi;;i'  IV  UniiicrH, 
..i'  I'liiliidflpliia.  I't'iiimylvaiiin,  on  .lunr  "J,  IHHS,  nlxiiit  ii  mile  In-low  liiiit'do, 
'I'cxiis,  on  tin'  I'nitcil  States  side  of  \\w  Uio  (Jnnidc  He  Miiys:  "It  was  sittin;? 
on  sonic  old  roots  wliicli  liail  lifcn  \vaslu'(l  up  into  a  lirap  hy  tlic  cnncnt  of  tlio 
river,  and  was  sliot  iinnwiiiately,  so  1  did  not  see  it  tly  or  hear  its  call."  This 
Mliecinien  is  now  in  posseHsion  of  the  Aeadeniy  of  Natural  Seienees  of  I'liiladel- 
phiu,  Pennsylvania.' 

Althoiijih  moderately  eonunon,  and  distrihuted  over  extensive  areas,  very 
little  has  as  yet  heen  pulili.sheil  ahout  the  life  history  of  this  ;iiant  aniou<i- 
Kin;>'iishers.  Dr.  llernian  Minnieister,  in  his  "'I'hiere  Hrasilieus,"  1s.^)(;  (\'ol.  1, 
p.  416),  Hays:  "This  is  the  lar^icst  of  the  Ainerienn  Kiu;ilishers,  and  it  is  pretty 
ffcnerallv  distrihuted  over  the  wanner  portions  of  South  America,  alon;;-  the 
whores  of  wooded  streams,  whore  it  sits  on  Tnnhs  overlian;;in;;-  water,  watchinj,' 
for  lish,  which  eonstituto  its  princ'i])al  food.  It  nests  in  perpendicular  hankn, 
occasionally  (piite  a  distance  from  water,  in  hm-rows  from  A  to  (!  feet  deep,  and 
lays  two  white  ejif^s." 

Mr.  ( iharles  W.  l{ichmond,  in  IiIh  interostiuff  paper  on  "  Hirds  from  Niearan'ua 
and  Costa  Hica,"  makes  the  followinji'  remarks  nhout  the  spe(ies:  "N'ery  com- 
mon. 'Iliis  species  has  a  note  similai'  to  that  of  ('.  iilci/oii,  liiit  somewhat  stron^^ci'. 
One  mornin;;'  a  pair  of  thcM  hinls  went  throu^ih  a  ver}'  curious  performance. 
Attention  was  first  called  to  tin  'i  Ity  their  loud,  rattlinj''  cry,  which  was  kept  up 
almost  constantly  as  they  circl  I  and  ji'yrated  about  over  the  \\ater,  occasionally 
dropping;',  uot  divinji',  into  the  waf  i  :ind  siukinji'  below  the  surface  for  a  moment. 
This  nianeuveriuj;'  lasted  some  miuutos,  after  which  both  birds  tiew  upstream, 
utterin};  their  ordinary  note. 

"'i'wo  or  thi't'O  individuals  wore  in  the  habit  of  jjassini^'  the  nijiht  at  some 
jioint  ou  th(»  «'reek  back  of  th(!  'h.  I'.'  plantation,  and  cauK;  over  just  alxait 
dusk  every  evening.  I  noticed  them  for  several  months,  and  was  struck  with 
the  regularity  of  their  coming  and  the  course  taken  by  each  on  its  way  to  tho 
roost.  The  birds  <'oidd  be  hearil  a  considerable  distaiu-e  away  just  bi^fore  dusk, 
uttering  their  loud,  singh^  'chuck'  at  every  few  beats  of  the  wings.  They 
appeared  to  come  from  their  feeding  gnamils,  often  passing  over  the  plantation 
o])posite,  probably  to  cut  oil'  a,  benil  in  tlu^  river.  One;  of  tla^  birds  invariably 
passed  clos(!  to  tin-  corner  of  the  laborers'  (piarters,  though  at  a  considerable 
height,  and  tho  other  near  a  trumpet  tree  some  distiuice  away.  Tlas  third  bird 
was  only  a  casual  visitor.  At  times  the  birds  canu^  together,  but  usually  there 
was  an  interval  of  .several  numitea.  Their  naites  met  at  a  turn  of  the  creek  a 
few  rods  back  of  tho  hou.se,  where  they  usually  sounded  their  rattling  notes  and 
dropped  down  close  to  the  water,  which  they  followed  to  the  roost.  This  was 
in  a  huge  spreading  tree,  covered  with  parasitic  plants  and  nmnerous  vine.s, 
which  hung  in  loops  and  festoons  from  the  limbs.  On  one  occnsion  I  shot  at 
one  of  the  birds  as  it  came  clucking  overhead,  and  caused  it  to  droji  .several 

'Tho  Aiik,  Vol.  XI,  1894,  p.  177. 


42 


LIKK  UISTOHIKH  OI"  NOHTII  AMKI.'KUN  UIUDS. 


small  iisli.  A  female  nearly  ready  to  depftsit  Offjis  was  shot  October  '.>.  The 
birds  made  their  ajjijearaiice  rather  late  in  the  morning',  usually  after  S  o'clock, 
and  at  times  spent  several  hours  of  the  day  up  there.  Althouj;h  the  birds 
appeared  to  h-wii  tiieir  home  at  this  place,  1  did  not,  on  any  of  my  numerous 
trips  up  the  creek,  discover  the  site.'"' 

From  Mr.  Ivichmond's  observations  it  would  appear  as  if  C.  torijitnttt  nested 
at  all  times  of  the  yciu-. 

Tlu!  most  noi-thern  Mexican  record  for  this  species  is,  I  believe,  the  one 
from  Hio  de  las  Ramos,  State  of  Nuevo  Leon,  in  about  latitude  25^  iW.  This 
specimen  was  obtained  '.y  ^[r.  W.  Lloyd,  on  February  "JS,  18!)1,  and  is  now  in 
the  collection  of  the  ''.lifed  States  Department  of  A^^ricidtiu'e. 

1  have  been  imal)le  to  find  a  more  accurate  description  of  the  e<f<;s  of  this 
species  than  the  one  above  f;iven,  but,  judj;in<>'  from  the  size  of  the  bird,  they 
should  bo  considerably  larger  than  those  of  C.  ukyon. 

Famih'  PICID.E.     Woonri'.cKERs. 


15.     Campephilus  principalis  (Linn.iu.s) 


ivoi;v-iiiMii:n  wooni'ECKER. 


ricii.1  priiirliifilis  LiNN.iU'.s,  Systoiiia  Natiu'ic.  cd.  10,  I.  17.">8,  IKJ. 
Ciiiiipt'iihiliis  i)riiiciititli.s  (iK.vv,  List  (tciicra  of  liirds,  1810,  51. 


(15 


OL'!i:!,  U. !.-.!•,  rt;!l.  r  .lOl.'.) 


(iKoriRAiMii(!Ai-  KANOi; :  SoiUli  Atliiiiti<'  and  (lull'  .States;  iiortli  to  tlio  sontliorii 
ixirtioiis  of  . South  <'aioliiiii,  (icor;;iii,  Aliibaiiiii.  Mississippi,  and  Arkansas;  west  to  .sontli- 
eastern  Texas,  I'onncrly  nortii  to  North  (Carolina,  Tennessee,  Kcntiu'ky,  soutliern  Imliana, 
Illinois,  sotitlicrn  ^Missouri,  and  the  soiitlierii  i)arts  of  the  Indian  Territory. 

The  lvory-l)illed  Woodpecker,  also  called  "White-billed  Woodjioeker," 
"White-billed  IiO<^cock"  and  "Woodcock,"  is  the  laro-est  re[)resentative  of  this 


famiK-  fouml  in  tlui  I'uited  States,  beiuy  a  resident  of  the  maiidand 


and 


th 


numerous  islands  aloiiii'  the  south  Atlantic  and  (!ulf  coasts  and  breedinj>'  wiierever 
foiivl.      Infoi'mer  \ cars  its  ranii'e  was  mucli  more  extende<l  than  it  is  at  present; 


then  it  i)enetrate(l  well  into  the  intei'ioi',  alono'  the  si 


am 


1  its  Ian 


1>_ 

lores  of  the  .Mississippi  Ivix'er 


trii)Uti 


u-ie: 


nnui"' 


been  reported  froui  White  ( 'ounty,   Illi 


nois; 


IS  well  as  at  other 


Franklin  County,  Indiana,  and  Franklin  County,  'i'enness 

points  inland.     At  present  it  ap])eai's  to  l»e  fairly  abiuiilant  in  Florida,  in  portion 


of  southern  Mississippi  alono'  the  Vazoo  l\i\-er,  and  in  the  extensive  swamps  in 
southern  Louisiana.  In  tlu;  lirst-mentioned  State  ^Ir.  Arthiu'T.  Wayne  obtained 
not  less  than  thirteen  specimens  in  tlu'  monlh  of  April,  1S!);{,  and  about  ten  more 
were  .seen,  ili'  says,  "A  youiifi'  female  taken  April  l."»  was  about  two  weeks 
I'rom  the  nest.  1  ne\-er  observed  it  sinjily,  it  beinj;'  always  seen  in  company  with 
two  or  three  othi'rs  of  this  species.  I  was  told  by  old  hunters  that  they  breed 
early  in  Februiu'w     'i'lie  localit\-  wiu're  this  l)ir<l  is  to  be  found  at  all  times  is  in 


I   I'lC 


■ilinj,"*  111'  llii'  l".  .S.  \iiti' 


:ll  Mil 


nil,  Vi)I.  XVI,  |>|'   .".I(1.,">11. 


It  - 


TIIK  IVOKA-BILLKI)  WOOD  IMX!Ki:i{. 


43 


wlint  tlio  ])coj)lo  call  '])iirn-(>'its.'  Tlifsc  jirc  liir;;t'  tnicts  of  iK-avv  ti'iibcr  which 
the  forest  fiirs  lifive  (h'strovcd;  and  the  lU'ad  trees  liarhur  beetles,  ete.  A  nest 
whieh  I  examined  was  (hi;>'  in  a.  live  cypress  about  50  teet  Inji'h."' 

i\[r.  Fi.  A.  Mdlhenny  has  kindly  furni.lied  nie  with  tiie  following  notes  on 
this  interesting  species:  "In  the  cyjiress  swanijjs  adjacent  to  Avery's  Island, 
Louisiana,  these  nobh-  ))irds  are  still  (juite  conmion,  and  here,  iii  their  favorite 
haunts,  I  have  watched  them  for  years.  I  Ixdieve  they  remain  mated  for  life, 
for  I  have  observed  several  pairs  of  tliem  year  in  and  year  out.  and  can  always 
find  them  near  the  sjxit  when;  they  have  their  nes!  or  winter  home,  from 
which  place  they  are  hard  to  drive  away,  thereby  showing;'  a  fondness  for 
h)calitv  sehhan  seen  in  birils  of  this  family.  'I'he  nest  is  generally  pl.aceil 
in  a  cvjjress  or  tnj^elo  <;'uni  tree,  one  that  is  pai'tly  dead  beinj;'  preferred, 
and  the  cavity  is  excavated  in  the  dead  part  of  the  tree.  I  have  never 
foimd  a  nest  in  wood  in  wliich  there  was  sap,  or  in  rotten  wood.  The  site 
for  the  nest  l)eing  chosen,  the  female  beji'ins  the  excavation  duriufi'  the  last  week 
in  March  or  the  beji'inniny  of  April,  and  from  ei};ht  to  fourteen  daxs  are  s])ent 
in  tinishinj''  it,  the  female  (hiinji-  all  the  work,  whih;  the  male  sits  around  and 
chi))s  the  bark  from  the  nei<;hboring  trei-s.  The  eji^s  are  de]iosited  as  early  as 
Aj)ril  It,  on  which  date  1  tofik  a  set  of  thri'c  fresh  eji'iis  in  ISlfJ,  ami  on  Mav  l!t 
I  took  from  the  same  pair,  in  th(>  same  tree,  but  in  a  1ow(M-  excavalion,  a  set  of 
four  e<j;'ij;'s  in  which  incubation  was  considerabl\'  advanced.  l)Ut  one  brood  is 
reared  in  a  season,  and  tlu^  youn}^'  remain  with  the  parents  until  the  matinj;- 
sea.son  in  the  followin<>'  year. 

"A  tyi)ical  nest  of  this  l)ird  is  one  I  found  on  May  2,  1X02.  It  was 
■situated   in   a   partly  dead  cypress,  41   feet  up.     The  entr 


mice   was    o\al 


and 


measin-es  4i!,  by  .O;}  inches.  The  (!xca\ati()n  \\as  21.\  inches  deep,  and  was 
nnu'h  larger  at  the  l)ottom  than  at  the  to]).  It  contained  three  eggs,  deposited 
ine  chilis.     The  ciiiis  measured  1.40  b\-  l.Ol,  1.3.S  bv  1.02, 

th.' 


on  about  an  inch  of  i 


an( 


I  l.'M  by  1.02  inches;   they  are  very  glossy  and  <piite  pointed.     Wh 


young  are  hatched,  both  parents  feed  them,  often  going  (juite  a  distance  into  the 
open  country  in  search  of  food.      As  soon  as  they  leave  the  woods  thev  mount 


to  a  considerable  height,  their  tliglit  l)eing  verv  stn 


ind,   like   that   of 


"Woodpeckers,  uncbdating.     The;    only   note    I    have   heard    tlie.sc   liin 


nade  while  on  the  wing;   it  is  mm'v  shrill, 


resend)]es   somew 


hat  ti 


le   cal 


the  I'ilcated  Woodpecker,  but  is  (piite  l)eyond  l)eing  put  on   paper:   the 
the  female  does  not  perceptibly  dill'er  from  that  of  the  male.     They 
birds  at  all  times,  and  dm-ing  the  breeding  season  I  have  i 
They  have,  however,  another  moile  of  calling  each  oth 


iU'c  \cr\-  sdent 


ie\'er  near( 


.1   tl 


leu'  cr\  . 


one  l)iril  will  alight  on 
that    it 


oIKl 


il  dry  limb  of  some  tree  and  raj)  on  it  with  its  l)iil  so  fast  and  1 
sounds  like  the  roll  of  a  snare  ilrum:  this  it  continues  to  do  at  short  intervals 
initil  its  mate  comes.  When  in  search  of  food  this  iiird  evinces  great  cleverness. 
It  will  alight  on  a  dead  limb,  and  after  tapping  it  a  few  times  with  its  Iieak  it 
puts  its  ear  to  the  wood  and  listens  for  the  movements  of  any  grub  that  may  be 

'The  Auk,  Vol.  .\,  1S!0,  \i.  ;««. 


Rm 


I  ■*. :  I 


!:ff! 


44 


LIFK  IIISTOPlliS  OF  NORTH  AMEUIOAN  BIllDS. 


iit.  \v(irk  tliorc,  and  nfter  it  lociitcs  ono,  tlio  ('iu'r<fy  it  displays  in  fiettinji'  at  it  is 
rcniarkaldo.  It  ln-acos  itself  with  tlu'  stilt"  fVatliiTs  of  its  tail,  ar.d  in  striking;'  a 
blow  uses  the  Ixidy  from  tlie  li'<;'s  up  to  <>;ive  force  to  it.      'I'lie  blow  it  delivers 


wli 


iil((  in  this  iiosition  is  ver\'  hard,  and  soinids  as  if  son 


le  one  was  s 


itrikin^ 


"•on  a 


tree  with  a  liannner.  Its  fox!  consists  of  jirnl)s  and  insects  that  inhal)it  decayed 
wood.  In  the  fall  and  winter  it  feeds  to  some  extent  on  the  mast  of  the  live  oak, 
and  stores  acorns  in  holes  for  its  winter  supi)ly.  1  have  seen  them  destroy  the 
nests  of  the  ^^ray  scpiirrels  to  obtain  tlu?  acorns  and  nuts  tlu;y  h.id  put  by  for 
the  winter.  They  woidd  sit  on  the  top  of  tlu*  nest  and  with  a  few  strokes  of 
their  bill  scatter  it  in  every  direction." 

In  a  recent  interview  with  ^Ir.  Mcllheuny  he  told  me  that  he  found  another 
uest  of  this  sp(H'i(  s  in  tiie  early  ]iart  of  May,  1X1)4,  containini;"  five  youn<i'  aI)out 

re  still  clo.sed.     The  nestinif  sitt*  was  in  a  dead 


tl 


n"e(!  (lav 


>ld, 


whose  e^•es  \\i 


•fray  oak,  in  the  main  trunk,  about  (50  feet  from  the  j^round,  and  tint  (tavity  was 
about  i\  feet  deej);  the  female  was  in  the  hole,  and  flew  out  when  the  tree  was 
struck;   the  male  was  not  seen. 

According'  to  Audubon,  this  l>ird  feeds  on  fjrapes,  blackberries,  and  jwrsim- 
Tiiompson  states  that  it  eats  ants,  and  he  pnl)lislied  a  very 


UK 


.lis.       Mv.   M; 


lurice 


interestinji'  article  on   this  species  under  the  title  of  "A  lied-headed  I'luiiily 
which  may  be  found  in  tlie  '".  hdogist"  (Vol.  VI,  February,  IS.SK,  pp.  22-2!>), 
and  is  well  north  readinj;'. 

if  the  I  \'or\-billeil  Woodpecker  are  still  (piite  rare  in  collections. 


Tl 


le  (■"•"'s  o 


The  Pul)lic  .Mnseiii 


Mib 


AV 


isconsin,  contains  a  st 


■tof  tl 


iree 


nted 


l.v  th 


te  ('apt.    U.    F.  (i 


Wllo  Wlo 


te  to  me  that  thev  were   taken  in  th 


Xeclies  Hixcr  bottom,  in  Jas])('r  County,  Texas,  on  ^lay  .'i,  iSSf).  The  cavity 
was  about  2  feet  deep,  situated  40  feet  from  the  j;roiind,  and  the  entrance  was 
large  enougU  to  admit  the  collector's  arm.  The  xkmerican  Museum  of  Natural 
History,  in  New  ^'ork,  contains  a  set  of  four  eggs  taken  fin  Ajiril    lo,  in  the 


Alatamaha  S 


\\'amii  II 


I  (Jeorma,  liv  the  late  Dr.  S.  W.  Wilson.     Tl 


lese   measure 


i:m; 


bv(».:i."i, 


a  l)vO.!i.s,  1.2."t  bv  0.11."),  and  l.l'll  l)v  0.!)X  inches.     The  United 


States  National  Musetin 


1  ha^ 


tl 


N.  Oih 

rer.iaini 


.f  Wil 


lese  eggs 


I'wo  were  receivecl  from 


.Ml 


mington.  North  ( 'arolina,  but  no  date  or  locality 


iig  thr<'e  are  a  si-t  from  tlu*  Ual])h  collection,  taken  in  Lafayette  C'ounty, 
Florida,  on  April  111,  ISli;}.  One  of  these  eggs  coiitaiiu'd  a  large  I'inbryo;  the 
other  two  were  addled.  The  nesting  sit((  was  excavated  in  a  dead  bay  tree,  .'50 
feet  from  the  "round,  and  the  ca\it\-  was  2  feet  deei).      The  female  was  shot 


when  tli(!  e<>"s  were  taken. 


Mr.  W.   K.   1)    Scott  iiiMkes  the  Ibllowiii'-'  statement:   "To-dav,  M 


ircli 


1<S87,  I  found  a  nest  of  the  Ivory-hilleil  Woodpecker,  aii<l  obtained  iioth  par«'iit 
birds  and  the  single  young  bird  which  was  the  occupant  of  the  nest.  Tin* 
cavity  was  dug  in  a  large  cypi-ess  tree  in  the  midst  of  a  dense  swamp,  and  was 


U  feet  from 


th 


roiinil 


he  onemiiij'  was  ( 


•\al,  beiiiy  3A  inches  wide  and   l.\ 


inches  higli.     The  same  ca\ity  had  a|»pari'ntly  been  used   before  i'or  a  nesting 
place;  it  was  cylindrical  ii!  shape  and  a  little  more  than  11  inches  deep,     'i'ho 


l!' 


THE  IVOKY-IilLLED  WOODPECKER. 


45 


youufif  bird  in  the  nest  was  n  female,  and,  thougli  oiie-tliinl  f>r(t\vii,  had  not  /id 
(ipciird  its  ('ijrs.  The  leatlicr.s  of  the  first  pluiiiaiuo  wore  njipareut,  h('j>'iimiii<f  to 
cover  the  down,  and  were  the  same  in  coloration  as  those;  of  the  adult  female 
bird.'" 

Kecent  observations  all  tend  to  show  that  the  Ivory-billed  Woodpecker  is 
an  exceedinji'ly  wild  and  sns}.>icious  bird,  and  as  the  conntry  becomes  more 
settled  it  retires  from  the  advance  of  civilization  to  the  more  inaccessible  swam})s, 
where  it  is  not  so  liable  to  l)e  molested.  In  such  localities  it  apjjcars  to  bo  still 
reasonaljly  common,  as  well  as  on  .some  of  the;  islands  off  the  south  Atlantic 
and  (iulf  coasts.  Tiie  ])resent  restriction  of  its  ran^^e  is  pntbably  due  more 
to  its  wild  and  siisi)icious  nature  than  to  actual  decrease  in  numl)ers,  as  it  has 
but  few  enemies  exceptin<r  man,  and  is  well  able  to  protect  itself  against  the 
others.  One  of  the  most  notable  difl'erences  in  the  nestinj^'  habits  of  this  hand- 
some Woodpecker  appears  to  be  the  fact  that  instead  of  makinj''  a  round  entrance 
hole,  JI.S  do  the  smaller  members  of  this  family  found  in  the  United  States,  it 
])refers  one  which  is  oval  in  shape. 

Tin;  ('"i'li's  of  the  Ivory-liilled  Woodpecker  ar.;  pure  ciiina  white  in  color, 
ch)se  grained,  and  exceedingly  glossy,  as  if  enameled.  'I'liey  vary  in  shape  from 
an  elongate  ovate  to  a  cylindrical  ovate,  and  are  more  pointed  than  the  eggs 
of  most  of  oiu'  Woodpeckers.  Tiiey  ajipcar  to  me  to  bt;  readih-  distinguislied 
from  those  of  the  IMleated  Woodj)ecker,  some  of  which  are  fullv  as  large.  From 
three  to  live  eggs  are  laid  to  a  set,  and  oidy  one  l)roo<l  is  raised  in  a  season.  As 
both  .sexes  among  all  the  better-known  .species  of  Woodj)eckers  assist  in  iiu-ulia- 
tiou,  it  is  pro1)able  that  the  same  holds  good  with  this  .species  as  well,  and  this 
Lists  ])robaljly  from  sixteen  to  eighteen  days. 

The  average;  mea.surement  of  thirteen  eggs  is  .'Jf.ST  hv  2.").-_'-_'  millimetres, 
or  about  \.'M  by  ().!)!)  inches.  The  largest  egg  measin-es  .'id.s;}  ))\-  2(i.!l2  milli- 
metres, or  about  1.4')  by  l.Od  inches;  the  smallest,  34.r)4  ))y  2;?. (12  millimetres, 
or  about  \.'M]  by().!)3  inches. 

The  type,  specimen.  No.  2t!3G5  (not  figured),  from  a  set  of  throe  eggs, 
Halph  collection,  was  taken  in  Lafayiitte  County,  Florida,  A])ril  ID,  IS!))?. 

As  all  Woodpeckers'  eggs  are  pure  white,  and  as  many  differ  oulv  very 
slightly  in  size  and  siiape,  but  considerably  in  the  (h'gree  of  glossine.s.s,  whicli 
could  not  be  accurately  shown  in  tin;  illustrations,  1  have  onlv  fi<>ure(l  the  ei'-<>s 
of  two  Mell-known  species,  selecting  those  of  the  I'ileated  and  Downy  Wood- 
peckers, which  .show  fairly  well  the  extremes  in  size." 


I  The  Auk,  Vol.  V,  1888,  p.  18fi. 

■I  Iiiul  hoped  to  I)()  !il)Ii'  ti)  mill  thii  lar{,'((  rm)iciicil  Woodprckor,  '',,m;pp;)/n7i(.v  imiin-ialh,  to  our  list 
lirfoii!  this  voliiniii  wi'iit  to  piiws.     Livnt.  Ilariy  <'.  Ili'iisou,  Koiirtli  Cavalry,  V.  S.  Army,  rouml  it  to  l»<  com- 

'"  tho  |iiiii'  f  ircsis  of  the  Si.Tia  Mudic  in  northern  Soiiora,  .Mrxiuo,  in  1X87,  anil  sliot  ii  spiTinicn  witliin 

."ill  mill's  of  Iho  lioiiinlary  linr;  hnt  np  to  ilatr  it  has  not  hrcn  ol)s..rvril  liy  I'illnM-  Dr.  A.  K.  I'lshrr  or  Mr.  W. 
W.  Prici'.  who  hoth  collected  in  tlio  Chiricahua  Monntuins  iliiriiifi;  the  snininer  ol'  ISM,  whole  it  is  most 
likely  tu  hu  fuuiid. 


!'•  i^M-k 


46 


LIFE  mSTOltlES  OF  NOltTU  AMEltlCAN  DIUDS. 


i6.    Dryobates  villosus  (Linn.kus). 

HAIKV  W001>PECKER. 

ricKs  ri7/«s«.v  LiNN.Kis,  Systeina  Xatm-ir,  cd.  12,  I,  1706,  ITri. 
D[ryohateii\  *'i7/o»m»  Cahams,  .Museiiiii  llciiiGiiiiuni,  IV,  June  15,  1863,60. 
(B  74,  i)art;  C  2!»8,  part;  U  300;  0  438,  part;  U  393.) 

(lEooRAi'UK'AL  iiANOE:  Kastcni  North  Ainorica;  north  in  the  southern  provinces  of 
the  Diiiniiilou  of  ('iuiiula  to  Xovii  Scotia,  New  I'.runswiek,  southern  (ijuebcc,  Ontario,  and 
soutlicrn  Manitoba;  south  throujfh  tlie  United  States,  exceptiiifj  tlio  Soutli  Atlantic  and 
(rult  States;  west  to  eastein  Montana  anil  Wyoming,  Nebraska,  Kansas,  the  Indian  Terri- 
tory, and  eastern  Texas.    Accidental  in  England.' 

Till'  broediiif''  r;m<?o  of  the  Hairy  Woddpockor,  also  knoAvn  as  "Bip^  Sap- 
snckcr"  iiiid  "  Mij>'  Ciuinca  Woodpecker,"  is  coextcnsivo  with  its  fjrcoffraphical 
ran^c,  ami  it  is  o-ciicrally  a  constant  resident  wherever  found.  It  is  fairly 
common  thronji'li  tlie  wooded  re},nons  of  our  Northern  and  Middle  States,  iuul 
in  winter  is  occasionally  found  in  some  of  the  Southern  States — Louisiana,  for 
instance,  it  is  a  resident  in  the  mountainous  ])ortions  of  North  (^arolina,  while 
in  the  Inwlands  it  is  ri'placed  liy  the  smaller  southern  race,  lhi/(ili<ift:s  lullosiis 
(ntduhdiii.  It  is  a  hardy  hird,  and  intense  cold  does  not  appear  to  affect  it  nnich. 
As  a  rule  it  is  I'ather  unsocial,  and,  iniless  followed  hy  their  youn^',  more  than 
a  ])air  are  rarely  seen  together.  It  does  not  live  in  harmony  with  smaller 
species  of  its  own  kind,  and  drives  them  awaj',  when  they  encroiich  on  its 
feeilin;;-  jiTounds,  beinjjf  exceedinj^ly  greedy  in  disjuisition  and  always  hunjjrry. 
It  is  ])artial  lo  tind)ered  river  bottoms,  the  outskirts  of  forests,  and  occasionally 
it  makes  its  home  in  old  orchards  and  in  rather  open,  cultivated  country,  inter- 
s])ersed  here  and  there  with  isolated  clumjts  of  trees;  it  is  also  found  in  the 
midst  of  extended  forest  rej>-ions. 

The  1  lairy  Woodpecker,  like;  most  of  its  relatives,  is  an  exrecdinp-ly  henehcial 
and  usefid  bird,  which  rids  our  orchards  and  forests  of  innumerable  iujui'ious 
larva>,  like  those  of  the  l{orin<r  Beetles,  HKprc-sfiila;  which  burrow  in  the  wood 
and  between  the  l)ai-k  and  trunk  of  trees.  It  never  attacks  a  sound  tree. 
Althou<!'h  conunonly  known  as  Sapsucker,  this  name  is  very  inapj)ropriate;  it  is 
not  in  searcli  of  sap,  i)Ut  of  such  yrubs  as  are  found  only  in  decayinj^-  wood; 
nevertheless  it  is  exceedingly  ditiicnlt  to  make  the  averap'(f  farnu'r  believe  this, 
and  in  winter,  when  these  birds  are  more  often  seen  about  the  vicinity  of  dwell- 
inji's  and  the  nei.L!iiboi-in;n'  orchards  than  at  other  seasons  of  the  year,  many  are 
shot  under  the  erroueons  l)elief  Mnit  they  injure  the  very  trees  they  are  doin<>- 
their  i)est  to  jn'ofect.  In  central  New  ^'ork,  and  undoubtedly  in  other  sections 
as  well,  where  a  few  decades  a.L;'i>  one  could  see  some  of  the  tinest  ai)ple  orchards 
to  be  found  anywhere,  you  may  look  in  vain  foi'  tliem  now.     Nearly  every  tree 

■Mr.  I).  W.  N'olsiiii,  in  liix  ii'|iiii't  iipnii  iIk^  N.itiiinl  nistciry  Ciilli'ctioiix  iimdu  in  AioHka  in  tlio  yi'iira 
1S77-1SS1,  |i.  115.  riciiiils  this  spi(  li's  ;is  (icMiirriii^  in  llritisli  Cohiniliia  .inil  tlu'nrc  ninth  along  tint  Rontli- 
riiHtiiii  ciKist  (iT  Alitsltii.  I  ji:i\  c  nut  licrn  iililc  In  litid  iiny  .siiucinieUH  t'ollectod  by  him  in  th«  U.  S.  Nutiuual 
Museiiiii  cuHrctiunM  ;in<l  simply  nicntiun  this  recunl. 


I:.: 


THE  HAIRY  WOODrECKEK. 


47 


of  any  size  now  shows  abundant  and  unmistakaLlo  si;;iis  of  decay,  caused  l)y 
the  increase  of  tlie  insects  whicii  live  in  them  anil  tlie  ik-crease  of  siicii  l)irds  as 
(U'stroy  tliese  j)ests.  In  Onei(hi  and  Jlerkinier  c()unties,  New  York,  tlie  top 
<»f  nearlv  every  black  ash  tree  is  doa<l  and  the  trees  are  slowly  decayinj'-, 
tniddubtedlv  due  to  some  species  of  boring-  beetle;  there  are  not  enoufi^h  Wond- 
])eckers  left  to  check  the  increase  of  tliese  pests,  and  not  alone  the  orchards  but 
(piantities  of  valnal)le  timber  are  beinj;-  slowly  but  surely  destroyed  by  them. 

The  food  of  the  Hairy  Woodpecker,  besides  larvic,  consists  of  various  species 
of  small  beetles,  spiders,  tlies,  ants,  and  i;i  winter,  when  such  food  is  scarce, 
to  some  extent  of  seeds  and  f^Tain,  and  less  oft(Mi  of  nuts  and  acorns.  I  have 
seen  it  clin<f  to  fre.sh  hides  hun<f  up  to  dry,  pickinj^-  otf  small  jiarticles  of  fat 
and  meat,  and  in  sunnner  it  occasionally  eats  a  few  berries  of  different  kind.s. 
In  the  fall  of  tlu!  }'ear  it  can  often  be  seen  inspectinj;'  oKl  fence  |)osts  and 
telej;rai)h  jxiles,  proliablv  on  the  lookout  for  cocoons,  s|)ider  e^i'fi's,  etc.  AFr.  \'. 
A.  Al(hM-.son,  of  Marathon  County,  Wisconsin,  publishes  the  followinff  iiiterestin;'- 
statement  in  the  "<  hilu^iist"  (Vol.  VII,  July,  ISiM),  p.  147):  "Last  sunnner  jxitato 
bu}>s  covered  every  ])atch  of  ]);)tatoes  in  Marathon  County  (beiu;^'  my  home 
county),  Wisconsin,  (hie  of  my  friends  here  found  his  patch  an  excei»tion,  and 
therefore  took  pains  to  iind  out  the  reason,  and  observed  a  Hairy  Wood|)ecker 
niakiuf;'  fre(pient  visits  to  the  potato  tiehl  and  fi'oinjf  from  there  to  a  lar;i'(^  jiine 
stub  a  little  distance  away.  After  observiuf^'  this  for  about  six  weeks,  he  made 
a  visit  to  the  pnie  stulj,  and  found,  <m  ins])ection,  a  larj^'e  hole  in  its  si(h',  about 
If)  feet  up.  Tie  took  his  ax  and  cut  down  the  stub,  split  it  open,  anil  found 
inside  over  2  Im.shels  of  bugs.  All  had  their  heads  off  and  bodies  intact.  Now, 
why  did  the  Woodpecker  cany  the  bugs  whole  to  the  tree  and  only  bite  off 
and  eat  the  heads,  whicli  could  have  been  (h)iie  in  the  potato  field.'" 

Like  all  Wood])ecker.s,  it  is  an  expert  clind)er,  and  moves  rapidly  up  and 
around  trees  in  short  hojis;  it  is  e({ually  easy  for  it  to  go  l)ackward  or  sidewise, 
and  it  is  astoni.shing  how  readily  it  can  nlo^('  in  any  direction.  The  .strong  feet 
and  sharp  claws  enable  it  to  hold  firmly  to  the  bark,  and  the  stiff,  spiney  tail 
feathers  also  come  in  play  while  it  is  at  work,  acting  as  a  support  for  the  body 
whicli  is  well  thrown  back  when  a  blow  is  delivered  with  its  jioweiful  chisel- 
like bill.  Although  usually  rather  ,shy,  when  liusy  in  search  of  food  ono  will 
occasionally  allow  itself  to  l)e  very  closely  appr(>ache(l.  I  have  seen  one  alight 
on  the  trunk  of  a  crab-ap|)le  tree  within  .'i  feet  of  me  and  (lclil)erately  coimiieiice 
searching  for  larvie,  apparently  perfectly  imconcerned  al)out  my  presence,  and 
when  I  moved  up  a  little  (doser,  he  simply  hoi>ped  around  on  the  opposite  side 
of  tlu^  tree  and  continued  his  .search;  eveiy  once  in  a  while,  however,  his  head 
would  appear  from  behind  the  tree  to  see  if  1  was  .still  watching  him.  He 
remained  fully  thirty  minutes  on  the  same  tree,  where  ho  evidently  found  an 
abundance  of  food,  and  then  flew  off  uttering  several  loud  notes  like  "liuip, 
liuip."     Its  ordinary  call  sounds  like  "trriii.  trriii,"  a  shrill,  rattling  note. 

The  tongue  of  the  majority  of  our  Woodjieckers  is  especially  adapteil  for 
extracting  larva',  etc.,  from  the  wood  in  which  they  live.     The  tongue  proper  is 


48 


LlFi:  UISTOUIES  OF  NOKTll  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


,,  n     -I 


'0 


■^ 

i 

T 
i 

1 

dii.^j 

M 

ratluT  small,  flat,  uiid  tcniiiiiati's  in  a  sharj),  lioriu'  jxilnt,  which  is  armed 
at  the  sides  with  a  scries  of  hristlc-liki!  barhiMJ  hooks;  the  worm-like  neck,  or 
the  hyoid  process  to  which  it  is  attached,  is  <^'en(;rally  rather  loii{^  and  curves 
around  the  back  of  the  skull  in  a  sheath,  and  this  can  readily  he  thrown 
forward  for  '2  or  .'5  inches.  A  sticky  saliva  is  also  secreted,  with  which  the 
tonf>ue  is  covered  to  facilitate  the  extraction  of  the  food  they  are  in  search  of. 
Their  sense  of  hearing;'  must  he  exceedinjrly  acute,  as  they  appear  to  readily 
detect  tlu^  slij^hti'st  movement  of  any  insect  imder  the  bark  or  in  the  solid 
wood,  and  they  make  no  mistakes  in  properly  locatinnr  it.  Their  flight  is  rapid, 
uuilulatin^jf,  usually  not  very  protracted,  and  they  rarely  ilesceud  to  the  {ground 
in  search  of  food,  where  their  movements  are  rather  awkward  and  clumsy. 
Notwithstanding-  the  amount  of  labor  required  for  the  Hairy  and  other  Wood- 
pcikers  to  obtain  the  necessary  amount  of  nourishment,  they  are  usually  iu 
yood  condition,  and  in  winter  not  unfrequently  excessively  fat. 

Our  Hairy  Woodi)ecker  is  one  of  the  i-arliest  of  this  family  to  breed.  The 
mating  season  Itegins  in  the  latter  part  of  March,  and  the  speci(ss  is  at  this  time 
one  of  the  noisiest  mi'inbers  of  this  family.  The  male,  when  not  iu  search  of 
food,  now  seems  t(»  ocreupy  himself  almost  excdusively  with  drunnning-  on  a 
lesonant  dead  limb,  generally  situated  near  the  top  of  some  tidl  tree.  The  louder 
the  nois((  produced,  the  more  satisfactory  it  ap[»ears  to  be  to  the  performer;  it 
seems  to  \)i'  a  sort  of  love  notit  aufl  call  t(»  the  female,  and,  as  far  as  I  have  been 
a!)le  to  observe,  is  oid\'  indulged  in  by  the  male.  In  Hying  from  one  tree  to 
another  a  shrill,  sharp  "hiiip,  huip"  is  ofti'U  uttered,  and  during'  the  mating^  season 
both  sexes  an;  very  demonstrative!  and  utter  ([uite  a  number  of  different  notes. 
1  believe  this  species  remains  paired  through  life.  Nidilication  begins  usually 
early  in  April,  and  it  requires  about  a  week  to  ])rei)are  the  uesthig  site.  Both 
sexes  take  i)art  in  this  labor,  and  it  is  really  wonderful  how  neat  and  smooth  an 
excavati(jn  these  birds  can  make  with  their  chisel-sha])ed  bills  in  a  comj)aratively 
.short  time.  The  entrance  hole  is  as  round  as  if  made  with  an  auger,  about  2 
inches  in  diameter,  and  just  large  enough  to  admit  the  body  of  the  bird;  the 
edges  are  nicely  beveled,  the  inside  is  cMpially  smooth,  and  the  cavity  is  gradually 
enlarged  toward  tlu;  bottom.  The  entrance  hole,  which  is  not  unfrecjuently 
j)laced  under  a  limb  for  protection  from  the  weather,  generally  runs  in  straight 
throug'h  the  solid  wood  for  about  3  inches,  and  then  downward  from  10  to  18 
inches,  and  some  of  the  finer  chips  are  allowed  to  remain  on  the  bottom  of  the 
cavity  in  which  the  eggs  are  (h^posited.  IJoth  dead  and  living  trees  are  selected 
for  nesting  sites,  generally  the  former.  When  living-  trees  are  chosen,  the  inner 
core  or  heart  of  the  tree  is  usually  more  or  less  decayiid.  These  nesting  sites 
are  nearly  always  scdected  with  sncli  good  judgment  that  .such  obstacles  as  hard 
knots  are  rarely  encountered;  should  this  occur,  the  site  is  abandoncMl  and  afresh 
one  selected.  After  this  is  com|)leted  the  male  frequently  excavates  another 
hole,  or  even  several,  in  the  same  tree  or  in  another  close  by,  in  which  to  pass 
the  night  or  to  seek  shelter,  and  to  be  close  to  the  nest  while  the  female  is 
incubating;  these  holes  are  not  so  deei)  as  the  others.     A  fresh  nesting  site  is 


THE  HAIRY  WOODPECKKK. 


49 


crcnornllv  wloctod  oacli  smison,  but  where  stiitable  trees  itre  scarce  tl\e  same  on« 
may  lie  used  ti>r  several  years  in  succession,  and  in  sucli  a  case  it  is  usually 
tluiroujililv  cleaned  out  and  tlie  oltl  chips  in  the  l)ottoui  removed  and  replaced 
1)V  fresli  ones.  Heech,  ash,  ])op]ar,  birch,  oak,  sycauiore,  haw,  and  apple  trees 
are  mostly  usetl  tor  nesting,'  sites. 

Ur.  i).  M.  Munows  writes  me:  "In  Marshall  County,  Illinois,  the  river  bot- 
toms are  suliject  to  overflow  din-in<;-  the  sprinjj,  and  hij^h  water  lasts  freipu'utly 
for  two  or  three  months,  causiu<?  the  willows  and  soft  niajdes  to  die  in  <,'reat 
ninnbers,  sometimes  leaving-  belts  of  dead  trees  of  considerable  extent.  Anioii<jf 
these  the  Hairy  Woodpecker  is  always  to  lie  found.  The  ne.stinj^-  .season  eoni- 
niences  earlier  than  that  of  any  of  the  Woodpe(;kers  found  in  this  locality,  and 
seems  to  bt;  (|uite  re<,''ular.  From  my  notes  I  find  the  time  to  secure  fresh  e<f}j^s 
to  be  from  the  2()th  to  the  24th  of  April.  Here  they  nest  mostly  in  dead  willows, 
though  maple  trees  from  which  the  bark  has  fallen  off,  leaving-  a  smooth  trunk, 
are  also  frecpiently  used." 

In  Maine  they  nest  sometimes  in  dead  spruce  and  fir  trees,  but  deciduous 
trees  seem  to  be  preferred  throuijihout  their  ran<ie.  In  the  New  Euffland  States 
and  northern  New  York  fresh  eg-gs  are  usually  found  during  the  first  week  in 
May,  and  ordinarily  only  one  brood  is  rai.sed  in  a  season.  In  the  Adirondacks 
their  holes  are  often  found  from  40  to  aO  feet  from  the  g-round.  The  <luties  of 
incubation  are  <livided  between  the  sexes  and  last  about  two  weeks.  Tlui  young 
when  first  hatched  are  repulsive-htoking  creatin-es,  blind  and  naked,  with  enor- 
mouslv  large  heads,  and  ugly  protubei'ances  at  the  base  of  the  liill,  resembling  a 
rej)tilc^  more  than  a  bird,  'l^liey  an;  totally  helpless  for  some  days,  and  can  n<  t 
stand;  but  tlu*y  soon  learn  to  climb.  They  are  fed  by  the  parents  l)y  regurgita- 
tion of  their  food,  which  is  the  usual  way  in  which  the  young  of  most  Wood- 
peckers are  fed  when  first  hatched.  Later,  however,  a  few  species,  like  the 
Hed-headed  Woodpecker  and  other  mendiers  of  this  gemis,  feed  their  young  in 
the  ordinary  manner,  carrying  the  food  in  their  bills.  The  young  remain  in  the 
nest  about  thrtM'  weeks.  When  disturbed  they  utter  alow,  piu'riug  noises,  which 
reminds  me  somewhat  of  that  made  by  bees  when  swarming,  and  when  a  little 
older  they  utter  a  soft  "puirr,  puirr."  Even  after  leaving  the  nest  they  are 
assiduously  cared  for  })y  !)otli  ])arents  for  several  weeks,  until  able  to  ju'ovide 
for  themstdves.  Should  the  first  set  of  eggs  be  tak<'n,  a  second,  and  sometimes 
even  a  third,  is  laid  at  intervals  of  from  ten  to  fourteen  (hiys;  and  if  the  nesting 
site  has  not  been  destroyed  or  the  entrance  lud(^  enlarged  (which  can  readily  be 
avoided  by  sawing  (Uit  a  sufficiently  large  piece  below  the  hole,  enabling  the 
collector  to  insert  his  hand,  and  replacing  this  again  carefully  after  taking  the 
eggs)  they  will  frequently  use  it  a  second  time. 

The  ninnber  of  eggs  laid  to  a  set  varies  fW'm  three  to  live,  usually  fotn*. 
I  iiave  been  infonned  that  sets  of  six  and  seven  have  been  taken,  but  I  doubt 
this.  They  are  mo.stly  oval  in  .shajie,  sometimes  elliptical  oval,  and  occa.sionally 
rounded  ovate.  The  shell  is  very  finely  gramdated,  glossv,  and  .semitrausluceut 
when  fresh,  the  yolk  being  plainly  visible  then;  but  as  incubation  advances  it 

16BLKJ— No.  3 i 


rnTrr 


60 


LIFK  DlSTOllIES  OF  NORTH  AMEUIOAN  IJIKDS. 


1)oconi(>s  more  opiuiuc.  Like  all  Woodpeckers'  eyj^s,  they  iiro  puro  wliito  and 
uiiMpottod. 

'I'lie  nverajjc  inciisurement  of  twenty-nine  Hpecinicns  in  the  United  StnteH 
Niitionid  .Museum  eolkrtion  is  23. (if)  l»y  17.94  millimetres,  or  iiltont  0.i)3  I»y0.7l 
inch.  'I'lie  larj^est  efiy  of  the  series  measures  'if)  01  Ity  18. HO  millimetres, or  1.02 
by  0.74  inches;  tiie  smallest,  20.A7  Ity  l(;.2(i  millimetres,  or  0.81  l)y  0.(14  ineh. 

The  ty|)e  specimen.  No,  24721  (not  iij^ured),  from  a  .set  of  five  e<;f>:s,  was 
taken  by  Dr.  William  L.  Halpli  near  IloUund  I'atent,  Uneida  County,  New  York, 
on  Ma\  5,  iMiJl. 


;      **  ■ 

ii  ■' 


17.     Dryobates  villosus  leucomelas  (liooDyiiKT). 

NORTHERN   HAIRY  WOODrECKKR 

ricus  Ifucomelan  15oDT)yT:RT,  Table  rtoa  Plniirlios  EiilniiiiiK  os  dTIistoirc  Natnrollo,  17.S3, '_'!. 

Dnjobalfn  villosus  IcHvomrUiH  RimiWXY,  I'rocecdiiiRS  T.  S.  National  Museum,  V1II,18<S5, .'$55. 

(I!  71,  part;  C  L'Jt.S,  iiart;  11  3«0«,-  (J  43S,  part;  IJ  l"S.i(i.) 

<li;o(ii!ATnicAL  RANGK:  Nortlioru  North  Amcri<^a;  from  about  latitmlo  1!P  in  tlio, 
castrrii  i)arts  of  the  Dominion  of  Canada  north  to  about  hititude  litr .  and  probiibly  still 
farther  in  the  interior;  west  to  eastern  Alaska;  south,  in  winter  only  ( f),  to  the  northern 
border  of  the  United  States. 

The  breodinp:  range  of  the  Northern  Hairy  Woodpecker,  also  known  as  the 
"Great  White-backed  Sapsucker"  and  "I'hilliits's  Woodjtecker,"  a  somewhat 
larj^er  race,  and  nsually  with  a  f>reater  amount  of  white  ii\  its  jdumao'c  than  the 
preeedinji',  is  probably  coextensi\e  with  its  o-eoirraphical  distribution;  it  also 
aj)pears  to  be  resident  wherever  foinid.  Mr.  Ii.  H.  l\oss,  of  the  Ilud.-^on  Hay 
C"om])an\',  took  a  male  near  Fort  Simjtson,  on  the  Jraekenzie  River,  in  latitude 
(')-2^  N.,on  l)ecend)er2!l,  1  8(;0,  and  I\[r.  ]\Ie(,^uesten  ol)tained  a  female  at  Fort  Reli- 
ance, on  the  upper  Yukon,  in  xVlaska,  in  about  latitude  Gti"  N.,  on  Septi'iuber  lo, 
1S78;  both  of  these  ■.specimens  are  now  in  the  United  States  National  Museum. 
North  of  latitude  Ali"  it  is  reported  to  be  rare,  and  it  is  not  often  met  with  lu'ar 
the  coast  in  Ala.ska.  Prof  Winfrid  A.  Stearns  reports  takinj;'  a  specimen  of 
I)ri/()h(ilrs  rilli>sii>i  in  Labrador  on  October  2S,  1SS2,  exact  lucalit}"  not  stilted, 
which  is  un((Ue.stionably  refendde  to  this  race;  but  .Mr.  L.  iM.  Turner,  diirin<>-  his 
sojourn  (if  sevi'ral  years  in  Unj>ava,  failed  to  meet  with  it,  and  it  is  probably  rare 
throughout  this  region.  It  is  reported  as  a  common  resident  of  British  Colum- 
bia, east  of  tlu^  (Cascades,  and  in  the  IJocky  Mountain  sections,  by  Mr.  .John 
Fannin. 

Whih'  stationed  at  Fort  Ouster,  ^lontana,  T  took  several  .s])ecimens  during 
the  winter  of  ISS4-sr),  wliich  I  referred  to  Dn/olxitr.s  rillosits;  one  of  thc-^e  skins,  a 
fine  male,  taken  on  .\pril  111,  188,"),  is  now  in  the  United  States  National  Museum 
collection,  ;uid  this  is  a  perfectly  typical  exami)le  of  the  northern  race.  It  is 
therefore  jtossibh-  tiiat  it  ])reeds  in  limited  numbers  along  our  northern  border, 
but  it  may  only  have  been  a  late  .straggler.  I  shot  it  in  a  cottonwood  grove 
on  the  Big  Horn  Kiver. 


THE  NORTHERN  HAIRY  WOODPKCKKR. 


61 


ItH  {Tonoral  Imlits,  food,  mode  of  incuhatlon,  etc.,  arc  prohaljly  the  name  m 
those  of  Pif/olidfrs  riHosus.  There  are  no  positively  identified  cfiji's  of  tliis  race 
in  the  niiit'ction;  l)nt  t\u-y  undoubtedly  resemble  those  of  the  precedin}^  species, 


averaging  prol)ably  a  trifle  larger. 


i8.    Dryobates  villosus  audubonii  (Swainson). 

801ITHKKN  HAIRY  WOODrKCKEK. 

Piem  niiduhoiiii  SwAiNSON  and  RicnABnsoN,  Fiiuna  Horeali  Americana,  II,  18.'n,  .'?Ofl. 
Dryobaten  rilloHHn  aiiduhonii  ItiDOWAY,  Proceedings  U.  8.  Xiitional  Mnscuni,  VIII,  1885,  365. 
(B  74,  part;  0  298,  part;  R  300,  part;  (J  138,  part;  U  3»3i.) 

tii;ooRApniCAi,  UANOE:  South  Atlanti(^  and  Gull"  Htat«a;  north  to  North  Carolina, 
sontiierii  Tennessee,  etc.;  west  to  Louisiana  and  southeastern  Texas.  ( f)  Casual  in  the 
Bahamas. 

The  l)roodin<»  ranj^o  of  the  Southern  Hairy  Woodpecker,  a  somewhat 
smaller  ra^'  lian  Dri/ohatrs  nillosiifi,  is  likewise  coextensivt*  with  its  <reo<Traphi(!al 
distribution,  it  <>*>nerally  being  resident  wherever  found.  It  reaches  tlu^  northern 
limits  of  its  range  in  North  Carolina.  The  Hrindey  IJrotliors  write  me  that  it 
occurs  in  tiie  vicinity  of  Raleigh,  where  it  is  ratlier  rare,  and  nests  (piite  early, 
as  young  birds  were  found  nearly  fully  fledged  on  May  2"),  1H!)1.  j\[r.  William 
Brewster  also  met  with  it  in  the  lowlands  in  Franklin  County,  North  Carolina, 
and  m*  to  an  elevation  of  4,000  feet  at  Highlands,  in  ^facon  County,  whih^  1  )r.  W. 
JI.  Fox  rej)orts  seeing  a  few  each  year  in  Roane  County,  Tennessee  ;  specimens 
sent  b}'  him  have  l)een  identified  at  the  United  States  Natioiud  Museum  as 
referable  to  this  subspecies.  The  late  Mr.  C.  W.  Beckham  nuitwitli  it  at  Bayou 
Sara,  i^ouisiana,  and  ^fr.  E.  A.  Mcllhenny  found  it  nesting  on  May  12,  1H!)2,  in  a 
cavity  of  a  pin  oak,  21  feet  from  the  ground,  in  New  Iberia  Parish,  Louisiana. 
Here  it  fre(iuent8  the  oak  timber  on  higli  land,  and  is  said  to  be  rare.  Although 
not  yet  reported  from  southeastern  I'exas,  its  range  ]irol)al)ly  extends  into  this 
State  also.  The  late  Ur.  W.  (!.  Avery  found  it  breeding  in  Alabama,  where  it  is 
not  uncommon,  and  Dr.  William  L.  Raljili  has  taken  three  sets  of  eggs  in  Put- 
nam (bounty,  Florida,  which  are  now  in  the  collection  of  the  United  States 
National  Museum.  Nidification  connnenced  early  in  April,  and  several  sets  of 
eggs  found  by  him  during  the  last  week  in  this  month  were  well  advanced 
in  incubation.  The  cavities  were  in  all  cases  excavated  in  cypress  trees  grow- 
ing on  the  edge  of  swamps,  and  located  from  2S  to  4.")  feet  from  the  ground. 
The  nund)er  of  eggs  to  a  set  were  three  or  four,  the  first  number  being  the 
more  connnon. 

The  general  habits,  food,  etc.,  of  the  Soutlieni  Hairy  Woodpecker  are  sim- 
ilar to  those  of  Dri/(il)atcs  dUIoshs,  but  this  subspecies  seems  to  be  mon^  fond  of 
fruit  and  l)erries,  and  the  young  are  fed  largely  on  figs.  The  eggs  are  scarcely 
distinguishai)lefrom  those  of  the  Hairy,  excepting  that  they  are  a  trifle  narrower, 
and  all  are  elliptical  ovate  in  shape. 


52 


Lll'K  illSTOUlHS  or  NOUTIl  AMKIMCAN  |;1IM>.S. 


The  iivcrafrc  inciiHiirciiiciit  of  iiiiir  s|)cciiii('iis  tnnn  tlic  Kiil|ili  collrctittii  is 

2i]A)i}   by    17.  to   iiiilliiiictn-s,  or   iilxnit  O.lt.'J    l»y  (),<is   incli.  'I'lic    lari>o.st  cy;-' 

immHiins -J-l.H!)  \ty  17.r»3  iMillinu'trcs,  or  ().!»H  Ijy  O.li'J  liu-li;  the  .siiiullcst,  22.H(; 
l)y  IT.O'i  inilliinctrfs,  or  U.!M)  hy  O.JIT  iiirli. 

The  type  spci'iiiicii,  \o.  'JtlH'J  (\\(ti  lijinrcil),  iVoni  a  set  of  tlircc  cji'fis,  was 
takt'ii  l)y  Dr.  William  L.  Haljtii  near  Saii  .Mateo,  I'litiiaiii  County,  Florida,  on 
April -Jl",  IHDl. 


'■}• 


19.     Dryobates  villosus  harrisii  (.\i  ui  iio.s). 

IIAUKIS'S  WOOKI'I'.CKKK. 

I'iviis  harrisii  Ai'DUiioN.  •  trnitliolofjiciil  Hiofiniiiliy,  V.  ls;!!t,  l!il. 

DnjobutcH  riUdHUx  harrisii  ItininVAY,  rH(Cf('(lili;;s  I'.S.  Niitiouiil  Muscain,  VIII,  I SS,';,  ,'{."»">. 
(li  7.'>.  ('  -".»S((.  |{  ;t<i(»/(.  ('  1,111,  (■  ;!<(.(,•.) 

iiEiKiUAPllK'Ai,  UANOK:  I'licMic ( 'oast  n'fjioii.s;  IVoMi  iKirtlKMiM'aiil'cnniii  (llaiabohlt 
Itay)  aortii  (noar  tlii^  coast  only)  tliioaKli  Oick'oii,  Wasiiiaulon,  aial  liiitisli  Coluaibiii  to 
siatliera  Alaska  (Sitka). 


sU)i)os  < 


Until  within  tlic  last  few  years  all  tlie  Hairy  Woodperkers  tVoni  tli<^  easten 

n  considered  a 


it'  the   l{(a'k\'  .Mountains  to  tlu-    I'acitic  coast  ha\c   Itec 


jjolonjiin;;-  to  this  sultspecies,  but  recently  Mr.  William   ih'ewster  separatecl  and 
e\v  form  in  "The  .\uk"  (N'ol.  \',  .Inly,  ISS.S,  ji.  -iA'J),  which  restricts 


deseriheil  a  n 


tl 


w,  ran"!'  o 


he  lil'esel 


It  smI 


)S|)ecies 


inider  consideration  \er\'  materialh'. 


he  lireedmi:'  raim'e  o 


f  tl 


ns  race,  as  no\v  considereil,  is  a  \'er\'  hnn 


ted 


one, 


and  is  proi)al»l\'  coextensive  with  its  <>'eoyraphicai  distrilitition.      It  is  appai'cnth' 
coniined  to  the  immediate  vicinit\'  of  the  coast,  and   is  not  found  at  anv  <>reat 


distance   miani 


I.     .V 


niou"' 


tl 


U!    s|tecnnens    collected 


1)\    me    at    i''ort   Klamath, 


(h'e<;iai  (naistly  winter  birds),  there  are  two  which  mij^ht  lie  called  internu'di- 
ates  between  this  and  tiie  more  I'ecently  separated  Dr/lolxifcs  rillnsiis  Iii/Io.scdjihs, 
but   the   majoritx'  are   clearly  referalile   to   the  latter.       In  the  ty|iical    Harris's 


\V< 


tl 


I'ts  are  nuich  dai'Uer,  a  smok\  brown,  in  fact;   it  is  also 


oodpecker  the  under  pai 
somewhat  larjivr  and  is  very  readily  distinj^uishable  from  the  nuicli  li;i|iter- 
colored  and  somewhat  smaller  Cabanis's  Woodpecker.  It  has  been  taken  as  far 
north  as  Sitka,  .Maska,  ami  seems  to  \h'  a  fairly  common  resident  near  I'ui^-et. 
from  which  locality  1  recently  rc'ceived  a  ])erfectly  typical 


■xiund 


W 


islnutiton, 


skin  taken  b\-    Mr.   S.  V.  Uathl 


am  on 


Fel 


jruar 


\-    14,    lS!l-_»,  here    it  breeds   in 


the  })in(^  and  iir  forests.      Its  ^^eneral  habits,  food,    mode  of  nestini;',  etc.,  are 


sum 


lar  to  those   of  the  jirecedinj;'  subspec 


Its 


i-jis  are   | 


)ro 


babh 


a  intit 


ttl. 


larger  than   those  of  Cabani.s's  AVoodj)Ocker,  but  as  there  are  no  absolutely 
identified  specimens  in  the  United  States  National  .Museum  collection  as  yet,  I 


can  not  i>ive  actual  measurements. 


I"  ' 
III- 


OAIIANIH'H  W(K)l)l'K(iKKU. 


68 


20.     Dryobates  villosus  hyloscopus  (Caiianih). 


CAHAXIS'H  WOODI'KCKl'.K. 


Driinliolin  hiilnovopiiH  (lAiUMS  iiiul  lii'.iNi:.  Miisriim   llciiu'iimim,  IN',  ii,  ISO.!,  (ill. 
(Druiitidlin  riUimiiH)  IiiiIuxcoihih  r.iiicw.-^TKU,  Auk,  V,  .Inly,  I s.s.S,  I'.'iL*  (in  text). 
( I!  T."M.!Ut ;  ('  -'US,!,  part;  I!  .Kilt//,  \mrt;  C  l.'lit,  pivrt ;  I'  AKiil.) 

(iKOClRAl'iiicAi,  KANiiK:  VV<!sUmii  Noitli  Aiiicrlua;  iioilli  I"  .Mdiiliiiiii,  liliilio,  iiiid 
WashiiiKl"!!,  <"^<'''1'''"K  "i''  •'"""<'  irKimi**;  I'M^t  to  the  caslciii  sloipcs  ol' tlie  Kocky  Moiin- 
taiiiH  anil  ndjiicciit  lances;  scmtli  tliiouuli  «'iiiir(Hiiia.  .Vn/mia, ami  New  Mcxiro  to  iiortliiTii 
Mexico  ami  Lower  (Jalilornia. 


(Jiiljiiiii.s's  WcMiilju'ck 


iciicrall}'  iiitcrmcdiiitc!  in  shv  lictwcfii   hri/ohiiti's 


rill(i.sii.-<  iind  l)iji(ili<tli:s  rilldsiis  liiiiiniirliis,  and  is  distinoiiislial)l('  iVuni  the  Inriiicr 
1)V  its  plain  lilack  ur  nnidi  less  sputtcd  wino' cuvcrts  and  tcrtials,  and  t'nmi  I)r;/<>- 
hatcn  rlllnsit>:  lidirisi'i  1)\-  its  liojitcc-cdldrcd  nndci-  parts  and  suincwliat  smaller 
.'^ize.      r  Iia\('  rcfcnlK'  liad  an  nppnrtiuiity  to  examine  sexcral  skins  ut'  tiiis  snl)- 


speeics, 


taken  in  tke  vicinil\  ut'  Fort  .Slierman,  lilalio,  liv  1  M'.  .lames  ( '.  Merril 


Unitefl  States  Armv,  wliieli  are  alniust  as  jaro-c  as  Driiohutin  villosus  Irnnniirlds  aiul 
t'nlh  as  lai'^i'e  as  Dri/nlxitis  ril/osiis  /,iinisii.  It  is  pi-aetieally  a  resident  wliercNcr 
found,  and  its  hreedinj;'  raiifre  is  cdcxtcnsixc  witli  its  ^•eojiraplucal  distriltntion. 


In  winter  it  is  dt'teii  met  with 


th 


le  \alle\s  adiacciit  to  moinitani  ranocs,  to 


wliicli  it  retires  in  snnnner  to  hreed;   lini   these  vertical  iiiio'rations,  it'  they  may 
be  called  so,  are  never  \cry  extended. 

('al)ani.s"s  Woodpecker  does  not  appear  to  lie  t'onnd  north  of  oin'  horder, 
and  lias  not  as  yet  lieeii  reported  from  any  point  in   the  Dominion  of  ( 'anada. 


«f  the    Uockv 


nor  docs  it  reach  any  <^'reat  distanc(^  heyond  the  eastern  slopes  o 

Mountains  and  adjacent  ranjics.      I)r.  (J.  S.  Aji'ershor;^'  f^'ives   it   as  a    common 

resident  of  sontheastern  South    Dakota,  Itiit  I   doubt  if  perfectly  tyjiical  speci- 


f  tl 


mens  ot  tliis  race  ai'e  found  east  of  tlio  Mlack  Hills  in  this  State.     It  inhabits  all 
the  mountain  rej;ions  of  the  interior  np  to  altitudes  of  lO.OOO  t'eet,  and  occurs 

n  southern  Arizona  it  does  not 


nth  of 


our 


bonl 


er  m  nortnerii 


M 


levs,  but   1    havt;  shot  several   near  'Tucson  in 


a])pear  to  breeil  iu  tlie  lower 

winter,  and  it  mereh'  retires  to  the  neifi'iiborino'  mountains  hei'e,  where  it  tinds  a 

suitable  snuunei' (dimatiMlin-ino'  the  seasou  of  reproduction.     .Mr.  .\.  AV.  Anthony 


observed  it  in  the  San    Pedro  .Martir   .Mounti 


uns, 


Lower  California,  at  altitudes 


from  7,000  to  10,000  feet.  Mr.  Denis  (Jale  found  it  laveilinj;'  in  Moidder  County, 
(Colorado,  on  i\Iay  I'K,  ISSi;,  ju  a  live  aspen  tree,  at  an  idtitudc  of  about  XJ)iH) 
feet.    The  lU'st  contained  live  e""s,  in  which  incubation  \va<  somewhat  ad\  anced. 


Mr.  William  ii.  Smith  al 
tl 


so  reports  it  as  ci 


mmon  in  Colorado,  cominir  down  into 


i(!  valle\sm  w 


inter.  He  says  it  is  the  earliest  of  the  Woodpeckers  to  breed,  that 
it  conmieiices  nestinji'  in  the  latter  part  of  April,  and  usually  excavates  its  holes 
in  old  dead  pines,  freipiently  at  ji  considerable  ilistanco  from  the  ^^round,  and 
that  he  has  seen  fidl-^^rowu  yonny  by  .Fune  1. 


In  California  Cabanis' Woodpecker  is  connnon   in  the  mountain 


but 


m 


the  lowlands  in  the  scnithern  parts  of  this  State  Mr.  F.  Stephens  considers  it  a 


\rw 


i' 


64 


MFK  IHHTOHIKa  OF  NOIITII  AMKltlCAN  HIUHH. 


Jl 


riitlu'i'  run'  Hitiiuiior  rcHidcnt.  Il»>  fnimd  it  l>rctMliii}r  in  u  cnftnnwiMHl  free,  nciir 
Sun  llcrmiriliiio,  on  Miiri'li  'J!t,  IHH").  Mr.  liymiin  ilcldinj;'  tuok  hcvciiiI  \\ch\h  uf 
tliirt  Hiil)s|i(M'i('H  ill  ( 'aliivcnis  ('(iiiiity,  in  tliu  SiiTi-ii  NitviiiliiH;  in  oni',  found  im 
iJiuut  I),  IK7II,  wliicli  liad  Ixm'Ii  cxnivatctl  in  a  dead  |iin*<  HtiiiMp,  1'J  t'ci't  tVoni  the 
jjround,  the  <'H'f,'''<i  tlirct!  in  niiinbor,  won*  <»n  tim  ]Miint  i»t'  liatcliiiiff.  In  liin  notcH 
lu"  says:  "  I  scared  tlu*  fVnialc  fVdni  it  and  iircvcntcd  licr  rctinii  l>y  inserting  a 
Htick,  flu'  t'lid  (if  wliicli  protrudtMl  for  Hcvond  fet't.  Wlii-n  slic  found  slic  coulil 
not  enter  slie  ;;n\(*  several  cries,  which  hroujrht  tho  nude,  wiio  hopped  n\)  and 
»h»\vn  tile  sticlv  a  few  times,  strikin;;  it  witli  his  l»ill  and  screaininj^  anf;i'ily,  pans- 
in<r  occasionally,  and  apparently  delilieratin;;'  on  the  hest  nu^thoil  of  extracting 
it."  Another  nest,  fountl  hy  him  on  .fuly  10,  IHHO,  was  located  only  ',\  feet  from 
tho  j,Toinid,  and  loiitaineil  yoinij>-  which  were  Htill  in  the  nest  on  the  "Jdth.  Mr. 
('harles  A.  Allen  informs  me  that  ahin;,'-  the  Sacramento  |{i\-er,  in  ( 'alifoinia,  it 
hretnls  in  sycanua-es  and  willows,  l»nt  that  it  is  ni>t  common  there. 

1  have  mot  with  ( 'ahanis's  Woodpecker  in  most  of  our  Ncu'thwestoni  States, 
bnt  found  it  nowhens  very  common.  I  took  my  lirst  mst  near  ( 'am|)  ITarnev, 
Ore^i'on,  on  May  '_*!>,  \Xlf),  in  a  canyon  on  the  southern  slopes  of  the  Mine  Moun- 
tains, at  an  altituile  of  about  5, 000  feet.  The  cavity  was  excavated  in  the  main 
trunk  of  a  nearly  dead  aspon,  ahout  12  teet  from  tho  {ground.  The  entranco 
liolo  was  ahont  1"{  inches  in  diametor,  antl  tho  cavity  aliout  !l  inches  dee]i.  It 
contained  four  much  inculiated  ofiji's.  Tho  female  was  in  the  hole,  and  stayed 
then*  lookiuff  out  until  1  had  struck  tho  troo  several  tinu'S  with  a  hatchet,  when 
she  flew  off  ami  ali<^ht('d  on  one  of  tho  limits  of  the  tree,  nttiiinj;-  cries  of  dis- 
tress, which  lirou^i'ht  tlici  male,  who  was  still  nutro  demonstrative,  hoppin;;'  from 
limb  to  lind),  s(inoalin}r  and  scoldiu}^  at  nio  and  pockinj;  at  the  lindts  on  which 
ho  jterchod.  At  Fort  Klamath,  Oroj^on,  it  was  somewhat  more  connnon,  and 
hent  I  took  sincral  of  its  nests.  It  appears  to  Ixs  especially  abinidant  in  tracts 
in  which  tho  tiiidter  has  lioeii  killed  hy  fire,  and  where  many  of  the  slowly 
rotting  trunks  still  remain  standinj^.  Snch  burnings  are  freqnontly  met  with  in 
the  mmnitains,  and  seem  to  attract  several  species  of  Woodpe<'kers,  jiresumably 
on  account  of  tho  abundance  of  suitabU*  food  to  lu*  found.  Full  sets  of  oirjrs 
may  bo  looked  for  in  ordinary  seasons  during  the  iirst  ten  days  in  IMay,  and 
occasionally  even  earlier,  as  1  tbund  a  nest  with  fonr  young,  several  days  old, 
on  May  21,  IHH.'J.  Inasnnich  as  this  AVoodpeckor  nests  rather  early,  i* 
siblo  that  two  broods  arc  raised  in  a  season.  Dead  or  badly  de( .,  "d 
preforroil  to  live  ones  for  nesting  purposes,  and  ileciduous  s; 

it  also  nests  occasionally  in  firs  and  madrono  trees. 

Like  tho  Hairy  WoodjK'cker,  Cabanis's  is  very  noisy,  espei  dy  iii  the  iirly 
spring.  It  likewise  is  a  groat  drunnner,  and  utters  a  variety  of  notes,  -'>mo  of 
which  sound  like  "kick-kick,  whitoo,wlnt()o,  whit-whit,  wi-wi-wi-wi,"  and  'iMar.>-o 
guttoral  one,  somewhat  like  "kheak-kheak"  or  "khack-khack."  It  is  one  of  on* 
most  active  Woodpeckers,  always  busy  searching  for  food,  which  consists  princi- 
pally of  injurious  larvaj  and  eggs  of  insects,  varied  occasionally  with  a  diet  of 
small  berries  and  seeds,  and  in  winter  s<  imetimes  of  pinou  uuts,  pine  seeds,  aud 


(!AIIANIS'S   \V(K)IH'K<'lvi;H.  Tji) 

iiroriH.  At  fliis  sftisnii  I  liiivu  ofti'ii  Mc'tiii  tli'm  KjaM-'u-H  aroumi  MlaiijflitiT  Ihhihi-w, 
pirkiii);  up  .stni\  liits  ut'  iiunt  or  fat,  anil  liavc  also  hi-cii  it  |HTkin;r  at  liaiiM(li<-s 
<it'  vt'iiisdii  liiiii;;  up  ill  tile  optn  air.  It  is  a.  riitluT  iiiiMtM'inl  liinl  nt  nil  times, 
auil  it  is  rare  to  sco  iiion'  tlinii  ii  pair  tdp-tlu-r,  cxcciitiii^i  wiii'ii  still  ciiriii;;  tor 
tlit'ir  yoiiii};'  to  wliicli  tlioy  appoiir  to  i)o  very  tlevotod  tor  soiiio  time  alter  these 
have  left  their  nests.  • 

Its  iiestiuf,''  hfiliits  are  ontiroly  siniiliir  to  tiiose  nf  Ihnalinlis  rillo.siis ;  hntli 
sexes  sliiire  tiie  worlx  in  t'Xeavatiii};'  tiic  iiestiii;f  site,  as  well  as  tlie  iliity  of  iiicii- 
Itatioii,  which  lasts  about  fifteen  diiyH.  Their  holos  are  usually  located  from  IJ 
to  IH  feet  from  the  ^rinnul,  ami  occasionally  as  low  as  .'{  feet,  or  a^iiiin  in  the  dead 
top  of  a  tall  pine,  fully  •")(•  feet  up,  and  it  laeeds  earlier  than  any  other  Wdoil- 
pecker  found  in  the  same  localities.  The  number  of  v^xs  laid  to  a  set  varies 
Irom  three  to  six;  those  of  four  are  by  far  the  most  common;  sets  of  five  are 
oiilv  occasionally  met  with,  while  sets  of  six  are  very  unusual.     .Mr.  Denis  Oale 


has  taken  a  set  of  si.x,  and  I  also  found  on 


111.    viriys  lie    un 


rlu.  I 


ine  clinic 


lett  in  the  bottom  of  the  cavity,  and  are  occasionally  well  packed  into  tlie.-e, 
so  ihiit  only  aiiout  one-half  of  the  ejrj;'  is  visible.  They  resemble  the  e^gs 
of  IhijiilHilis  rillo.'^ii.'^  in  color,  l)Ut  tIio.se  of  an  elliptical  ovate  shape  are  more 
coinnion  than  the  oval  ami  »llii)tical  ovals,  averajrin;;',  therefore,  more  in  length, 
while  there  is  proportionably  less  difference  in  their  short  diameter. 

'I'lie  averajic  measurements  of  forty-four  specimens  in  the  I'liited  State.s 
National  .Museum  collection  is  24.1(5  by  lS.411  millimetres,  or  about  O.D.S  iiy  (I.73 
inch,  'i'lu^  larji'est  e<ifr  of  the  series  measures  2(i.l(!  by  18. HO  millimetres,  (ir 
1.(13  liy  0.74  inches;  tla^  smallest,  23.;J7  by  i7.7H  milliiiietres,or  (!.!»■_'  by  0.70  inch. 

The  type  speciuieu,  No.  19422  (not  lifiured),  from  a  set  of  three  v<Xiis, 
Heudire  collection,  was  taken  by  the  writer  in  the  lUue  Mountains,  near  Camp 
Iliirney,  Ureyua,  ou  May  2i»,  1875. 


21.     Dryobates  pubescens  (Linnaeus). 

DOWNY  WOODPKCKKK. 

Pinis  piihi'Kcnm  IiiNN.i:u8,  Systi-mii  Xatuiic,  ed.  VJ,  I,  17(!<i,  175. 
h[ry(ili(ikK\  I  ithcm 111  CAiiAtilii,  iMnscuiii  Ilciiit'iuiam,  IV,  Jane  l.'),  ISii.'!,  liu". 

(15  7(i,  C  2!l!l,  It  301,  C  4  10,  U  .HM.) 

(iKOORAPiiiCAL  liANOK:  Eastern  niul  northern  North  Anu'ri<ii;  I'loiii  Florida  and  the 
<liiir  Stiitcs  north  thronyh  the  Dominion  of  Canuda,  in  sontlicrii  l.alirador,  tc>ali(ial  latitude 

Tm^N.;  the in  a  northweslcrly  direction  throiifjli  the  NoithcasI  Tcnitoiy,  Kecwatin, 

and  the  Xoitliwest  Tcnitoiy  to  northern  Alaska,  to  about  latitude  (i(PN.;  west  to  Mani- 
toba, North  and  South  Dakota,  Nebraska,  Kansas,  the  rndian  Territory,  and  eastern  Texas. 
Iriejiiilarly  to  Montana,  Colorado,  Idaho,  Oregon,  Washington,  and  ^'aliioriiia.  Acci- 
dental in  England. 

The  Downy  Woodpecker,  also  known  as  the  "T>ittle  8apsiicker"  and  "Tattle 
(Juinea  Woodpecker,"  is  the  smallest  of  our  I'lcida;  clo.selv  i('seml)liii<i'  a  llairv 
Woodpecker  in  cohtration,  but  much  smaller.     Like  it,  it  is  an  extremel)'  hardy 


'TF 


56 


lilFK  msTOIMES  OF  NOUTJI  AMERICAN  IJUiD.S. 


bird,  and  is  ('(juiilly  at  homo  in  tlie  boreal  reji^ioiis  or  in  si'initro])i('al  Florida. 
Its  bri'i'diiij^-  riiiijic  is  an  extensive  one  anil  corresponds  with  its  goograidiical 
distribution.  Altlioii^li  ot"  a  more  (>r  less  rovinj;'  disposition  in  winter,  in  certain 
htcalities  tlirouj-liont  its  ranf^e,  caused  probably  by  abundance  or  lack  of  food, 
it  cannot  be  considered  as  a  strictly  niifiratorv  bird,  as  it  apjjcars  to  l)e  a  resident 
even  in  winter  in  northern  Alaska,  a  fact  that  is  well  attested  from  the  mimerous 
specimens  taken  there  at  that  season  and  now  in  the  United  States  Jsatioiial 
Museum  collection. 

I  notice  tiiat  tlie  under  parts  of  all  the  Alaskan  specimens  and  others  from 
the  far  north  are  imicli  lij;hter  colored  than  l)irds  from  the  southei-u  parts  of 
its  ran<ie,  tiiey  also  <i-enerally  averajio  somewhat  larffer,  and  if  Dri/ohafrs  rillosiis 
Iciiroiiirld.s  is  consi(h'red  a  ;>dod  race,  oui- nortliern  Downy  Woodpecker  would 
a])])ear  to  me  to  l)e  eijualiy  well  entitled  to  sul)s])ecific  rank.     I  took  a  sinjfle 


spec 


mien 


of  tl 


lis  northern  form,  a  male,  near  Fort  Custer,  Montana, 


on  Januarv 


28,  188."),  which  is  identical  with  the  birds  found  in  Alaska,  probably  a  stra<i<iler 
from  the  far  north.  1  have  also  seen  a.  |)erfectly  tv])ical  s|»ecimen  of  this 
species,  a  female,  taken  by  Mr.  S.  F.  liathbuu,  near  Seattle,  Washington,  on 
February  •_'(!,  lsy2. 

The  Downy  Woodjtecker  is  more  ;*.,,ciable  and  conlidinji'  in  man  than  the 
Hairy  AVoodpecker;  it  likes  to  take  up  its  home  in  the  vicinity  of  human  habi- 
tation.s,  and  [  believe  throui;hout  the  eastern  Fnited  States  it  is  more  abundant 


tl 


lan  its  larjicr  rcdative.     Unfortunatelv,  it  is  also  considered  a  Saiisucker,  and 


many  of  these  exceedini;Iy  useful  little  Woodpecker 


are 


killed  \earlv  throu'ih 


lamentable  ignorance,  under    the   supposition   that  they  injure   the  fruit  trees 
by  boring  in  the  liark,  while  in  fact  they  render  the  horticulturist  inestimable 


servici!  ])\  ridding  his  orchanl  of  ii 


numerable  injurious  inse( 


ts,  tl 


leir  ejiji's  aiu 


1 


larvic,  and  few  of  our  native  birds  deserve  our  good  will  more  than  the  little 
Downv  Woodpecker,     "^riio  most  stringent  jirotection  is  none  too  good  for  it.    It 


one  of  tin 


st  industricms  of  bird.'^ 


is  a 


IwaA  s  at  work  huntinsr  for  food,  and 


the  number  of  injurious  beetles  and  tlu'ir  larviv,  cateri)illar.-<.  etc.,  destroyed  by 


a  smir 


lei 


)ll'(l      M! 


tl 


le  course  of  a  .season  must  be  enormous.     Aside  from  such  a 


diet,  it  feeds  jilso  on  ants  and  their  larva',  spiders  and  theireggs,  and  more  rarely 
on  small  grr.ins,  berries,  and  nuts.  It  does  not  object  to  raw  meat,  and  if  a  jtiece 
is  hung  u 
1. 


p  in  v.inter  where  it  can  readih'  get  at  it,  it  will  pa\'  it  reaular  visits  as 

It! 


ong  as  it  lasts.  It  is  partial  to  rather  open  and  cuif.vateil  country,  mtersju'i-sed 
here  and  there  with  small  woods  and  orchards;  and  to  the  scattering  trees  and 
shrubb<'r\-  of  rixi-r  and  creek  liottoms,  tlie  shade  tri'cs  alonj"-  couiitrv  roads,  and 


iloni'- 


tl 


le  e(|ii-es  o 


11  or( 


f  cl 


eaniigs 


hards 


an( 


aiK 
lal 


1  it 


is  even  at  lioiiR-  ill  \illai'es. 


It 


esiieciallv 


so    111 


dders  and  Avhite  birch  trees.      It  begi 


lis 


loves  to  feed  i 

near  the  roots  and  carefully  scans  every  cranny  as  it  hojis  along 

on  oim  side  and  tiien  on  the  other,  and  iiolurkinj''  insect  seems  to  escai)e  its  sliarii 


lookii 


ig  now 


eye. 


It 


IS  less 


often  iiK 


t  with 


1   in  the  more  extensive  forests,  excepting  aloi 


watercourses,  and  it  does  not  seem  to  cire  much  for  burnt  tracts,  which  hav( 


imu 


h  attraction  for  the  Hairy  and  other  Woodpecke 


Alth 


ougli  not   |)articii- 


larly  socialile  to  its  own  kind,  it  lo\es  to  be  incom[)aiiy  with  other  sjiialler  in.s'jct- 


Tllli  DOWNY  WODDI'KCKICU. 


57 


ivoroiiH  birds,  siicli  as  (Jliickadeos,  NutliatcliOH.  iuul  others,  especially  in  winter. 
Jt  is  not  as  noisy  a  bird  as  the  majority  of  Woodpeckers,  and  utters  but  few 
notes,  exceptinj;'  durin<f  the  niatinjf  season  when  two  or  three  males  arc  in  |)ur- 
suit  of  ii  female.  While  searehin;^-  for  food  it  utters  occasionally  a,  low  "p.shir, 
()m>  of  its  connnon  call  notes  sounds  like  "(iwit,   l»wit,"  terminatinf,f 


)shir. 


with  "tehee,  tehee,  tehee,"  rajiidly  repeated.     Another  note,  nttenid  when  a  jiair 


)tl 


:iro  cliasm<;-one  anotUer,  rennnds  me  somewhat  of  the  "kick-kick"  of  the  Flicker, 
but  is  not  uttered  (piite  as  loudly.  In  the  early  sjjrinji'  the  mah;  frequently 
amuses  himself  by  persistently  drunnninji'  on  some  resonant  dry  lind),  often  for 
fifteen  minutes  at  a  time,  to  attract  the  attention  of  his  mate,  or  as  a  challeufre 
to  some  rival.  l»ut  later  in  the  season  this  is  less  freipu-ntly  heard.  It  is  excee'.l- 
ylv  f>Tacetul  in  all  its  movements  on  a  tree  trunk,  m(.viu;>'  u])  or  down  as  w< 


m 


IS  sKlewisc 


;i 

with  ('([ual  facility,  and  1  have  seen  it  hanj^in^-  ])erfectly  motioiiless 
for  jninutes  at  a  tim(^  in  the  same  jMtsition,  appai'ently  as  if  in  (h'ep  thoui^-ht. 
While  at  Holland  Patent,  New  York,  durin;;'  the  sunnner  of  IS'.t,'},  1  had  excel- 
lent oppoi'tnnities  to  watch  these  interestinji-  birds;  a.  })air  had  raised  ii  brood  in 
a  dead  limb  of  a  maph^  tri'c  in  the  public  s(|iiareof  the  \illa<i(',  and  one  or  nuu'e 
could  b(^  seen  aliout  at  almost  an\'  hoiu'  of  tiie  da\',  and   I   have  more  than  once 


wa 


Ikt'd  U])  to  within  .'5  feet  of  one.  As  they  had  never  ht-en  molested,  they  wen* 
tame,  and  allowed  themselves  to  be  closely  approached.  The  yoini^-  of  the 
year  were,  apjiarently,  nnich  mon;  susj)icious  than  the  old  birds. 


In  tlu*   more  southern    portions  of   its  ran 


as   in    Florida,   niditicnti< 


nsuallv  bi'tiins  a 


>n 
ur 


d)out  the  middle  of  April;  in  New  iMiji'land  and  alon^-  o 
iiortliei'U  border,  from  four  to  live  wi'cks  later,  and  in  Alaska  rai'ch'  l)efore 
dune  1.  .Vpiile,  jiear,  cherry,  oak,  maple,  poplar,  alder,  American  linden  or 
basswood,  ash,  willow,  and  niaynolia  trees  appear  to  furnish  its  favorite 
nesting;-  sites,  and  it  jtrefers  to  ilifr  out  a  home  in  sonu"  dead  lind),  or  in  the  dead 
to]t  of  tlie  trunk,  but  it  iilso  nests  in  live  trees,  usually  sclectin;. 


tl 


lose  m  w 


tl 
'i'l 


le  core  snows  smns  o 


f  d. 


'lorid: 


I  slender  ( 


le;.d 


saiilmij' 


are 


wi 


Inch 
preferred, 
just  !;bnut  lar;^-e  eiiouj^li  to  admit  the   liodv  of  the  l)ird 
t!i  somewhat  of  an   etfort,   perfectly  circular,   measuring'  about    1,',   inches  in 


le    entrance 


hoi. 


(lianieter. 


U  IS 


Tl 


le  inner  cavit\-  is  iiradiiallv  eiilaru'ed    toward  the   liott 


oiii,  wiiere 


alioiit  ,5   iiicl 


es    Willi 


til 


.tl 


iiiootli:    the 


hoh 


usually  IVoui  G  to  II  inches  in  depth,  and  the  bottom  is  covereii  witli  a  laver  of 
fine  chips  on  which  the  e^<;s  are  deposited.  l5oth  sexes  jissist  in  this  work,  and 
it  takes  "bout  a  week  to  complete  a  siiitalile  excavation.  .After  it  is  linished  the 
male  fre(|iieiitly  di;^s  out  a  somewhat  shallower  one  tbr  himself  in  the  .same 
tree,  or  in  ;motlier  ch 
\  i(  iiiit\   of  the  old   on 


liev.-  site  IS  nsiialh'  selected 


each  season  in 


>id 


occasioiia 


for 


and  used 
certain  ram 


<e\-eri 


vears   111   succe; 


itriid 


lly  this  is  cleaned  out,  rleepened  ji  littl(>, 
■iioii.      Kach    pair  of  birds  lav  (daim  to  u 


mil  mtrnilers  on  this  are  driven  away. 


The  Downy  Woodpecker,  althouoji  small  in  size,  does  not  lack  for  ( 


.Mr., I.  W.  Preston  writes  me:  "( »n  May  1,"),  ISIU,  u  female  iK 
Iniiii  iier  nest  in  .-i  {|eca\iiiH-  braiicii  of  a  weeiiii 


ouraire. 


o\ni\'  -was  attracted 


\'>:  wniou'  near  our  house 


Ked-lu.ided  Woodpecker,    which    was  tajipinj:;-  on  the  tree  trunk.      Jt    at 


iiy  a 
once 


I'.l!:' 


58 


LIFE  IILSTOUIES  OF  NOUTU  AMERICAN  BIKDS. 


attiickod  the  liirfjcr  intrutler  foarlessly,  and  soveral  tinios  slio  darted  at  its  head 
witlioiit  i'riyhteiiiiifr  it  away,  and  at  last  the  (h-teiise  l)ecaiiie  so  spirited  tliat  the 
lied-liead  seized  the  little  one  by  the  wing,  teariug'  a  secondary  therefrom,  aiitl 
flew  ort'  witli  its  trophy." 

The  nnniber  ot"  e<;gs  laid  to  a  set  varies  from  three  to  six,  sets  of  four  or 
five  heiufi"  most  counnoidy  found;  one  e}iy  is  deposited  daily,  in  the  north, 
as  a  rule,  only  a  sinj^le  brood  is  raised  in  a  season;  in  the  more  southern  parts 
of  its  ran<;-e  it  prol)ably  raises  two.  If  the  first  set  of  ej^fi's  are  taken,  and 
the  entrance  hole  has  not  been  enlar<ied,  it  will  often  lay  a  second  set  in  the 
same  cavity,  and  occasionally  a  third  set.  Incubation  lasts  about  twelve  days, 
and  the  male  performs  his  full  share  of  this  <luty.  The  y(>un<«'  are  dili<reutly 
cared  for,  for  .some  tinu^  after  leavin<j  the  nest,  and  when  able  to  provide  for 
themselves  each  }:>oes  its  own  way.  In  the  winter  they  dif;'  shallower  excava- 
tions in  dead  trees,  old  stumps,  or  fence  posts  in  some  sheltered  situation,  in 
which  they  spend  the*  nif-hts,  and  to  which  they  retire  during  stormy  weather. 
In  Florida  full  sots  of  fresh  eggs  may  be  looked  for  during  the  last  week  in 
April,  and  in  our  Northern  States  alxtut  a  month  later.  The  nesthig  sites  vary 
from  5  up  to  oO  feet.  There  is  considerable  \'ariation  in  tlu^  size  of  the  eggs  of 
this  species;  like  those  of  all  Woodpeckers,  they  are  glossy  white  in  ct)lor,  and 
mostly  ovate  and  rounded  ovate  in  shape. 

The  average  measurement  of  sixty  specimens  in  the  United  tStates  National 
Jfnseum  collection  is  II). 40  by  l.').()S  millimetres,  or  about  O.'ii',  l)y  O.;")!)  inch. 
The  laVgest  i"^<^  of  the  scries  measures  22. .'3')  by  l(!.2(i  millimetres,  or  ().S8  l)y 
0.G4  inch:  tlu!  smallest,  17.78  by  i;{.4(;  millimetres,  or  0.70  by  O.fKi  inch.  The 
.set  to  wiiich  th(^  smallest  v>x<::;  belongs  was  taken  by  Dr.  William  L.  l{ali)h,  in 
Putnam  (-onnty,  Florida,  and  one  of  the  five  eggs  it  contahied  is  figured.  Tiie 
cavity  was  excavated  in  the  <lead  top  of  a  magnolia  tree  standing  in  an  open 
field  near  wooils,  48  feet  from  the  ground. 

Tiie  ty]te  specimen,  No.  2r)r)!)4  (I'l.  1,  Fig.  24),  from  a  set  of  five  eggs, 
Raljth  collection,  was  taken  as  si  ited  above,  on  April  '60,  1892,  and  represents 


one  o 


f  tl 


le  snii 


lUest 


eggs 


of  tl 


le  series. 


188.-).3.""..".. 


22.     Dryobates  pubescens  gairdnerii  (Audubon). 

(i.\Ii;i)Ni;US  WOODl'ECKKK. 

Pictis  gairdnerii  AununoN,  ()niitliolo};i<'al  HioRraiiliy,  V,  IS.IO,  .'517. 
Dryobates  pi(henciiis  <jiiir<iiierii  I{ii)(i  way,  I'rocccdiiif;  I '.  S.  Xatiiaial  A[usi'uin,  A'l  II, 

(I!  77.  (J  L'iHtrt,  U  .'5(il«,  C  411.  r  39l((.) 

(lEOOBAPniOAL  itANfiic:  Wpsloiii  Xortli  Aincricii;  IVom  soutlieni  ("aliibriiia  north 
tliron;;li  Orcfioii  and  \Va>iliinj;lon  into  Hrilisli  Colnnibia,  to  abont  latitudf  ~>'i  \  and  (xissiblv 
t'artlici'  north;  cast  to  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Sierra  Nevaihi  ami  Cascade  ran;;es  and 
.suaiewliat  beyond. 

(rairdner's  Wooilpecker,  the  western  representative  of  the  l>ownv,  is  jirin- 
cipally  distinguishaltle  from  it  b\'  Inning  tlie  midille  and  greater  wing  covei'ts 
plain  lilaik,  or  only  slightly  spotted  with  white.     Its  range  is  api)arently  rather 


Cr AIUDXKR'S  WOi )1)I'ECKER. 


59 


rostricted,  and  seema  to  lie  mainly  confined  to  tliat  i)art  of  ( "alifornia  west  of  tlio 
Sierra  Nevadas.  IVfr.  E.  AY.  Nelson  reports  it  as  rai-e  in  the  pinon  helt  of  the 
I'anainint  and  Grapevine  mountains  duriiifi:  Dr.  ('.  Hart  Merriam's  expha-ations 
in  the  Death  Valley  region,  in  the  soiitheastern  parts  of  this  State,  in  1S!(1,  In 
Oregon  and  Washington  it  probably  <loes  not  reach  very  far  beyond  the  eastern 
slopes  of  the  Cascades,  while  in  central  Hritish  (!olnmbia  it  is  known  to  occur 
as  far  north  as  Lake  Maluno,  in  about  latitude  f)")''.  Among  a  collection  of  birds 
and  eggs  sent  by  Air.  K.  MacFarlane  from  Fort  St.  James  was  a  single  skin  of 
this  subs])ecies  taken  in  .June,  188!). 

(iairdner's  VVood[)ecker  is  more  or  less  a  resident  and  i)rol)ably  breeds 
wherever  found.  It  is  said  to  be  ratiu-r  •oimnon  in  pai-ts  of  northern  California 
and  in  Oregon,  but  1  found  it  somewhat  rare  everywhere  in  the  west.  It  occurs 
in  small  nund)ers  about  Fort  Klamath,  Oregon,  where  I  took  a  set  of  four 
sligiitly  incubated  eggs,  near  the  Indian  .\gency,  in  a  dead  aspen  sapling,  on 
Jime  !),  1888.  The  cavity  was  about  8  inches  dee[)  and  situated  If)  f(jet  from 
the  ground.  All  of  the  Klamath  birds  are  typical,  and  fully  as  dark  imderneath 
as  any  from  tlu^  coast.  I  also  nu-t  with  this  or  the  lately  descril)e<l  Uatchelder's 
Wood{)ecker  near  Fort  Walla  Walla,  Washington,  and  on  the  .John  Day  IJiver, 
Oregon,  but  it  was  of  ran;  occuiTence  in  both  localities,  and  seemed  to  bo  con- 
fined to  tlie  willows  near  streams.  Mv.  Uollo  II.  Heck,  of  Merryessa,  California, 
writes  nu^  that  it  is  a  fairly  c(Mnmon  resident  there,  and  is  ])rincipally  foimd  along 
the  water  courses  of  the  foothills,  and  only  occasionally  along  tlu^  creeks  and 
streams  in  the  valleys,  Mr.  Charles  A.  Allen  inf(  .ins  me  that  it  l)reeds  in  the 
oaks  and  willows  along  the  Sacramento  Kiver.  California,  but  tiiat  it  is  not 
conunon.  Its  breeiling  sites  seem  to  be  confined  to  deciduous  trees,  preferably 
dead  ones,  or  old  stumps,  and  besides  these  already  mentioned,  sycamore  and 
cottonwoods  are  occasionally  used.  'I'heir  nesting  sites  are  rarely  found  at  any 
great  distance  from  the  gr<.>und,  usually  ranging  from  4  to  20  feet  up  and  rarely 
higher. 

Its  general  habits,  food,  call  notes,  mode  of  nidification,  etc.,  are  similar  to 
those  of  th(!  Downy  Woodpecker,  and  the  same  description  will  answer  for  both. 
As  (California  is  a  great  fruit-growing  State,  (Jairdner's  Woodpecker  shoidd  be 
especially  i)rotected  for  the  good  work  it  does  l)y  ridding  tlu^  orchards  df  noxious 
insects  and  their  larva-.  In  southern  California  nidification  begins  sometimes  as 
early  as  the  middle  of  iVpril,  while  farther  north  it  is  several  weeks  later;  four 
or  <iv(i  eggs  are  usually  laid  to  a  set,  ami  one  is  deposited  dailv.  ( )rdinarilv  but 
one  brood  is  raiseil  in  a  season.  'V\h-  eggs  of  (iairdnei-'s  Woodpecker  resend)le 
those  of  the  Downy  in  every  respect,  but  average  a  trifle  smaller. 

The  average  measurenu'nt  of  thirty-four  .sj>ecimens  in  the  United  States 
National  Museum  collection  is  18.80  by  14.22  millimetres,  or  0.74  bv  (t.f)!!  inch. 
The  largest  egg  of  the  series  measures  20..'52  by  1(J  millimetres,  or  (I.SO  bv  O.fliJ 
inch;  the  smallest,  17."),5  by  13.21  millimetres,  or  O.CO  bv  (I..'t2  inch. 

'i'lu^  type  specimen,  Xo.  liU.'i;}  (not  figured),  from  a  set  of  four  eggs,  liendire 
collection,  was  taken  by  the  writer  near  Fort  Klamath,  Oregon,  on  .lune  9,  1883. 


a) 


LIFK  IIISTOIUES  Ol'  NOh'Tll  AMHUICAN  BlUDS. 


iji 


23.     Dryobates  pubescens  orecECUs  Hatciieldkr. 

I1AT(  IIKLDKKS  W( )01)PKCKKR. 

Driiobatrs pubescens  orircus  Batchklder,  Aiik,  VI,  July,  1889,  253, 

(I!  77,  lart;  O  UO'Jrt,  piirt;  11  Mia,  \mt;  C  441,  part;  U  3916.) 

rrKOfiUAriiicAi,  uANRio:  Rocky  Mountains  ami  adjacent  niountaiii  regions  from 
Arizona  and  N'cw  Mexico  nortli  tliron;;)!  ('olonulo,  Wyoming,  and  Montana,  probably  to 
tiie  sontbcrii  parts  of  eastern  liritisli  Cnbimbia  and  western  Alborta,  in  tlie  Dominion  of 
(!anada;  west  tlirongh  I'tah  and  sontiieastern  IdaUo  to  Nevada.  Casually  to  sontliern 
California. 

Batchol<lor's  W(>odp(»ckor,  recently  separated  from  Gairdncr's  l)y  Mr.  C.  F. 
Batclu'ldcr,  whose  tiaiiu'  it  Ix'ar.s,  is  (listiiijiiiislial)k'  t'roin  the  ju'eeediiio-  subspecies 
hy  liaviiiji'  the  under  |)arfs  pure  wliite  iusteail  of  smoky  brown;  tlie  white  areas 
are  jicnerally  more  extcndi'd.  mid  the  iiniU'r  tail  coverts  are  immaculate  instead 
of  l)ein<f  spotted  oi-  barred  witii  l)lack.  It  is  also  somewhat  lar'ifer.  Like  the 
former,  it  is  distinu'iiishablc  from  IhiinlHitcs  jiiihv.srciis  l)y  the  abseiice  or  scarcity  of 
the  white  markinys  on  the  win;.f  coxcrts.  The  jieo^rrajjliical  and  breedinjj'  ran<;'<* 
of  Hatchelder's  Wooilpecker  is  as  yet  but  very  inilefinitely  ascertaine<l.  Dr. 
Kd^iir  A.  Mearns,  United  States  Army,  reports  it  as  lu'eedinf^-  spariiiji'ly  throu<,di 
the  I'iinix  jKiiiilcrdsd  ix-lt,  ascendinn'  into  the  Spruce  zone,  on  the  San  Francisco 
cone,  and  considers  it  the  rarest  of  the  Woodpeckers  found  in  Arizona.  Mr. 
Denis  ( rale  took  a  nest  and  efiys  of  tiiis  subs[»ecies  in  Boulder  County,  ('(dorado, 
on  JiMUi  12,  ISSi).  Tlie  excavation  was  foiuid  in  a  half-dead  as[)en,  3l>  feet 
froii.  the  fi'roinid,  and  presumably  well  up  in  the  mountains,  as  Mr.  William  C». 
Smith  informs  me  that  it  is  oidy  a  winter  visitor  in  the  lower  valleys,  and  is 
never  seen  there  din'in^'  warm  weather.  I  found  it  rare  near  Fort  Custer, 
Montana,  and  oidy  olttained  a  sinjile  male  specimen,  on  Novi-mber  2;5,  1S,S4, 
amonj;-  the  willows  mid  cottonwoods  on  tiii'  iiittle  Horn  Kiver.  Dr.  dames  C. 
Merrill,  Fnited  States  .\rmy,  met  with  it  breeding-  at  Kort  Shaw,  Montana, 
early  in  dune,  ISTil,  and  tells  mi'  that  live  or  six  eji'ji's  are  ji'eiieraily  laid  to  a 
set,  and  that  the  nestinji'  habits  are  just  like  those  of  the  Downy  Woodpecker. 
Amoii^'  some  skins  recently  sent  me  for  examination  by  the  Doctor,  from  Kort 
Sherman,  Idaiio.  taken  diiriujii'  the  winter  of  18114  and  18'.I5,  are  four  specimens 
which  certaiid\  can  not  l)e  rei'erred  to  either  Batchelder's  or  (Sairdner's  Wood- 
[)e(dvers;  neifiiercan  they  be  calle<l  typical  "  Dri/ohafis  jhiIkscciis"  but  two  of  the 
specimens  come  much  nearer  the  la'^'^er  than  to  the  other  two  sul)species,  the 
under  tail  co\crts  in  all  of  them  beii:^     listinctly  spotted.     1  am  at  a  loss  where 


to, 
pro| 


ilaci' 


lem, 


tl 


statii.- 


ind    It  wi 


re(|iin'e   a 


hirji' 


'er  scries  o 


f  sk 


ins   to  determine  tlieir 


Dr.   ('.    Hart    M 


erriam  saw 


a   small   Woodpecki'r  anion^-  soi 


burnt  timl)er  in  the  iijiper  p.irt  of  Wood  River  Valh^y,  Idaho,  wliich 


m 


irol) 


.diilitN',  was  rel'erabie  to  tl 


lis  siii)si)ecies. 


Tlie  riiite(l  Stah's  National   .Museum 


collection   also  contiiiiis  s])ecimeiis  from  the    Mitter  Root  \'alley,  .Montana;    the 


uiii)er 


11 


ninho 


R 


Idt  V 


ille\'.   m 


\e\ada:   from   the   head   waters  of  the  ( 'hexeiine 


u\er,  and  t"om  liarmme,  Wyoiiunii-;  ami  it  ajipears  to  bv  more  common  on  the 


to  Ik 


th 


I!     ,JJ!1|; 


BATOnKLDEB'S  WOODPECKER. 


61 


eastorn  slopes  of  tlu;  Rorky  Moimtiiii\s  tluiii  on  tlio  western  and  llirt)n<>;li  the 
Great  Uasin  rejfions.  It  undoubtedly  is  also  tonnd  in  the  lloeky  Mountain 
regions  of  southern  Ikitish  ("olunibia  and  the  I'rovince  of  AUx-rta.  Its  <;en- 
eral  habits,  food,  ete.,  resend)le  those  of  the  two  preci'dinji'  sui)si)e»'ies  in  every 
way.     Tiie  egj^s  are  also  similar. 

The  averan^e  measurement  of  eleven  speeiinens  is  ID.Oa  by  ir>.l'4  milliuiotres, 
or  0.7')  by  0.(iO  inch.  'Vhti  largest  egg  measures  ID. .Si  by  l'):2-i  millimetres,  or 
0.78  by  ().()0  inch;  the  smallest,  17.53  by  14.9!)  millimetres,  or  O.GD  by  0.51)  inch. 

The  tvi)e  speeimen.  No.  '21!t45  (not  figured),  from  a  set  of  four  eggs,  was 
taken  bv  Dr.  James  C.  Merrill,  United  States  Army,  near  Fort  Shaw,  Montana, 
on  June  12,  187'J. 


24.     Dryobates  borealis  (Vieillot). 

KED-COCKAUKD  WOODPECKKK. 

ricii.1  bunalin  \'ikili,ot,  Oiseaux  Aineriiiue  Sei)toatrioiiiile,  11,  1S(»7,  titi. 
Dnjohatex  borailis  UiDUWAV,  Pnici'edings  U.  S.  Xatioiml  Muscuiii,  VIII,  1.S.S5,  ;555. 

(li  80,  0  29(>,  U  302,  C  4.!;!,  U  3!!.").) 

(tEOGRAi'ilUiAL  RANGE:  Soutlicasterii  Uuitod  states;  iiortli  to  Xortli  Oarolina, 
Teiniesseo,  Arkansas,  and  the  Indian  Territory;  west  to  eastern  Texa.s.  Casually  to  New 
Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  and  Kentucky. 

The  Ued-coekaded  \Voodpeek(<r,  11  cununon  resident  of  nur  South  Atlantic 
and  CJulf  States,  is  jiartieidarly  aliiuidant  in  th<'  pine  forests  of  Soiitli  Carolina, 
Georgia,  and  Florida.  In  the  northern  Indf  of  Ndrtli  Carnlina  it  is  ratlier  rare, 
but  it  prol)al)ly  lireeds  in  tiu^  vicinity  of  IJaleigh,  as  Mr.  II.  11.  Hriiidey  shot  a 
female  there  in  ])ine  woods  on  .Vpril  22,  iSltl.  Tiien-  are  also  several  specimens 
in  the  United  States  Nati(Hial  Museum  collection  from  Roane  ( "oinit\ .  Tennessee; 
it  has  likewise  been  reported  from  Newport,  in  northeastern  .Vi'Uansas,  and  from 
the  Indian  Territory;  these  points  j)robal>ly  mark  tiie  nortliern  limits  of  its 
breeding  range.  i\Ir.  Henry  Nehrling  found  it  not  unconunon  in  the  Hat,  sandy 
pine  woods  in  .southeastern  Texas,  which  marks  the  wotern  limits  ni'  its  known 
range. 

The  majority  t»f  ol)servers  state  that  it  is  sti'ictly  a  Inrd  of  tiic  pines,  and 
that  it  breeds  only  in  trees  of  that  kind,  wiiile  Mr.  Nehrling  says  tliat  it  usually 
excavates  its  nesting  sites  in  deciduous  trees,  and  .Mr.  1'',.  .\.  M<dliieun\-  writes 
nit^  that  in  southern  Louisiana  it  generally  nests  in  willow  and  china  trees. 
The  Red-cockaded  Woodpecker  is  reporteil  to  be  ime  of  tiic  ni>isi(  q  iiiend)ers 
of  this  family,  but  at  the  same  time  more  social)le  in  disposition  than  other 
species.  I  s  call  notes  are  said  to  be  uttered  in  a  rather  petulant  manner,  and 
Alexander  Wilson  compares  them  to  the  (pieridous  cries  of  yoinig  birds.  Its 
food,  liki^  that  of  all  our  Woodpeckers,  consists  maiid\  of  small  insects  and  their 
larva',  cocoons,  and  spiders,  and,  in  suimner,  to  some  extent  of  berries  and  fruits. 
Mr.  F.  A.  .Mdllienny  writes  that  in  southern  Louisiana  tiic  tig  crop  ripens 
during  their  breeding  season,  and  that   tiie   young  are  fed  to  a  considerable 


!P 


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62 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OP  NORTH  AMERK^AX  BIRDS. 


extent  cm  them,  tlie  parent  tiikinj^  the  stem  of  a  fio-  in  its  l)ei(k  and  earning  it 
entire  ti)  tlie  nest.  Audulion  mentions  poke  and  sniilax  berries,  jjrapes,  and 
pine  Howcrs  as  beinjj^  e.aten  by  them. 

In  Florida,  South  Carolina,  and  Louisiana  nidifieation  eommonres  ratlier 
early,  sometimes  in  February;  but  full  sets  of  ogjjs  are  riirely  found  before 
the  last  week  in  April,  and  the  majority  of  these  birds  connnence  layinjr  about 
May  1.  Mr.  Arthur  'P.  Wayne  writes  me  from  Mount  Pleasant,  South  Carolina, 
on  tliis  subject  as  follows:  "  The  Red-cockaded  Woodpecker  prefers  the  lonj;- 
leaf  pine  to  breed  in,  l)ut  I  have  also  found  the  nest  in  the  short-leaf  species. 
In  this  vicinity  the  hole  is  invariable  e.xcavated  in  a  live  i)hie,  and  .sometimes  as 
many  as  six  holes  are  found  in  a  sinj^le  tree.  It  never  lays  until  the  yum  pours 
freely  from  the  tree  it  nests  in,  and  to  hasten  its  flow  the  birds  di<>'  into  the  tree 
on  ail  sides,  above  and  below  the  hole.  The  height  of  its  nesting  site  varies 
from  20  to  70  feet." 

Trees  in  which  the  heart  is  diseased  are  usually  selected  for  such  a  purpose, 
and  the  cavity  is  excavated  in  the  main  trunk  of  the  tree,  ordinarily  from 
2")  ti>  3")  feet  from  the  ground.  The  entrance* hole,  which  is  about  2  inches  in 
diameter,  fre(|uently  passes  through  (I  inches  of  solid  wood  before  it  reaches 
the  somewhat  softer  decayed  inner  parts  of  the  tree,  and  the  nesting  cavity, 
which  is  gradually  enlarged  toward  the  bottom,  varies  from  G  to  10  inches  in 
depth  by  about  .'5A  inches  in  diameter.  Moth  sexes  assist  in  this  labor,  as  well 
as  in  incubation,  which  lasts  about  fourteen  days.  Ordinarily  oidy'one  l)rood  is 
raised  in  a  season,  l)ut  from  the  fact  that  Mr.  Henry  Nehrling  found  young  in 
July  which  had  only  recently  left  the  nest,  it  is  possible  that  a  second  brood 
is  occasionally  reared.  Dr.  William  L.  liali)h  tells  me  that  this  s|)ecies  is  quite 
common  in  tlie  low,  flat  [)ine  woods  in  Pntnum  County,  Florida,  where  he  has 
found  s(!veral  of  its  nests.  All  of  tlie.se  were  excavated  in  the  trunks  of  live 
pine  trees,  and  it  took  considerable  labor  to  get  at  the  eggs;  the.se  iire  three  or 
four  in  number,  rarely  more.  The  eggs  of  this  Wood|)ecker  are  pure;  glossy 
■white,  and  mostly  elliptical  ovate  in  shape.  The  shell  is  moderatel}'  strong, 
close  grained,  and  semitranslucent  when  fresh. 

The  average  measurement  of  twenty-three  specimens  in  the  United  States 
National  Museum  collection  is  24.07  by  17.46  millimetres,  or  about  0.!)5  by  0.(;9 
hich.  The  largest  egg  measures  2().42  by  18..")4  millimetres,  or  1.04  by '0.73 
inches;  the  smallest,  22.10  by  17.27  millimetres,  or  0.87  by  0.68  inch. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  24724  (not  figured),  from  a  set  of  four  eggs,  was 
taken  by  Dr.  William  L.  Ralph  on  May  U,  1891,  near  San  Mateo,  Putnam 
County,  Florida. 


1  i  'f 

H  - 


\0 


BAIBD'S  WOODPECKER. 


(53 


25.     Dryobates  scalaris  bairdi  (Sci.atkk). 

liAIUn'S  WOOni'ECKKU. 

Piciis  hiiinii  (Scr,ATKu's  MKS.)  Maliikkhk,  Moiiofjiaiili  of  tlic  I'icidii',  I,  lH(il,  lis,  I'l.  Ii7. 
IhyohalcH  m'uhtris  bairdi  ItiDGWAY,  .Maiiuiil  of  North  Aincrican  Hirds,  l.SST,  p.  L'.SS. 

(15  79,  C  297,  Jl  3(!3,  (J  434,  D  396.) 

CiEorrBAPniCAL  HANfiK:  Xortliei'ii  Mexico  and  soutlii'iii  border  of  the  ITnited  States, 
from  Texas  through  southern  Xew  Mexico  and  Arizona  to  soutiicastern  California;  north 
to  southern  Nevada  and  southwestern  Utah. 

Hiurd's  Woodpecker,  iilso  known  ns  "Texan  Snpsnokor"  iind  "Ludder- 
baokcd  Woodixu-ker,"  is  <reuerally  resident  and  Itntcds  wherever  tbnnd.  It 
attains  about  tiie  northern  limits  of  its  ranjjc  in  soutliwestern  Utah,  where  Dr.  C. 
Hart  Merriani  met  with  it  near  the  moutii  of  the  Santa  Chira  Hiver;  he  also 
ol)served  it  at  lJ])per  Cottonwood  Spring's,  at  tlie  easlern  base  of  the  Charleston 
Mountains,  Nevada,  and  an  adult  mah*  was  taken  hy  him  on  Meavenlaui  Hiver, 
in  northwi^steru  Arizona,  on  Alay  It,  1891.  This  exteii'ls  its  northern  v;\\\<<;v,  to 
ahont  latitude  37"^.  In  Texas  and  New  Mexico  it  is  rarely  met  with  north  of 
latitude 34"^.  The  western  limits  of  its  ranj^H'arc*  found  in  snutheastern  ( 'alifornia, 
in  San  Mernardino  County.  ^Ir.  F.  Stephens,  who  is  well  known  as  an  acciu'ate 
observer,  writes  me  on  this  sul>ject:  "I  have  taken  Maird's  Woodjtecker,  niat(!d, 
in  April,  in  the  eastern  end  of  the  San  (Jorji'onio  Pass,  in  San  Mernardino  County, 
California,  and  also  at  other  times  and  i)laces  in  the  Colorado  desert,  whei'e  it 
is  not  as  connnon,  however,  as  Nuttall's  Woodpecker."  Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher  took 
two  specimens  on  .January  4  and  .">,  IS'tl,  at  llesperia,  in  the  same  county.  The 
eastern  limit  of  its  ran<>-e  appears  to  be  found  in  southeastern  Texas,  where  ^fr. 
Henry  Nehrliu};'  reports  it  as  connnon  in  all  the  wooded  districts  of  Harris, 
^[ontf^'omery,  Galveston,  and  Fort  Jiend  counties,  and  from  our  present  knowl- 
i'A\\X('  it  appears  to  occur  throui;hout  the  greater  part  of  this  State,  e\<'e])tiny'  the 
northern  and  northeastern  portions.  IJaird's  Woodpecker  is  but  a  trifle  lari;er 
than  the  Downy,  and  its  habits,  call  notes,  food,  etc..  are  very  similar.  It  prefers 
the  lowlands  and  river  bottoms  to  the  uplands,  and  it  is  rarely  fouml  at  altitudi's 
above  4,000  ft^et.  I  found  it  connnon  in  the  mesquiti'  mTo\('s  nn  tin*  Santa  Cruz 
River,  between  Tucson  and  the  l*apa<;d  .Missidu  Church,  Arizona,  and  much  less 
so  amonj;'  the  cottonwoods  and  willows  on  Willito  Creek.  In  Arizona  it  is  idso 
met  with  in  tlu^  oak  belt,  l)ut  apjiarently  not  in  the  pines. 

.Mr.  W.  E.  1).  Scott  stales:  "I  have  freciuently  met  with  Halrd's  Woodpecker 
in  the  ('holla  rejiion  in  Arizona,  diji';^in^'  in  the  f^round  at  tlm  roots  of  a  cactus. 
They  are  at  times  oreirarious.  I  particularly  noticed  this  in  l)ecend)er,  1X85, 
when  I  often  met  with  this  s])ecies  in  Hocks  of  from  fotn-  to  a  dozen  on  the 
l)lains  at  an  altitude  of  ;5,000  feet.  I  have  found  the  species  breedin<i-  in  May 
at  an  altitude  of  3,.'")00  feet.  On  .May  27,  ISS4,  1  found  a  nest  in  a,  mescpiito 
tree,  which  contained  five  e^^'^^s  nearly  ready  to  hatch;  the  opening'  to  the  nest 
was  14  feet  from  the  m-ound."' 


iji. 


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i 


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iTLoAuk,  Vol.  HI,  IHXti,  p.  4L'«. 


I-  h 


\  I, 


64 


LIFK  MISTOUIKH  OF  NORTH  AMKHIUAN  lUUDS. 


Maird's  Woddiicckc^',  lik(^  sovcnil  otluT  s])f'ci((s,  is  very  fond  tit'  tlic  ripe  i\<x- 
likc  t'niit  of  tlic  ^^'iaiit  cacfiis,  and  I  have  met  it  moro  tliaii  oirx-  in  Saliiiarito 
Pa.ss,  Arizona,  catir.j;'  it  on  tlio  {jfround.  It  nests  liy  |)ri'ft!ronco  in  ni('S(init(! 
trees,  one  of  our  liardest  woods,  and  it  nnist  re(|uire  a  Ion;,'  time  to  chisel  ont  a 
nestiu};  site  in  one  of  tlu^so  trees.  Wliilcf  it  is  trnif  tliat  the  heart  is  usuallv  more 
or  less  (h'cayed,  tlu!  i>irds  have  first  to  work  through  an  inch  or  two  of  solid 
wood  which  is  almost  impervious  to  a  sharp  ax.  Dr.  dames  C.  Merrill,  United 
States  Army,  reports  IJaird's  Woodpecker  as  a  common  resident  in  the  vicinity 
of  Fort  Hrown,  Texas,  and  that  he  took  several  sets  f)f  its  e<^<>'.s  there;  it  was  also 
met  with  by  ^[r.  (1.  B.  Sennett  near  iri<lal<;'o,  Texas,  where  a  nest  was  found  on 
April  '_*!(  containinjf  three  youn;;'  l)irds  and  a  .sterile  i'<x'^.  In  Texas  it  has 
also  been  found  nesting;-  in  hackberry  and  china  trees,  as  well  as  in  tele<;Ta|»h 
poles  and  fence  posts.  In  southern  New  Mexico  and  Arizona  it  nests  sometimes 
in  the  tlowerinfr  stems  of  the  aj^ave  plant  and  also  in  yucca  trees,  and  I  have 
found  it  nestiiifr  on  Uillito  Cnsek,  Arizona,  in  a  small  dead  wiHow  saplinj^-  not 
over  3A  inches  in  diameter.  The  cavity  was  about  12  feet  from  the  j^round 
and  10  inches  in  depth,  and  the  entrance  hole  a  triHi^  over  l.J  inches  in  diameter. 
This  nest  was  found  on  .lune  JS,  187'i,  and  contained  *>nly  two  e<;'f;s,  in  which 
incubation  was  about  one-half  advanceil;  the  e;i<)'s  laid  on  iine  chip.s.  TIk* 
nestinj'-  sites  are  jdaced  at  various  <list'Uices  from  tint  jiTound,  from  .'5  to  MO, 
usually  from  (!  to  14  feet.  Dead  branches  of  trees  or  partly  decayed  ones  seem 
to  be  pref(u-red  to  live  ones. 

From  two  to  live  v<x<xn  are  laid  to  a  set,  usually  four  or  live,  and  incul)ation, 
in  which  both  sexes  assi.st,  lasts  about  thirteen  day.s.  In  the  lower  Ivio  (Irande 
Valley  full  sets  of  fresh  e^-^^s  are  sometimes  found  by  the  middhi  of  April,  but 
throuf^'hout  the  ji-reatcr  ])art  of  its  ran^ye  not  until  the  iirst  week  in  May.  I 
believe  one  l)rood  only  is  raisi'd,  as  a  rule,  in  a  season;  but,  as  Iresh  ej^'^s  ans 
sometimes  found  as  late  as  duly,  it  is  ])robable  that  a  second  l»rood  is  occasion- 
ally reared.  The  ef;'i;s  of  Haird's  Woodpecker  are  <;-lossy  white  in  color,  line 
fjrained,  and  mostly  oval  or  elliptical  oval  in  sliajx',  varying-  occasionally  to 
elliptical  ovate. 

The  avera<>o  measurement  of  fifty-seven  specimens,  mostly  from  the  Ralph 
colliK'tion  and  taken  in  the  loucr  liio  Oramh!  \'allcy,  is  "20.74  by  ir>.!)2  milli- 
metres, or  al)out  0.8li  by  O.lliJ  inch.  Tlie  iariicst  e;^';^'  of  the  series  measures 
22.10  by  16.7()  millimetres,  or  0.87  by  o.f;()  inch;  tlie  smallest,  17.27  by  l.").41t 
millimetres,  or  O.fiS  by  0.(11  inch,  and  a  runt  in  tlie  collection  measures  only 
14.48  by  11.4a  millimotres,  or  0.07  by  0.4.^i  inch. 

"^I'he  type  specimen,  Xo.  201101  (not  liuured),  from  a  set  of  four  ej;'<>s,  was 
taken  by  Dr.  James  (J.  ^lerrill,  United  States  Army,  near  Fort  ISrown,  Te.xas, 
on  May  23,  1877. 


.'S 
V 


THE  8T.  LUCAS  WOODI'KCKKB.  65 

26.     Dryobates  scalaris  lucasanus  (Xantis). 

HT.  MICAS  WOODl'FX'KKK. 

l'ivu»  luvanaiiiiH  Xantuh,  Proceedings  Aciuleiny  Niitursil  Scioiuios,  I'liiladelpliiii,  ISTiit,  li08. 
DryobatvH  HvtUaris  luvnHanun  Kidgwav,  Prdccediiiffs  IT. «.  Nntioiial  Museum,  VllI,  1(W5, 365. 

(B  — ,  C  'Mill,  U  atJ.t((,  (!  130,  IJ  mUt.) 

Geoouai'HICal  uanoe:  Lower  Civlit'orniii;  easiial  (?)  in  so;rtlieiii  Onliforiiin. 

The  8t.  Lucas  Woodpecker,  a  closely  allied  race  to  Halnl's  Woodi)eekor,  is  a 
common  resident  in  the  soiitiiern  jiortions  of  the  peninsula  of  Lower  ("alifornia, 
where  it  was  discovered  l)y  Mr.  .).  Xantiis,  near  Cape  St.  Lucas,  and  descril)ed 
in  the  "  IVoceediiifis  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  in  I'hilach'lphia,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1«5!»."  Mr.  Walter  K.  Bryant,  in  his  "Ciitalo<'ue  of  the  liirds  of 
Lower  ("allfornia,"  makes  the  following;'  remarks  al)ont  this  sul)species:  "I  first 
nu't  witii  this  Woodpecker  on  Santa  Mar^^arita  Island,  and  afterwards  collected 
specimens  as  far  north  as  latitude  28";  Mr.  Meldinj;-  found  it  very  common  at 
the  <  'ajjc  ref^ioM,  liut  rarely  .saw  any  in  the  Victoria  .Mountains."' 

Mr.  A.  W.  Antiiony  took  a  specinu'U  at  San  'I'ehno,  Lower  California,  on 
April  i{U,  iKlliJ,  and  saw  others  there,  and  .Mr.  W.  \V.  Price  took  another  on  April 
29,  188!»,  at  White  Water,  San  Dit'j-'o  C(umty,  California,  which  extends  the 
ran^^j'e  of  this  subspecies  consi(leral)l>'  to  tiie  northward. 

Mr.  Oerritt  S.  Miller,  jr.,  of  Cand)rid<je,  Massachu.sctts,  who  records  the 
capture  of  the  above  specimen,  which  is  now  in  his  collection,  says  in  referrino- 
to  it:  "Mr.  Price  writes  me  that  the  specimen  was  shot  from  a  tele<irapii  pole  al)out 
3  miles  west  of  the  station  of  White  Water.  Woodpeckers,  apparently  of  the 
same  kind,  were  seen  on  s(^v<'ral  other  occasions  on  the  telej^raph  poles  alonjy 
the  line  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Hailroad,  near  White  Water,  l)Ut  tlusy  were 
very  shy  and  no  nioi-e  coidd  be  killed.  'J'he  l)irds  were  n(^sting•  in  the  telegraph 
poles,  there  beiui^'  no  otiiei'wood  in  tlie  rej^ion."" 

Th(^  CfJTfi's  f)f  the  St.  Lucas  Woodpecker  1  believe  remain  still  undescribod, 
but  are  prol>al)ly  indistinjiiiishable  from  those  of  the  jjrecedinji'  subspecies,  and 
its  ;;-enei'al  iiabits  also  ap|)ear  to  l»e  very  .similar. 

27.     Dryobates  nuttallii  (Oa.muel). 

NUTTALL'S  WOOUrECKER. 

Picun  iiiittftUii  Gambei,,  Proreedings   Academy  Natural   Sciences,  I'hiladelpliia,  April, 

1843,  2,">!t. 
Dnjnbntes  nnttaUii  KlDOWAY,  Proceediiifjs  V.  S.  National  Mu.seiini,  VIII,  1885,  355. 

(H  78,  (,'  li!»7(i,  U  304,  O  435,  U  3!I7.) 

GEoriRArnicAL  RANfiE:  Northern  Lower  California  from  the  Snn  Pedro  Martir 
Mountains,  noitli  tlirou};li  ("alil'ornia  to  soutlieni  Oregon  (L'lnpiina  Valley),  west  of  tlio 
Sierra  Nevada  and  ('ascade  .Mountains. 

Kuttnll's  Wood))ecker.  which  is  about  the  .same  size  as  the  Texan  Wood- 
pecker, is  an  iniiabitant  of  tiie  lower  foothill  rej^ions  throun-hout  its  rauf^e,  and  is 

'  Procco(lii)!^  of  tlio  Cnliforuiii  Aoatlciny  of  .Scioiic«8, 2il  series,  Vol.  II,  1889,  p.  286. 
■'  Tlir  Auk,  >  ipl.  XI,  1894,  p.  178. 
l()8yC-No.  ;i 5 


-    It 


«l 


'.Ml 


liL 

m 


ji- 


66 


LIFK  lllSTOItlKS  OP  NORTH  AMKUICAN   lUUDS. 


iiiKHt  coiniiKm  in  the  oiik  belt  and  tlm  ilcriiliioiis  trcoM  aldiifi'  wah-r  coiirscM,  riircly 
lu'iiij;-  iiH't  witli  iMiiuii^'  the  (■(iiiit'crs.  It  is  a  resident  and  la'ccds  tln-niijilioiit  tlm 
^TcatiT  |)(ii'tlnn  nt'(  'aliloi'nia  west  ul'  tlic  Sierra  Nt-vadas,  lait  is  ndwlicrc  ('S|KM'ially 
coninion.  In  simtlit-rn  Oregon  it  apiicars  to  Itc  rare,  and  tlic  only  s|)(t(-iiiicnH 
recorded  tVoin  this  State  are  the  one  taken  Ity  l>r.  .1.  S,  Newlx'iry  in  tlie  rni|)(|na 
VaMey,  which  is  in  tlie  I'liited  States  National  Mnseinn,  l»nt  has  no  date  on  tlio 
lahel,  and  anotlier  taken  neai' iVshland,  now  in  the  collection  ol'  the  Tinted  States 
Department  of  Af>Ticultin'e,  Washin<;ton,  D.  ('.  It  is  apparently  more  ultundant 
in  sonthern  ("alit'oi-nia  than  elsewhere.  Mr.  V.  Stephens  rejjorts  it  there  as  a 
connnon  resident  i)elow  the  pine  region,  in  which  it  occnrs  lait  sparingly.  Mr. 
(.'harles  A.  Allien  writes  me:  "It  breeds  amonji'  the  oak  };roves  and  perhaps 
amonji'  the  willows  alon;>'  the  Sacramento  River,  hnt  I  never  tound  it  tar  away 
from  the  oaks.  Its  habits  are  similar  to  those  of  (iairdner's  Woodpecker,  i)nt  its 
notes  are  (piito  <lilferent — so  much  ,so  as  to  be  appreciated  even  by  u  novice." 

Mr.  II.  \V.  llensliaw  descril)es  the  call  of  Xnttall's  Woodpecker  as  consistinj;' 
of  a  series  of  loud  rattling'  notes,  nuich  prolonjicd,  and  say.s:  "They  can  not  bo 
(U)mpared  with  those  of  any  other  Woodpecker  with  which  I  am  ac(piainted." 
lie  fu.dier  states:  "This  Wooilpecker  is  a  bird  particularly  of  the  oak  proves, 
and  ranges  iVoni  the  lower  valleys  of  the  mountains  to  a  liei<;'ht  of  at  least  (!,(>()() 
feet,  whi-re,  near  Fort  Tejon,  I  found  it  fairly  numerous  among'  the  jiiues,  this 
beinji-  the  only  locality  where  I  found  it  amonj^'  the  conifers."' 

.Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony,  in  his  list  of  "Minis  of  San  I'edrn  Martir,  Lower 
California,"  pul)lislied  in  "Zoe"  (^'ol.  IV,  p.  2i{<!),  says:  "Common  alo'if«'  all 
the  timbei'ed  streams  as  high  as  4,000  feet,  or  the  limit  of  the  live  oaks  and 
sNcamores." 

Mr.  Ivollo  II.  Beck,  of  l?errves.sa,  California,  writes  mo  as  follows:  "Nnttall's 
Woodpecker  is  a  fairly  connnon  resident  in  the  mountains  to  the  east  of  Santa 
Clara  County.  It  .seems  to  prefer  the  oak  trees  to  other  kinds,  clind)ing  u])  and 
down  the  limbs,  nuich  the  same  as  (Jairdner's  does,  in  the  search  for  grubs  and 
insect.s.  On  May  13,  1S!I2,  I  found  a  female  digging  a  cavit\  for  a  nest  on  tlio 
under  side  of  a  dead  oak  liml),  about  24  feet  from  the  ground:  the  (^nitv  was 
aliout  8  inches  deep  and  not  yet  comjdeted.  Ne.xt  day,  while  walking  down  a 
small  gulch,  I  .saw  a  female  fly  from  i;  hole  in  a  sycamore  lind),  which  had  been 
.split  off  from  the  main  trunk  and  lodged  on  a  limb  of  another  tree  close  by. 
Tho  mider  side?  of  the  limb  was  dead,  but  the  npi»er  jtart  was  still  living.  Hod- 
shafted  Flickers  had  dug  several  holes  in  the  same  lind),  and  one  of  these 
containod  eggs.  I  procured  a  rope  and  returned  to  this  tree  ai)ont  four  honrs 
later,  and  when  I  had  clindied  to  within  4  feet  of  tlu^  nest  the  female  Hew  off. 
On  examination  I  f(anid  that  the  nest  contained  young,  just  hatched;  both 
])arents  remained  close  by  and  uttered  notes  of  protest  until  I  left.     They  ap])oar 


to  1 


)e  j)artial  to 


'•ulch 


les,  wliere  white  and  live  oa 


ik  tiH 


are  numerous,  am 


I  I 


have  not  noticed  any  in  the  valleys,  among  tho  willows  ahmg  .streani.s,  whore 
(Jairdner's  Woodpeckers  are  common." 


■■'§ 


I 

i 


'i 


I 
■w 

'If 

f 


4 
J 


4 

! 


'GeoKiiipliioal  Surveys  Wi'st  ol'  Uic  lilDtli  .Mfiidiaii,  IS70,  |>. 


NUTTAIili'S  VVOOIH'KOKEK. 


67 


Mr.  H. 'I'.  (Jaiilt  piihlislicil  an  iiitcicstiiijif  articlt'  on  Niittall's  Woodpcckt'i' 
in  "Uiill.tiM  II,  l{i.l;,''\vay  Oniitliolooinil  Club,"  April,  1887  (pp.  78-81),  from 
wliifli  1  extract  tlic  tullowiii;i':  "Altlion;i|i  I  liavc  Im-ch  a.n  far  .south  as  San 
Dici^o,  California,  ami  a.s  far  uortli  a.'<  tlm  Kusnian  Uivcr,  Sonoma  Conntv,  ntop- 
piii;^-  at  inti'rni('(liat<'  |)oint.s,  I  liavc  oltscrvcd  tlii.>«  hiril  at  Itut  ono  locality.  'I'liiH 
iisscrtiou,  however,  may  not  cut  any  figure,  for  my  stops  were  necesHarily  short 
In  some  places.  The  rejjio.i  I  refer  to  lies  at  the  upper  end  of  the  San  Hernar- 
dino  N'alley  and  hack  from  the  coast  aliout  oO  niilus,  it  is  near  a  ranche  known 
US  '(Grafton  Retreat.' 

"1  had  heen  out  on  the  howlder  plain  several  liours,  on  the  moriiinj,''  of 
April  2.'$,  IHS.H,  collecting-  Itii'ds,  and  spyin;^'  a  clump  of  elder  hushes  in  the 
distance,  not  far  from  the  hrook,  the  thounht  occurred  t'l  uu*  that  I  •  mi^ht  take 
a  rest  lieueath  their  shade  and  at  the  same  time  he  ready  for  any  hird  that  put 
in  an  ap|)earance.  'I'luvic  hushes,  or  more  properly  trees,  are  a  ^reat  deal  larji'cr 
shriiii  than  oui'  eastern  |)lant,  their  truiiks  i^rowinji'  from  I  to  ,S  inches  thron;ih; 
and  if  they  are  not  the  same  species,  their  inuhellate  hlossoms  are  sti'ikinji'ly 
similar,  if  not  identical,  to  tlios(^  of  our  conmion  eastern  shrult  (Siiiiihiiciis  cinid- 
dciisis').     I   had   hardly  seated  myself  on  an  ai'in  of  the  shruh  when  my  atten- 


tion was  attracted  to  a 


Imh 


tl 


e  m  the  ma 


in  trunk,  directly  above  niv   head.     At 


almost  the  same  instant  a  bird  appeared  at  the  opening  from  within,  and  dodged 
back  aji'ain  as  soon  as  she  saw  me.  The  movement  \vas  executed  so  (piicklv 
that  I  was  uiiai)le  to  t(!ll  whether  it  was  a  Wren  ora  Woodpecker,  b(U  concluded 
that  it  was  the  latter.     Upon  examination  of  the  ajjortiu'e  it  seemed  to  have  been 


atelv  mai 


le.     Of  course  I  thoutiht  that  there  wouhl   be  no  trouble  in  dislodyinj. 


her,  and  commenced  to  raj)  on  the  trunk  of  the  shruli  with  the  butt  of  my  j;un; 
l)Ut  this  seemed  to  have  no  ell'ect.  1  then  walked  l»ack  about  aO  feet,  and, 
takinji'  a  stand,  \vaite(l  from  ten  to  fifteen  minutes  in  the  hope  that  she  would 


come  on 


t,  atfordin 


ji'  me  an  op|tortunity  to  secui'e  her  au<l  thus  si 


.Ive  tl 


le  mvsterv. 


but  in  this  maneuver  I  was  also  batlled.  I  then  went  up  to  the  bush  and  shouted 
with  all  my  mij;ht,  but  this  did  not  shake  her  nervous  system  in  the  least,  when 
I  iinallv  resorted   to  m\'   jackknife  in  order  to  enlarge  the  orifice,  but,  from  its 


l)ein<>  such  a  tedious 
liatchut  alony  wit 


.1 


ive  it  up  in  disji'ust 


Tl 


le  next  niornm' 


took  a 


ne 


for  I  desired  very  nuu'h  to  know  what  that  hole  con- 
tained. It  did  not  take  me  very  huij^-  to  cut  a  |)lace  larjfo  eiiouj^h  for  nu;  to 
fjet  my  hand  in,  and  I  was  thoroujihly  surprised  to  learu  that  the  bird  was  .still 
on  her  nest.  1  pulh'd  her  out,  and  she  a])peared  to  be  stupefied — ilead,  ajjpar- 
ently- — but  .soon  reviveil.     Upon  further  inspection  I  found  that  the  nest 


con- 


taineil  e;:j^s.  The  bird  proved  to  be  a  female  Nuttall's  Woodpecker,  and  the 
e^j;s  werc^  pretty  well  advanced  in  incubation  and  would  have  hatchi'd  in  a 
few  days. 

"The  nest,  which  was  about  5^  feet  from  tlio  ground,  wiis  nearly  a  foot 
deej)  and  alxtut  5  inches  wide.  The  hide  at  the  entrance  to  the  nest  was  but  a 
little  lar{>'er  than  a  silver  half  dollar.  The  e<j;'jfs  were  si.\  in  number,  their  dimen- 
sious  beinj!-  0.85  by  0.(j(j,  0.87  l)y  (Mi.'j,  0.82  by  0.64,  0.85  by  0.G6,  0.85  by  0.66, 


www 


68  I'll'l'  IIISTOKIKS  OK  NOItTIl  AMKIMCAN  IIIKDS. 

iind  0.H4  )»y  0.(i4  iiirli,  rcHiicctivcly.  Hy  tlic  iilxtvc  iiit'iisun'mciitM  one  will  rcinlily 
Hi'ii  tliiit  till'  cyyK  incni;;!'  very  cNciily.  Tlicy  >\vr  (it"  a  pciiily  wliitc  cnldr,  iiikI 
Hcciii  tn  tii|i<'t°  oil',  liciii;!'  iimrc  imiiitfil  iit  tlf  siiiiill  ciiil  tlian  is  iiHiiJilly  tlic  <'aH«> 
aiiion;^-  tlic  I'iciiln'.  'riif  male  of  tliin  pair  (I'nr  tlifsc  were  tlic  only  ones  nccn  in 
the  vi('iiiit\)  was  sliut  a  little  wliilc  hct'nrc  at  tlic  lirnuk.  I  at'lcrwafils  hIihci'vciI 
Muiiic  ot"  these  liirds  aiiiiin;;-  the  oaks  in  the  tootliill  canyons,  liearinfi'  their  notcH 
for  the  first  time.  Dr.  Cooper  mentions  takin;;'  the  t'enialc  I'roiii  the  nest,  and 
perhaps  thiH  may  lie  characteristic  of  the  species — indeetl,  it  may  lie  of  fre- 
(pieiit  occniTcnce  anion;;'  Woodpeckers;  iiiit  of  the  inan\'  Woodpeckei's'  iiestrt 
that  I  have  examined  none  have  been  so  persistent  in  iiohlin^'  the  fort  as  Ih/fo- 
hdtis  inithillii." 

Their  food  appears  to  consist  mainly  of  insects  and  their  larva",  and  pndi- 
ahly  occasionally  of  lierries  and  I'riiits.  Its  favorite  nesting'  sites  are  in  oaks, 
wvcamorcis,  cottonwoods,  and  occasionally  in  elders,  willows,  and  the  ^iiant  ca<'tii.s, 
^•eiU'rally  in  dead  limbs  or  old  stubs,  and  nsiially  at  no  very  y'reat  heij^ht  from 
the   ^ronnd.      NidifuMtion   nsiially  commences   early  in    April    and    continues 


thron;4li  .May.     <>nl\'  one  iirood  is  raised 


111 


season,  but  if   the  e;;Mis  are  taken 


a  Ht'cond  set  is  laiil  about  two  woeks  later.  Uotli  sexes  assist  in  the  excavation 
of  the  nesting'  site,  as  well  as  in  incubation,  which  lasts  probably  ai)out  fourteen 
(hiys.  Nuttall's  NNdodpecker,  like  tlii'  majority  of  this  family,  is  a  devdted 
parent,  and  loath  to  leave  its  e^'ys  or  yoini;;',  frecjuciitly  allowing-  itself  to  be 
canirht  (ni  the  nest.  It  is  a  very  boneticial  species  to  the  horticulturist,  and 
deserves  the  fullest  protection.  The  nuniber  of  e^'us  to  a  set  \aries  from  four 
to  six,  sets  of  four  bein;^•  most  often  fouiiil.  'i'liey  are  usually  short  o\ate  in 
shape,  occasionally  ovate.     The  shell  is  line  ^fainod,  strtuij;,  jmre  white  in  coloi-. 


1  rati 


ler  ^i'lossy. 


am 

'i'lie  average  moasuroinont  of  twenty-two  spocimon.H  in  the  United  States 
National  .Museum  collection  is  21. .'U  by  Ki.lll  millimetres,  or  alioiit  ().S4  i»y  0.(!4 
inch.  The  largest  ejj'fj  measures  '2iiXt'2  by  Hi  inillimetres,  ov  ().li;{  by  (Mi.'}  inch; 
the  smallest,   l!l.;?()  by  l").?")  inillimetres,  or  (t.7(i  by  O.lii'  inch. 

'i'lie  type  sjieciinen,  \o.  •J(>(i,'!l  (not  li;;iired),  troin  a  set  of  four  e^'^s,  Ralph 
collection,  was  taken  near  Lakeside,  Sun  Dieyo  County,  California,  on  May  o, 
18!)0. 

28.     Dryobates  arizonae  (IIaroitt). 

AKIZONA   WOOIiriX'Kl'.H. 

Piciis  nrizotw  IlAiniiTT,  Ibis,  l.S8(i,  115. 

Drjiolxitcii  <tri:<)ii(f  liiixiWAv,  Manual  of  North  Aiiicricaii  liirds,  1.S87.  2S(i. 

(B  — ,  ('  — .  li  3tir>,  ("  4.17.  (J  .!!•«.) 

(iKoniiAPHiCAL  UANOK:  Soutlicrii  Ai'i/.oua,  .-loutliwi'stcin  New  Mexico,  anil  ailjaceiit 
portions  of  western  Mexico  to  Zacatecas  anil  .lallsco, 

'I'lie  range  of  the  .\rizona  Woodpecker  within  the  Tnitod  States  is  a  rather 
re.stricted  one,  it  having'  as  yet  been  ol)taiiied  only  in  tlie  ( 'hiricaliua,  Iluachuca, 
Santa  Rita,  and  Santa  ('atalina  mountains,  in  soutliern  Arizona,  and  on  the  east 


f  'i 


f-.i 

.(" 

'r. 

'    "  r 

!•> 

li    ■ 

E' 

*' 

,1 

TIIK  ARIZONA  WOOIU'KOKKU. 


61) 


Hide  lit'  tli(>  St.  Luis   MomitiiiiiH,  near  llif  intcriuitiiHial  luiiiiiilarv  line,  in  noiitli- 


Mf'xico,  wIhtc   \h.  K.  A.  MfaniH,  ITiiitcil  Statox  Annv.  collfft*'!! 


mil 


woMttTii  New 

Hcvt'ral  Hpcciniciis  in  .liuic,  lH!t2;  lint  it  ilcits  nut  a|i|icar  U>  In-  very  nmni 
aiivwlicrc.  It  is  prolialiK-  a  rcsidciit  and  lircfds  wlicn-vcr  tuiind  It  was  I'lrst 
addi'd  tci  iiur  t'anna  liy  Mr.  II.  \V.  Ilcnshaw,  wlm  ciaisidcis  it  as  not  uncfuiunoii 
ill  tlif  tuntliills  (it"  tluf  ( 'hiricahna  Mdnntains,  wIhtc  lie  tdiik  several  s|ie('iiiieiis 
in  tlie  lattei  part  til'  .Vii^ust,  IH7I,  and  states:  "Tliis  rare  Win  id  pecker  is  a 
ies   iin    tlie   t'cHifliills  III'  tlie   ( "liirieaiiiia    Mtiinitains,   wliere   it    was 


eiiniiiHin   siiei 


one  II 


it'  tile  first  liirds  tliat  met  ni\'  e\-e  wiien  llie  .sectio 


n   Whel'e    I 


t  al 


ininiils  was 


lirst    entel'e<l. 


Sti  far  as  I  eiiuld   aseei'tain,  at   this  seasnn  at   least,  it 


is  eiiMlined  til  tla-  reiiitin  nf  iiaUs,  ran^in;;'  t'l'nni  almiit  4,(MH)  tn  IJHH)  feet,  ilnis 
iiiliaiiitinji'  a  re;ii(in  almnt  midway  liefweeii  tin-  lnw  valleys  and  llie  nmnntain 
(listn<ts  piiiper.  Here  tliey  appeared  to  he  perfectly  at  lionu',  elindiin^'  civer 
tlie  trnnks  nf  tlie  oaks  with  tlu'  sami'  ease  and  rapidity  of  movement  that 
(listin;;iiish  the  motions  of  the  Downy  or  Hairy  Woodpeckei',  ihoiinh  their 
habits,  ill  so  far  as  thev  ar»!  at  all  jieenliar,  are  perhaps  liest  comparalile  to 
those  of  the  lied-cockaded  Woodjiecker  of  the  .Sonth  (Ih //oIkiIi s  /((ow/Z/.s),  espe- 
ciallv  their  custom  of  niovinj;'  uliout  in  small  companies  of  from  live  to  fifteen, 
tliouji'li  they  were  occasionally  found  siuyly  or  in  pairs. 

"When  in  ]iui'suit  of  food,  they   almost  always  alij:hted  near  the  lia.se  of 
the  trees,  "railiiallv  ascendinji-  and   makin;r  their  wav  aloiij;'  the  smallei'  lindis 


an( 


1  even  out  amonji'  the  foliaji'e,  appeariiij;'  to  pret'er  to  .secure  their  t'l 


cart 


ful  search  than  liv  the  hard   lalior 


cuttiii"-  in 


to  tl 


le  wool 
found 


I  in  tl 


le  wav 


tl 


le 


hem  at  all  times 


llairv  Woodpecker  employs  its  stren;;th.  •  *  * 
rather  shy  and  fiifted  with  very  little  of  that  prying-  curiosity  which  is  seen  iii 
Home  of  the  lietter-known  species  of  this  family;  and  if  liy  chance  I  sui'prised 
a  hand  feediuji'  amon}f  the  low  trees,  a  sliarji  warniuii  note  fi'om  some  mendter 


more  watchful  than  the  rest  connnunicated  alarm  to  the  whole  assem 


hh 


wlien 


thev  took  Hiji'ht  immediately,  showin;;'  jjreat  de.xteritv  in  doiln-iny  lieliind 
trunks  and  limhs,  and  niakiiij;-  jiood  their  retreat  liy  short  Hi^jhts  fi-oni  one  tree 
to  another  till  they  were  out  of  sif;ht."' 

iMr.  F.  Stephens   foiuid   a    nest   containin^i'   vonnji'  liirds   in   the  Santa   Rita 
Mountains  on  Mav  Hi,  l^SO,  in  a  svcamore  tree;  and  Mr.  W.  K.  D.Scott  records 


another,  found  on  ^hn'  '21,  ISSf,  in  the  ( 'atalina  M 


feet  from  the  "round.      IIi 


'i'l 


le    nest    Wi 


ountaiiis,  in  an  oak,  ahout  10 
iiuch  like  that  of  the   Ilairv 


wi 


litth 


smaller. 


It  contaiui'ii 


tl 


iret) 


Woodpecker,   save    that  the  openinj;' 

youHfj-  hirds  about  two-thirds  <>Town  anil  half  feathered. '"- 

'Phe  hiihits  of  the  Arizona  Woodpecker  are  |iriihahlv  very  similar  to  those 
<if  the  other  members  ot  the  <i-enus  Dri/iilxttcs^  and  this  species  seems  to  be 
princijially  confined  to  the  oak  belt  and  the  timber  of  the  foothills  alonji-  the  few 
streams  fouuil  in  the  reyfious  it  inhabits.  Lieut.  IL  C.  Menson,  Fourth  Cavalry, 
United  States  Ariuv,  as  well  as  Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher,  met  with  it  in  the  vicinity  of 


I U.  S.  (iuonriipliic'iil  Surveys  Wu»t  iif  thr  lOOtli  MuricUim,  Vul.  V,  IST".,  ii|i.  ;189,  ;tllO. 
"The  Auk,  Vol.  Ill,  l>m,  p.  ll'l!. 


■  it 


npiOT 


f 7? 


70 


LIIK  IlISTOUIKS  OF  NORTH  AMKRFCAX  BIUDS. 


Fort  lliiaclim^a,  aiul  I'le  latter  also  found  it  in  tlio  Cliiricaluia  Mountains,  south 
of  Fort  Howie.  Ho  teil^  me  tliat  on  ^fay  14,  while  i'ollectin<;'  in  (iarden  Canyon, 
in  the  Iluaehuca  Mf)untain.  a  mile  or  more  above  the  Post  jjanlen,  ho  found  a 
nest  of  this  species  in  a  larj^e  . Maple  which  ovevhun<i-  i".  stream.  The  cavity 
was  situated  in  a  dry  branch,  alxtiii  ^H  feet  from  tlie  ground,  and  was  about  a 
foot  in  depth.     It  contained  four  youn<f,  whii  li  wciij  ^till  naked. 

I  have  t>nly  seen  one  sc^t  of  ejj'gs  of  tiii.s  species,  wliich  were  takcin  near 
Fort  Huachuca,  Arizona,  in  May,  l<Si)0.  They  iu-e  usually  tin'ee  or  foiu*  in 
number;  the  .slicll  is  close  jifraincd  and  <;'Iossy;  they  meastu'e  21. OS  by  16 
millimeters,  or  U.H'd  by  O.fi.'J  inch,  and  resemble  the  (^gf^'s  of  IJiiird's  Woodpecker 
very  closely.  There  are  no  .ipecimens  in  tiie  Uniied  States  National  JIuseum 
collection. 

tg.     Xenopicus  albolarvatus  (Oassin). 

\vnrn:-nE.\i;KD  woodi'kcki'.u. 

Leuconerpcit  nlbohtrraiot  CV!'jSiN,.Pr<)c,('cdiii,t;s  .Vcadeiuy  ol'  Natural  ScU'iit'c.'-s  l'liila(]<-I|>bia, 

October,',  isr>i    KM). 
XinopicKS  (ilbolarvatu    Malhei.he.  Moiiofjrapli  of  the  I'icidiC,  II,  1802,  221. 

(ii  81,  V,  2!).->,  U  ;5(iti,  ('  442,  V  3!)!).) 

(iKOCrB\rniCAT  EAN(Ji;.  Ilijjiicr  iiiomitain  ranges  of  western  North  America;  from 
.soutliern  C'i),liforiiia  ii  )rtli  tln'oupli  Oregon  ami  VVasliiiijitoii  to  southern  Itritish  Coiuinhia; 
east  to  western  Nevi'  hi  and  w<-.-iiern  Idaho. 

Till'  habitai  <  't  tlu;  W  liite-hcaded  Wo(id])ecker  is  restricted  to  the  hig-her 
mountain  ratifies  ■  the  Pacific  jirovince.  It  is  a  bird  of  the  pine  and  lir  forests, 
and  is  usually  n-  lent  and  breeds  wherever  found.  It  is  most  common  at 
altitudes  of  frcm  ',  )()n  to  9,000  feet,  liut  in  winter  it  descends  somewiiat  lower, 
and  ma \'  then  be  ;  ometiiiies  seen  as  low  as  ,'{,(100  fe(^t,  and  oceasionalh' even 
near  sea  leve'.,  Mr.  S.  Hiiltbiud,  jr.,  havinji- taken  ji  specimen  near  (  hii  v's  IIail)or, 
Washin-j-ton,  as  recorded  in  "Zoe"  (Jul\,  lSf)-_>,  p.  141).  It  has  been  met  with 
at  Similkameen,  in  tlie  Cascadi  Mountains,  in  snuthern  Mritish  Columliia,  whiidi 
marks  t'.ie  northern  l"mit  of  its  known  ranj^e;  at  Monnt  Idaho  and  near  Fort 
Siiennan,  blalio,  which  marks  the  eastern,  and  in  the  Volcan  Muuntains,  in  Cali- 
fornia, which  is  the  n'ost  southern  rec(U'd  for  this  s|)ecie:;.  Mr.  Koliert  liidiiway 
fotmd  it  not  uncommon  near  ( 'arson  ( 'ity,  while  Mr.  II.  V.'.  ib-nsliaw  ol>served 
it  at  Lake  i  ahoe,  Xe\a(la,  and  I  met  with  it  in  tlu-  Bine  Mountains,  near  Camp 
Iljirney,  ( (refi'on,  where  it  was  rarely  -ceii.  Its  center  of  abundance  appeari^ 
to  be  t'ound  in  the  higher  Sierra  Xexadas,  in  California,  and  in  tlu  ( 'aseade 
Mountains,  in  Oregon.  Both  Dr.  .i.  ( '.  ^brrill,  I'nited  States  Arni\,  and  m\  si-lf 
found  it  common  at  Fort  Klamath  in  winter,  but  none  a|i|)arentl\'  bred  near  the 
Post.  The  old',- nest  t'ound  be  me  there  was  on  the  slopes  of  ('rater  Lake  .Moun- 
tain, about  l'_*  miles  noi'tli  of  Fort  Klamath,  at  an  estiiiiate(l  altitude  of  about 
'j,500  feet.  The  nesting  site  was  exeavated  in  an  old  pine  stum|),  about  1.5  feet 
from  the  yi'muid,  and  contained  Ibiu-  slightly  incul>ated  eggs  on  Ma\'  2!l,  1883 


THE  WHITIMIKADKI)  WOODPECKKK. 


71 


In  the  Blue  Mountains,  near  Camp  Harney,  Oregon,  this  species  was  rare,  but  I 
found  two  nests  there,  one  on  May  25,  1875.  containinj''  tw(»  fresh  eggs,  in  a, 
(lead  limb  of  a  pine,  and  about  25  feet  from  the  ground.  The  other  was  found 
on  i\Iay  6,  1S77,  containing  f(>ur  fresh  eggs;  the  cavity  was  located  in  a  dead 
pine  stump,  about  15  feet  from  the  ground,  near  Ruby's  sawmill,  on  the  Canyon 
City  road,  at  an  altitude  of  about  5,500  feet;  it  was  about  10  inches  deej),  the 
entrance  hole  being  circular  and  al)out  1'}  inches  in  diameter:  the  eggs  were 
jilaceil  on  a  layer  of  tine  cliij)s,  and,  1  lielieve,  wen^  the  first  described  of  this 
sjtecies. 

Mr.  L.  Helding  writes:  "Common  in  the  fir  forests  c.f  the  Sierra  Nevada 
from  about  4,000  f<'et  upward;  most  numerous  at  about  5,000  feet.  Hare  in 
tlie  tamaracks.  »  *  »  [t.^j  burrows  are  often  within  2  or  .'5  feet  of  the 
ground.  1  have  seen  two  nests  in  cuts  for  shakes  or  shingles,  made  after  the 
tree  was  sawed  into  .sections,  and  one  in  <a  small,  short  stul)  of  a  dogwood  (Coniiis 
nnff(illi);  May  25,  1879.  first  full  set  of  eggs  taken  at  IJig  'I-rees.  At  Mloods, 
7,200  feet  altitude,  1  have  taken  them  as  late  as  July  17.  The  eggs  are 
usually  four,  although  I  have  seen  five.  In  winter  it  is  found  sparingly  in  the 
upjier  edg(f  of  the  foothills,  at  3, 000  iect  altitude.  I  found  it  rather  common 
alxiut  Big  Trees  in  the  mild  January  of  187'J,  luitil  2  feet  of  snow  fell,  after 
wiiich  none  wen^  seen.'" 

It  is  found  on  both  side^  of  the  Sierra  Nevada.s,  but  seems  to  be  much  more 
common  on  the  western  slope.  Mr.  F.  Stephens  writes  me:  '^ XrimiiicKs  dUiohir- 
vatns  is  a  resident  of  the  pine  regions  of  southern  Califoi'uia,  l)ut  is  n.)t  conunon 
e,vce])ting  pttssiblv  in  a  few  localities.  I  lunc  nc\i'i' observed  it  beloxv  the  pines. 
I  ha\e  taken  incubating  birds  in  June  in  tlie  Cuyamaca  Mountains  at  altitudes 
of  about  7,000  feet.  The  nesting  sites  lierc  were  in  \wv  large  <lead  ])ine  trees 
and  inaccessible.  The  white  head  maki's  the  binl  (.'asily  recognizable;  its  notes 
are  somewhat  ditVerent  from  those  of  othei- AVoodpeckers  in  this  region,  and  seem 
to  me  niitre  lik(.(  those  o(  Dri/oliufi's  ari'oiKC.  On  Jum^  ID,  1.S93,  1  found  a  nest 
of  this  bird  in  the  San  .lacinto  Mountains,  at  in  :,ltitude  of  about  5,.S(i()  t  ct.  in 
a  rotten  jyine  slidi  about  !t  feet  from  the  ground;  it  contained  three  yoi;ng  of 
ditVerent  ages,  the  eldest  being  ablt-  to  H\-  a  xci'v  litth'." 

Mr.  Rollo  H.  Heck  informs  nuf  tliat  he  tonnd  this  species  faii'K'  conunon  in 
the  ]iine  timber  near  the  road  from  Murpliy's  to  tiie  Yo.semite  \'allev.  California, 
.md  tliat  h;;  discovered  three  nests  widi  young  on  June  S,  l.s;»3.  These  were  nil 
located  in  cavities  in  dead  pine  stumjis.  from  (5  to  15  feet  from  the  ground.  A 
r.est  containing  three  fresh  eggs  -was  also  disco\cred  in  a  siiiiil.ir  stuinji  onl\'  1 
ieet  from  the  ground,  tlie  cavity  lieing.S  iuclies  deep,  lie  writes  al.-^o:  "I  noticed 
one  of  tliese  birds  on  .some*  fnlleii  logs  ne;ir  tiie  road,  liusily  v\v^.  'vd  in  catching 
spiders,  searching  for  grubs,  and  frecpiently  flying  after  passing  inlets,  catching 
them  in  mid-air  in  the  ma.iuer  of  the  California  Woodpecker." 

Or.  .lames  ('.  Menill,  I'nited  States  .\rmy,  makes  the  following  i:itere.'<ting 
remarks  n'  .ut  this  specie>.  as  observed  by  him  at  Fort  Klamaih,  and  as  the.se 
entirelx'  .igree  wiili  mv  own.  I  "ivi   the  in  i-ntire: 


'  t:;r 


m 


M 


'  hiiuil  Minis  1)1'  Ihr  I'.nifir  Oisii 


'iiliCciriil:!  .\i':iili'ru\  III   Siii. liens.  II.  Ixi'll.  p.  >V.i. 


If 


V  I 


11  6 


fi. 

mi 


72 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMKHICAN  BIRDS. 


«.. 


'1:;. 


"  Xenopicus  ulbolitriHifit.s. — Tliis  iiitererttiiif;-  Woodpecker  was  first  observed 
November  !);  by  December  it  had  become  ratlier  abundant,  and  so  continued 
until  tlie  latter  part  of  February,  but  after  the  mi(Mle  of  March  none  were  seen. 
Duriiij^'  the  l)reedinfr  season  careful  siearch  failed  to  reveal  its  ])i-esence  ne,  "  the 
fort,  nor  was  it  found  in  the  higher  mountains  north  of  the  valley  in  July  and 
Aii<>ust.  One  would  think  that  the  peculijir  coloration  of  the  White-headed 
Woodpecker  wouhl  make  it  very  conspicuous  and  its  detection  an  easy  matter, 
but  this  is  by  no  means  the  case,  at  least  al)out  Fort  Klamath.  On  most  of  the 
pines  in  this  vicinity  there  are  many  short  stubs  of  small  broken  branches 
projecting'  an  inch  or  two  from  the  main  trunk.  Wiien  the  sun  is  shininj;'  these 
projections  are  lijj^hted  up  in  such  a  manner  as  to  appear  cpiite  white  at  a  little 
distance,  and  they  often  cast  a  shadow  exactly  resembling  the  black  body  of 
the  bird.  In  winter,  when  a  little  snow  has  lodged  on  these  stubs,  the  resemblance 
is  even  greater,  and  almost  daily  I  was  misled  by  this  deceptive  appearance, 
either  mistaking  a  stub  for  a  bird  or  the  reverse. 

"I  have  rarely  heard  this  Woodpecker  hammer,  and  even  t{ip])ing  is  rather 
unconnnon.  So  far  as  I  have  observed,  and  during  the  winter  I  watched  it 
carefully,  its  principal  supj)ly  of  food  is  olitained  in  the  bark,  most  of  the  ])ines 
having  a  very  rough  bark,  scaly  and  deei)ly  lissured.  The  bird  uses  its  bill  as 
a  crowbar  rather  than  as  a  hammer  or  chisel,  [)rying  oiT  the  successive  scales 
and  layers  of  bark  in  a  very  characteristic  way.  This  exjjlains  the  fact  of  its 
being  such  a  (juiet  worker,  and,  as  woul«  be  exj)ected,  it  is  most  often  seen  near 
the  base  of  the  tree,  where  the  bark  is  tliickest  and  l•(^ughest.  It  nuist  destroy 
innnense  numbers  of  Scol/ftidcc,  whose  larvic  tuimel  the  bark  so  extensively,  and 
of  other  insects  thn"  crawl  beneath  the  scales  of  bark  for  shelter  during  winter. 
I  have  several  times  in)itated  the  work  ^)f  this  bird  by  j)rying  otf  the  successive 
layers  of  bark,  and  have  been  astonished  at  the  great  numl)er  of  insects,  and 
especially  of  spiders,  so  exposed.  As  the  result  of  this,  and  of  its  habit  of  so 
searching  for  food,  the  White-headed  Woodpeckers  killed  here  were  loaded  with 
fat  to  a  degree  I  have  never  seen  eipialeil  in  any  land  bird,  and  scarcely 
surpassed  by  .some  Sanilpij)ers  in  autumn. 

"Though  not  shy,  and  with  care  gc;ierally  a])proachable  to  within  a  short 
distance,  it  is  watchful  and  suspicious,  and  seems  to  know  very  well  what  is 
going  on,  even  if  it  does  not  sej  fit  to  fiy  away,  though  it  is  more  apt  to  do  this 
than  to  dod"e  around  the  trunk.  The  flight  is  direct,  and  rathei'  slow  and  heavv. 
Its  skull  is  noticcidilv  less  hard  and  (h'Use  tliiin  that  of  Ihnnhatcs  htinisii  or  J'iiiis 
(inliiKs.  During  the  winur  it  is  silent,  the  only  sound  I  have  heard  it  make 
being  a  harsh  screech  wIh'U  wnuiidcd."' 

Since  then  the  Doctor  lias  also  found  it  during  the  winter  of  1  .S!)4-i)."i  near 
Fort  Sherman,  Idaho,  where  it  is  not  uncommon,  and  ])rol)ably  l)re('ds  in  the 
mountains  in  the  vicinity. 


'The  AiiK.  Vol.  V,  188S,  i<.  25a. 


THE  WHITE-HEADED  WOODPECKER 


73 


I  consider  the  Wliite-heav'eil  Wo()di)e(^ker  a  rather  silent  and  mort-  sedate 
bird  tlian  most  of  the  other  nienibers  of  tliis  family,  the  oidy  note  I  liave  heard 
it  utter  bein^r  a  sharp,  clear  "witt-witt"  as  it  passes  from  one  tree  to  another. 
Durinj,'  the  winter  its  food  consists  principally  of  spiders  and  insects  and  their 
larvaj;  and  in  summer,  as  Mr.  C'harles  A.  Allen,  of  Nicasio,  ('alifornia,  informs 
me,  "It  feeds  its  A'ounjjf  on  the  larf^e  black  ants  with  which  all  tlie  dead  pines 
and  stum])s  are  covered  at  that  time  of  year." 

Niditication  usually  beghis  about  the  middle  of  May  and  continues  through 
June.  The  sexes  relieve  each  other  in  the  jtreparation  of  the  nesting  sire ,  which 
is  usually  located  in  a  dead  stub  of  a  pine  or  iir;  one  that  is  jjartly  decayed 
seems  to  be  i)refen'ed  as  it  rarely  t^xcavates  on*^  in  solid,  hard  wood.  The  nesting 
sites  are  seldom  situated  t)ver  15  feet  from  tl.t  gi'ound,  and  sometimes  as  low 
as  2  feet.  The  entrance  hole  is  about  IJ  inches  wide,  perfectly  circular,  and 
just  large  enough  to  admit  the  bird;  the  inner  cavity  gradually  widens  towards 
the  bottom,  and  is  usually  from  8  to  12  inches  deep,  the  eggs  lying  on  a  slight 
layer  of  fine  chips,  in  which  they  become  well  embedded  as  incubation  advances. 
Occasionally  a  rather  ))eculiar  site  is  selected.  ^Ir.  Charles  A.  jVllen  found  a 
nest  of  tliis  species  in  a  ])ost  in  one  of  the  snow  .sheds  on  the  Central  Pacific 
Railroad,  between  Blue  Canyon  and  Emigrant  Clap,  about  40  feet  from  the 
entrance  of  the  shed,  and  some  thirty  trains  ))assed  daily  within  a  few  fei-t  of 
the  nest,  which  contained  six  eggs  when  foiuid.  Incul)ation  lasts  about  foiu'tcen 
days,  and  both  sex  s  assist  in  this,  as  well  as  in  the  care  of  the  young,  which  are 
born  blind  and  remain  so  luitil  about  half  grown. 

Tlu!  nund)er  of  eggs  to  a  set  varies  from  thi-(H*  to  seven,  sets  of  foin-  being 
most  common.  There  is  oidy  a  single  set  of  five  in  the  United  Htates  National 
Museum  collection,  taken  by  Jlr.  L.  lielding,  at  Hig  Tn'es,  California,  on  June 
8,  187!t;  but  Mr.  Charles  A.  Allei:  writes  me  that  he  has  found  seven  eggs  in 
one  of  their  nests.  These  vary  in  sliajie  from  ovate  to  short  o\iite;  the  slicll 
is  pure  white,  fine  grained,  and  only  moderatcily  glossy.  Wlien  fresh  imd 
unblown  they  are  of  a  delicate  pinkish  tint  and  semitranshicent,  and  the  volk 
can  be  j)lainly  seen;  as  incubation  advances  they  become  mon-  and  more 
oijacjue. 

The  average  measurement  of  forty-one  specimens  in  tlie  United  States 
Nati(mal  Museum  collection  is  24  by  IS.OT  millimetres,  or  altout  0.1)0  bv  0.71 
inch.  The  largest  egg  of  the  series  measures  25.40  by  lii.iiO  millimetres,  .ir  1.00 
by  O.Tti  inch;  the  smallest,  21.84  by  17.7S  millimetres,  or  D.Sd  1)y  0.70  inch. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  I!t436  (not  figured),  from  a  s<'t  of  four  eggs,  Hen- 
dire  collection,  was  laken  by  the  writer,  near  Camp  Harney,  (Jregon,  on  May 
(J,  1877. 


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74  LIFE  UISTOKIES  OF  NORTH  AMKKICAM  BIKU8. 

30.     Picoides  arcticus  (Swainson). 

ARCTIC  THKEE-TOEU  WOODPECKER. 

Picim  {ApieriiKK)  (irclicm  Swainson,  Fauiiii  Horeali  Americana,  II,  1831,  313. 
I'ivoiden  uiTticus  CI  RAY,  Genera  of  Birds,  I,  IM't,  i'M. 

(B  82,  O  1(K),  R  307,  0  443,  U  400.) 

CiEOfiuApnicAi.  RANGK:  Nortliem  If orth  America;  south  to  the  northern  border  of 
tlie  eastern  United  States;  roffularly  to  northern  New  KiiRhind  and  tlie  nortliern  parts 
of  New  York,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  and  .Minnesota;  casnally  to  Massachnsetts,  nortliern 
("onnccticnt,  nortliern  Pennsylvania,  and  northern  Illinois.  In  the  Kocky  Mountains  to 
.Montana  and  Idaho,  and  in  (he  western  ITnited  States  south  to  California  and  Nevada  to 
about  latitude  ;$0°  (Lake  Tahoe),  and  possibly  still  farther  south  in  the  Sierra  Nevada  in 
winter. 

'Plu>  ii(>rtl\orn  limits  of  the  raiif^e  of  tlio  Arctic  or  Black-backed  Tiiroe-toed 
\V(>n(l]ieck('r  are  not  yet  very  well  tlelined,  and,  jiidj^'iny  from  the  few  s])ecimens 
from  far  northern  localities  in  the  Uniteil  States  Jsational  Mn.seinn  collection, 
it  appears  to  he  nuicli  rarer  there  than  the  next  species.  It  certa'nly  mnst 
h(i  considered  a  rare  resident  in  [.-ahrador,  as  Mr.  L.  M.  Tnrner  obtauied  only  <a 
sino'le  siiecimen  durinj>-  several  vear.s'  residence  in  the  district  of  llnyava.  This 
was  taken  at  the  "Forks"  on  December  18,  1S82,  and  none  were  obsei'ved  by 
him  in  tlu^  vicinity  of  Fort  (!himo.  There  an;  several  s])ecimens  in  the  collec- 
tion from  Moose  Factory,  James  Hay,  iind  others  from  F<irts  Kaeand  I'rovidence, 
on  filreat  Slave  Tiuke;  from  Fort  (.'hii)e"\vayan.  on  Lake  Athabasca,  and  a  sinj^le 
otie  fnnn  Fort  Reliance,  on  the  Upper  Yukon  Uiver,  Alaska,  in  latitude  (14°  N., 
which  nnu-ks  alnmt  the  most  northern  point  of  its  known  ranpe.  The  Jluseiun 
])osses.ses  another  Alaska  specimen  also,  taken  in  March,  18!)3,  by  Mr.  V.  L. 
McKay,  on  the  Mechatna  River,  and  it  ajipears  to  Ixs  rare  hen*  also.  Its  south- 
ern limits  are  much  better  defined,  .md  include  tin*  northern  border  of  the  eastern 
Uniteil  States,  reachin<^-  the  southern  point  ot  its  ranj^e  in  tliO  Adirondacks,  New 
York,  in  about  latitude  44°,  where  it  also  breeds ;  and  occasionally  stra^f,ders  are 
taken  somewhat  fartlier  south  in  winter — in  Massachusetts,  for  instance;  it  is 
also  rcccn'deil  from  r(mnecticut,  northern  Pennsylvania,  and  northern  Illinois. 
It  is  not  micommon  in  the  northern  parts  of  Michij^'an,  Wisconsin,  and  Minne- 
sota, and  breeds  in  suitable  localities  in  all  these  State.s.  It  does  init  appear  to 
occur  in  the  southern  Rocky  Moiuitains  in  the  United  States,  exce])tin<i'  in  Mon- 
tana, but  it  is  abunihmt  in  the  I'ascade  Mountains,  ()ret>dn,  and  in  the  Sierra 
Nevadas  in  California  and  Nevada,  south  to  about  latitude  .SiT^  (r.,ake  Talioc). 
'  It  has  also  been  met  with  in  Washing-ton,  Idaho,  and  eastern  Mritish  Columbia, 
and  is  said  to  be  common  in  the  wooded  jiarts  of  ^lanitoba;  it  is  certain  also  to 
occur  in  s  litable  localities  in  A.ssiniboia  and  Alberta,  as  well  as  in  the  interven- 
ing re<fi(ms  wherever  suitable  timber  is  found. 

'I'he  Arctic  Three-toed  Woodpecker  is  essentially  a  bird  of  the  pine,  spruce, 
iir,  and  tamarack  f(n-ests,  and  is  rarely  seen  in  otiier  localities.  It  is  generallv  a 
ri'sidunt,  rarely  migrating  tt)  any  distance,  and  jirobably  breeds  where^•er  found. 


THK  ARCTIC  THUEK-TOED  WOODPECKER. 


75 


Its  flif^ht  is  swift,  tifroatly  undulating,  and  is  ttt'ten  protracted  for  considorable 
distan(!es.  It  is  (|uite  coinnidn  in  northern  Maine,  and  Mr.  Manly  Hardy  con- 
siders it  as  the  tamest  and  most  stupid  of  the  Woodpeckers  found  in  that  State. 
He  writes  me:  "Here  (in  Maine)  it  is  rarely,  if  ever,  found  in  any  nundw-rs  far 
from  burnt  tracts;  if  in  green  growth,  usually  singly,  or  at  most  in  ])airs;  hut 
on  newly  burnt  lands  specimens  may  be  foimd  by  the  score,  and  tlieir  sharp, 
.shrill  'chirk,  chirk'  can  be  heard  in  all  directions.  It  seems  to  feed  entirely  on 
such  wood  worms  as  attack  spruce,  pine,  and  other  soft-wood  timber  that,  has 
been  fire-killed.  Sju-cimens  are  so  abuntlant  in  sucli  places  that  1  once  shot 
the  heads  off  of  si.\  in  a  few  nunutes  when  short  of  material  for  a  stew." 

The  food  of  this  Woodpecker  seems  to  consist  almost  entirely  of  tree- 
boring  insects  and  their  lan'iu,  mainly  Bi<})resti(l(C  and  CcniDilijjrithc ;  l)ut 
Audubon  states  that  it  feeds  also  on  hemes  and  fruits.  It  never  attacks  a 
healthy  tree,  and  is  far  more  beneficial  than  harmful,  and  deserves  ])rotcction. 

Mr.  J.  W.  Preston,  of  Baxter,  Iowa,  writes  me  that  he  found  this  Wood- 
pecker bn^eding  in  Hecker  ('ounty,  Minnesota,  the  nesting  site  being  situated  in 
a  live  larch  tree,  about  30  feet  from  the  ground;  it  contained  young  on  dune 
13,  1HH7.  Dr.  .Tames  C.  Men-ill,  United  States  Army,  found  it  breeding  in 
Prickly  I'ear  (!anyon,  on  the  road  between  Helena  and  Fort  Shaw,  Montana,  as 
well  as  near  Fort  Klamath,  Oregon;  and  Mr.  K.  S.  Williams  writes  me  tliat  the 
species  is  tolerably  conmion  al)out  Columbia  Falls,  Montana.  Mr.  U  MacFarlaiu! 
found  it  nesting  near  Fort  Providence,  (ireat  Slave  Lake,  Northwest  Territory, 
and  ^Ir.  (".  Krieghotl"  at  Three  Rivers,  Lower  Canada,  eggs  taken  bv  the  two 
last-nanuMl  gentlemen  being  now  in  the  collection.  Dr.  ('.  Hart  .Mcrriiim 
found  two  nests,  with  eggs,  of  this  species  in  the  Adirondacks,  near  Seventh 
Lake,  Fidton  Chain,  Hamilton  Comity,  New  York,  on  May  27  and  dune  2,  1S,S,'5, 
and  has  kin(il  v-  furni.shed  me  with  the  follf)wing  notes: 

"The  water  of  Seventh  Lake,  l''uiton  Chain,  had  l)een  raised  by  a  dam  at 
the  foot  of  Sixth  Lake,  flooding  a  considc^rable  area  along  the  inlet,  and  tlu^  trees 
killed  by  the  overflow  sto(jd  in  about  (!  feet  of  water.  In  18S;{  the  place  was 
first  visited  by  mo,  ^lay  27.  lioth  species  of  Tin-ee-toed  Woodpeckers  (/'icaidcs 
anicrirnnus  and  ardkns)  were  tolerably  conmion,  and  one  new  nest  of  each  was 
found.  That  of  /'.  mri'inis  contained  one  fresh  egg.  The  nest  was  lo  inciies 
deep,  and  the  opening  within  5  feet  of  the  surface  of  the  water.  It  was  in  a  dead 
spruce,  10  inches  in  dii-.meter.  A  ])air  of  White-bellied  Swallows  {'rnrlii/iincta 
hirolor)  had  feathered  tluiir  nest  in  a  deserted  AVoodju'cker's  hole  higher  up  in 
tlu^  same  stid).  The  jdaccMvas  next  visited  Juiu'  2,  but  the  datci  proNcd  still  too 
early.  Several  unfinished  nests  of  /'.  (imrriatiiKs  wen*  found,  and  one  completed 
nest  with  four  fresh  eggs  of  /'.  iitrficKs.  Like  the  one  found  on  mv  first  visit,  it 
was  in  a  dead  spruce  and  about  ft  feet  al)ove  the  water.  The  nest  was  II  inches 
<lee[)  and  the  orifice  l'|  inches  in  diameter.  Many  of  last  year's  nc^sts  were 
occuj)ii'd  by  White-bellied  Swallows.  Some  of  the  Three-toed  Woodpeckers 
were  unusually  noisy,  the  inales  scolding,  rajti>ing  loudl}-  on  the  dead  wood,  and 
making  nmch  ado  for  these  ordinarily  (piiet  birds.     Nests  were  f'ouml  in  l)alsaui, 


76 


LIFE  HISTORIE8  OF  NOHTU  AMERICAN  BIK1>8. 


iH 


!■  2-  If  I 


spriK^e,  an<l  taiiiarack  trees,  and  varied  from  4  to  If)  feet  above  the  water.  A 
fortnight  hiter  (June  If))  I  found  a  nest  of  J'icoUles  (urtiriis,  containing  young 
(apparently  about  a  week  old),  at  West  Pond,  near  Hig  Moose  Lake.  It  was  in 
u  tamarack  tree  and  about  10  feet  above  the  ground.  A  last  year's  nest  in  an 
adjacent  tamarack  was  occupied  by  a  family  of  Hying  s(|uirr(^ls." 

I  first  met  with  the  Arctic  Three-toed  Woodpecker  on  the  summit  of  the 
lilue  ^lountains,  near  Soda  Spring.s,  Grant  County,  Oregon,  in  August,  IHTfi,  at 
an  altitude  of  about  5,000  feet,  where  it  was  raiv,  and  again  near  Fort  Klamatii, 
during  the  year  1 882-S3.  There  they  were  Tairly  connnon  in  winter,  freipienting 
the  more  o[)eu  ]iine  forests  in  the  mountain  valh^ys,  but  were  rarely  seen  by  me 
in  sunnner,  and  I  bcli(n'(;  they  mostl\-  n^tired  to  an  (extensive  burnt  tract,  some 
30  miles  to  tiie  northeast  of  the  jxist,  near  the  lu'ad  waters  of  tli<^  Deschutes 
Kiver,  to  breed.  Like  the  Hairy  Woodpecker,  they  are  ]tersistent  drunnners, 
rattling  away  for  minutes  at  a  time  on  some  dead  limb,  and  are  especially  active 
during  the  mating  .season,  in  April.  I  have  located  more  tiian  one  specimen  l)v 
traveling  in  the  direction  of  the  sound  when  it  was  fully  half  a  mile  away.  On 
May  10,  1883,  while  en  route  from  Fort  Klamatii  to  Linkville,  Oregon,  and 
only  a  few  miles  from  the  latter  ])lace,  just  where  tiie  ])in(*  timber  endeil  and 
the  sagebrush  connnenced,  I  found  a  male  busily  at  W()rk  on  a  pine  stump, 
only  about  2.^  feet  high  and  about  18  inclu's  in  diameter,  standing  within  a  few 
feet  of  the  road,  and  close  to  a  charcoal  burner's  cam]),  in  (piite  an  open  and 
exj)o.sed  situation,  nearly  all  the  timber  in  th(!  vicinity  having  been  cut  down. 
The  stump  was  solid,  full  of  pitch,  and  showed  no  signs  of  decay:  tiie  entrance 
hole  was  abcmt  l.J  inches  in  diameter  and  8  inches  from  the  top.  'i'lie  cavity, 
when  first  examined, was  only  about  2  inch(is  deep,  and  on  my  retui-n,  two  da\s 
later,  it  had  reached  a  depth  of  4  inches;  the  female  was  then  at  work.  'Po 
make  sure  of  a  full  set  of  eggs,  I  waited  until  the  25tli.  The  cavity  tiien  was 
found  to  be  18  inches  deep,  and  was  graduallvi'ularged  towai'd  tiie  bottom,  'i'iie 
four  eggs  it  contained  had  been  inciibateii  about  four  days.  The  female  was  on 
the  nest,  and  uttered  a  hissing  sound  as  she  left  it,  and  might  easily  have  been 
caught,  as  she  remained  in  the  hole  until  the  stump  was  struck  with  a  hatchet. 
The  sides  of  the  cavity  were  (piite  smooth,  and  the  eggs  were  ])artl\'  cinbeddcd 
in  a  slight  layer  of  jiine  chips.  The  locality  wheri'  tliis  nest  was  for.iid  was  near 
the  top  of  a  low  divide,  not  over  4,100  feet  in  altitude.  The  majority  of  nesting 
sites  seem  to  hv  locateil  in  dead  trees  or  stumps,  and  rarely  at  any  great  height 
varying  usually  from  2.i  to  S  feet  from  the  grounil. 

Botii  sexes  assist  in  niditication,  which  is  usualh'  at  its  height  between  M;iv 
20  and  June  10,  as  well  as  in  hicubation,  which  lasts  about  two  weeks.  ( )nly  one 
brood  is  raised  in  a  season.  The  i'<!:'^s  an-  gene'.'ally  fotir  in  number.  I'hest;  are 
mostly  ovate  in  shape.  The  shell  is  tine-grained  and  only  moderately  glossy, 
and,  like  the  eggs  of  all  Woodpeckt'is, ]mre  white  in  color. 

The  average  measurement  of  thirteen  t'ggs  in  tlu*  United  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  24.38  by  18.2i)  millimetres,  or  O.Ofi  by  0.72  inch.  The 
largest  egg  measures  20.40  by  1!>..")()  millimetres,  or  l.(»ti  by  0.77  inch;  the 
smallest,  22.3.')  bv  17.53  millimetres,  or  0.8S  bv  0.(\\)  inch. 


TEK  ARCTIC  TllREE-TOED  WOODPECKER. 


77 


The  type  specimen,  No.  19411  (not  fiffured),  from  a  set  of  four  egjjs,  Ben- 
dire  collection,  Wiiw  taken  by  the  writer,  about  30  miles  south  of  Fort  Klamath, 
Oregon,  on  May  25,  1883. 


31.     Picoides  americanus  BkkibI. 

AMERICAN  THREE-TOEU  WOOUl'ECKEK. 

ricoiikx  nmcririnnis  IJUEHM.  llandbucli  der  Vdfjt'l  Deutsclilaiids,  1831, 195. 

(B  83,  C  301,  R  308,  C  444,  U  401.) 

GEooRAPnicAi.  i£AN(iK:  XortluTii  North  AiiiiTica  cast  of  tlie  Kocky  .Mountains; 
south  (|iriiicipally  in  winter)  to  the  northern  bonier  of  the  I'niteil  States;  west,  casually, 
to  the  westein  slope  of  tlie  Bitter  Root  Mountains,  in  eastern  Idaho. 

The  American  Three-toed,  also  known  as  the  "Banded-backed,"  "Whito- 
l)acke(l,"  or  simply  as  ''Banded  Three-toed"  Woodpecker,  is  mostly  resident  and 
breeds  wherever  t'oinid.  Along  our  nortliern  l)order  it  .seems  to  1)(^  much  rarer 
tlian  the  preceding  species,  and  oidy  Itreeils  in  snudl  uund»ers  in  Maine,  the 
Wliite  ^Mnimtaiiis  in  New  Hampsliirt',  the  Ailiroiidacks  in  New  York,  possil)ly  in 
the  (Jreeii  Mountains  in  \'ermont,  -ind  probably  along  the  west  shore  of  Lake 
Superior  in  Minnesota;  but  it  is  evidently  still  rarer  in  the  western  j»ortions 
of  its  range,  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States.  The  oidy  western  specimens, 
taken  within  oin-  borders,  in  tin;  United  States  National  .Museum  collection,  ar(* 
a  female,  collected  by  Dr.  .1.  (i.  ("oo|ier,  on  September  D,  I8(i(),  on  the  western 
slope  of  the  Bitter  Root  Mountains,  Idaho,  and  a  pair  sent  to  me  by  Mr.  H.  S. 
Wi]liam.s,  of  Columbia  Falls,  Montana,  taken  on  October  0  and  11,  1893.  He 
writes  me:  "It  is  nuich  rarer  here  than  /'.  iirctiiii-^,  and  I  consider  it  a  much 
more  silent  l)ird,  its  ordinary  call  notes  dilfering  much  from  those  of  the  former 
and  re.send)ling  more  those  uttered  by  the  geiuis  Dri/olmtcs." 

Mr.  L.  M.  TiUMier  nu-t  with  this  Woodpecker  in  tlie  vicinity  of  Fort  Ciiimo, 
Ungava,  and  secured  se\eral  specimens  at  Wiiitetish  l.,ake.  wlici-e  the  spruce  and 
junipers  attain  a  sliglitly  greater  size  than  nearer  tlic  I'ost.  hi  iiis  niamiserii;t 
iiutes  he  sa\s:  "Farther  to  the  southward,  where  tlie  timber  is  larger  and  better 
suited  to  tluiir  haliits,  they  become  correspondingh-  more  numerous,  and  in 
suuthern  Labrador,  south  of  the  'Height  of  Land,'  they  are  reported  to  be 
(piite  plentiful.  Tiie  manner  of  tliglit  of  this  species  is  less  vigoi'ous  than 
tliat  of  /'iidiiirs  ((fctinis,  yet  ditl'ering  in  ;i  manner  that  is  (hthcidt  tu  (h^scribe. 
These  birds  are  not  easy  to  detect,  as  tlie\'  j-arelx'  utter  a  note,  and  tlieii  onlv 
a  s(iuealing,  prolonged  sound,  similar  to  tliat  made  b\'  Sfihi/rtiiiiciis  /-((riiis.  'i'he\' 
are  oftener  fomul  solitarx',  rarely  two  being  foiuid  in  the  same  patch  t<t  \\ood, 
excepting  in  tin;  lireeding  season,  and  hiter  wlun  followed  lt\'  their  ^■oung.  1 
observed  their  habit  of  decorticating  large  areas  of  tlir  irimks  of  trees,  ver\- 
rarely  th.e  larger  brunches,  and  in  only  one  instance  liaxc  I  found  a  funnel-shape<l 
hole  ill  a  inucli-deca\'ed  snag." 

Stragglers  lia\'e  been  taken  in  \\intcr  in  ^lassachnsetts  and  also  in  Wi-^- 
consiii,  but  it  does  not  ol'ttii  lind   it^  wa\-  so  far  south.      .Vccordiiiy-  to  Sir  .tohn 


li^i:, 


-:ll 


■    * 


78 


lAVK  IIISTOUIKS  OF  NOUTII  AMKRIOAN  lUllDS. 


liicliiinlsoii,  it  i"  toimd  in  all  the  fowHts  of  spruce  tir  lyiu}^  hetwoen  Lake 
Su|iuiior  and  tlie  Arctic  Sea,  and  is  tlu)  most  conunou  Woodpecker  north  of 
(ireat  Slave  liake.  Its  food,  like  that  of  the  precudinjc  species,  isonsists  ])rin- 
cipally  of  wood-borinj;-  insects  and  their  larvse,  found  in  dead  and  decayin|^ 
tiiulier. 

Jlr.  Manly  Hardy  informs  mo  that  the  American  Three-tood  Woodpecker 
is  rather  ran*  in  Maine,  and  he  has  no  positive  proof  that  it  hreiMls  there. 

l>r.  ( '.  Hart  Ali*rriani  was,  I  believe,  the  first  naturalist  who  took  the  ef>g8 
of  this  species  within  tlio  limits  of  the  United  States,  and  he  j)ul»lislied  the 
following;'  account  in  the  "  IhiUetin  of  the  Nuttall  ()niithohi}>ical  Club"  (Vol. 
Ill,  IS7S,  p.  •_>()(»): 

"Jinir  f,  1S7'S. — Shia'tly  after  crossiujj;-  Moose  River  this  morning,  en  route 
for  the  l'\ilton  chain  of  lakes,  Mr.  C.  L.  Baj^g  and  I  were  so  fortunate  as  to 
secure  a  set  of  the  e<igs,  with  both  parent  birds,  of  Picoiika  umvriviniHH  (old 
hirsiifiis).  We  had  just  crossed  th(>  l)oundary  line  between  I.ewis  and  JFerkimer 
counties,  when  Air.  Maj;j''  called  my  attention  to  a  'fresh  hole,'  al)out  8  fe"t  from 
the  <;roinid,  in  a  spruce  tree  near  by.  On  ajjproachinfi;'  the  tree  a  yellow  crown 
aj)pear('(l  in  tiit!  hole,  showing  that  the  male  bird  was  'at  home.'  'Po  j)revent 
iiis  e,-,cape  1  jumped  toward  tlu*  tree  and  introduced  three  lingers,  which  were 
inunediately  punctured  in  a  manner  so  distasteful  to  their  proprietor  as  to  neces- 
sitate an  immediate  withdrawal  and  exchange  for  the  nmzzle  of  my  friend's  gun. 
A  handkerchief  was  ui'xt  crowded  into  the  hole,  but  was  instantly  riddled  and 
driven  out  by  a  few  l>lovvs  from  his  terrible  bill.  It  was  then  held  loosely  over 
the  hole,  and  as  the  bird  emerged  I  secured  and  killed  him.  Tiu-ough  the 
kindness  of  a  friend,  my  pocket  cimtained  one  of  those  happy  combinations  of 
knives,  saws,  anil  button  hooks — a  sort  of  tool  chest  in  miniature — which  one 
sometimes  sees  in  the  shop  windows  and  is  apt  to  regard  Avith  awe  rather  than 
admiration,  but  which  constitutes,  nevertheless,  one  of  the  most  useful  articles 
in  a  naturalist's  outfit.  With  this  instrument  we  were  enabled  to  saw  a  blociv 
from  the  face  of  the  nest,  and  to  secure,  uninjured,  the  four  nearly  fresli  eggs 
which  it  contaiiied.  While  wrapping  up  the  eggs  the  female  returned,  and,  as 
she  aliglited  on  tlie  side  of  the  tree,  was  killed  by  Mr.  Hagg.  The  orificc!  of  the 
hole  was  about  8  feet  liigli  and  1.]  inches  in  diameter,  and  the  cavity  was  a1)out 
10  inches  dec*]).  *  *  *  So  far  as  I  am  aware,  this  rare  Woodpecker  is  only 
found  along  the  eastern  Itorder  of  Lewis  County,  in  the  Adirondacl  region, 
where  i'  is  a  resident  species,  and  even  liere  it  is  nuich  less  common  than  its 
congener,  tin*  Mliick-))acke(l  Woodpi'cker." 

Di-.  Merriam  also  informs  me  that  "numerous  ne.sfs  were  found  in  the 
Adirondacks  in  June,  188;{.  Most  of  them  were  in  the*  floo<led  timber  bordering 
the  inlet  of  Seventh  Lake,  Fulton  Chain.  They  varied  from  5  to  12  feet  in 
heigh*  above  the  water,  and  wen;  in  sj)ruce,  tamarack,  i)ine,  balsam,  and  cedar 
trees.  A  set  of  four  fresh  eggs  was  taken  June  8.  The  feathers  were  worn  off 
the  Ix'Uies  of  botli  male  and  female  before  the  nests  wen;  completed."  lie  also 
took  another  set  of  four  eggs  of  this  species,  one  of  them  a  runt,  on  June  8, 


TUE  AMEKIUAN  TllUEK  TOEIJ  WOOUl'ECKEK. 


79 


1883,  near  Sixth  Lnkc,  Fulton  Clmiii,  llmnilton  County,  New  York,  in  a  rtiiiiiliir 
situation,  and  ^icncroiisly  proi'iitcd  hotii  of  tlicsi^  sets  to  nio. 

Dtn'iiifi'  a  cari't'nl  examination  of  tlie  sericn  of  spocinit'ns  of  tliis  bird  and  its 
two  rt'co<rni/.c'd  Huhspecics,  1  found  sevonil  skins  colloctoil  by  Air.  U.  MacKarhuu! 
in  tlu!  vicinity  of  Fort  Anderson,  in  latitntle  (J8"  30'  N.,  Northwest  Territory, 
wliich  appear  to  nie  to  eonie  nearer  to  tliis  species  tlian  to  /'icoiiirs  amcnruinis 
(tlasrvus'iK,  to  wiiicli  Mr.  K.  AV.  Nelson  refers  tluun.  Mr.  MacFarlane  also  for- 
warded two  sets  of  egn's,  with  the  pan^nts,  at  tho  same  time,  and  some  of  tliewe 
are  now  in  the  United  States  National  Museum  collection.  A  sinj;le  e};<i', 
oriji'inally  from  a  .set  of  three  taken  on  May  3(*,  I8(i3,  accompanied  l)\'  thi^ 
female  l)ird,  was  taken  from  a  ca\ity  in  a  pine  tree,  4  feet  fr()m  the  <iromid, 
and  another  set  of  four,  of  which  then*  an;  three  eji-j'-s  remainiiifi',  and  likewise 
accompanied  by  the  male  bird,  was  taken  on  Juno  T),  1SG4,  from  a  lude  in  a 
dry  spruce,  situated  alxiut  (I  fet^t  from  the  fi'round.  The  i'f;"};"s  from  the  last  set 
were  said  to  have  been  lyiu}>'  on  the  decayed  dust  of  the  tree,  and  were  pti-fectly 
fre.sh  when  found.  For  some  reason  no  mention  has  been  made  of  these  ejiffs 
in  the  "History  of  Xoi'tli  American  Minis,"  although  they  were  in  the  collection 
when  that  work  was  written  and  were  correctly  labeled. 

The  '•eneral  habits  of  the  American  Three  toed  Woodpecktsr  a])])ear  to 
be  very  similar  to  those  of  the  preceding  species,  and  it  seems,  if  possible,  to  lie 
even  a  more  hardy  bird  than  the  latter,  e.xtendiag  its  range  to  the  northern 
limit  of  trees.  NidiiiiMtion,  even  in  tiat  most  northeru  parts  of  its  range,  seems 
to  ('(unnience  about  the  same  time  as  it  does  in  the  Adirondacks,  long  l)efore 
the  ice  and  snow  disapi)ear.  The  usual  innnber  of  eggs  laid  appears  to  be  four, 
and  both  sexes  assist  in  incubation.  Mr.  MacFarlane,  in  his  manuscript  notes, 
mentions  finding  a  nest  of  four  young  W()odi)ockers,  in  all  prol)ability  of  this 
species  (iis  one  of  theses  birds  was  seen  in  the  vicinity  on  June  21, 18r!2)  which 
were  then  already  api)areiitly  about  a  week  or  ten  days  old.  As  incubation 
probably  lasts  about  fourteen  days,  the  eggs  nm.st  have  been  laid  in  the  last 
week  in  ^lay.  The  eggs  of  the  American  'I  iiree-toed  Woodpecker  are  ovate  in 
sliaj)e  and  })ur(!  white  in  color;  the  shell  is  fine  grained  and  onlv  moderately 
glo8,sy. 

The  average  measurement  of  twelve  e'.>gs  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  23.41  by  17.S()  niiHipu  tres,  or  about  0.!)2  l)v  0.70  inci  . 
The  largest  egg  measures  24.13  by  17.78  ,,,i;.nnetres,  or  0.!).")  by  0.70  inch;  the 
smallest,  23.1 1  l)y  17.78  millimetres,  or  0.!»1  by  0.70  inch. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  23785  (not  figured),  liendirc  collection,  from  a  set 
of  four  eggs,  was  taken  l)y  Dr.  t'.  Hart  Merriani,  on  Moos(!  River,  Jlerkimer 
County,  New  York,  ou  June  4,  1878,  as  previously  stated. 


% 


r:! 


I 


80  lilFK  lll8T()KIi:a  OF  NORTH  AMKKIUAN  IIIKDS. 

32.     Picoides  americanus  alascensis  (Nklhon). 

ALASKAN  TIIKKK-Tor.l)  WOOIII'KCKKK. 

Pivoi<lr»  tfiiUtcUjhiH  ahimriiHin  Nk.i.hon,  Auk,  I,  April,  ISHl,  16J5. 

I'icoiilin   iimi'rieiiiiHH   (ihmrenniii    KllKiWAV,    I'liicewiiliKs    FJ.    8,    Natioiiiil    MustMiiii,    VIII, 

i8.sr),  355. 

(11  _,  C  — ,  R  — ,  ('  — ,  II  40lrt.) 

Oeuobapiiic'AI-  ranok:  Aluskiv  Territory;  ciiHiiiilly!  soiitli  tliKiiiKli  western  Briti«li 
rolmiibiii  to  iiortliwcstcni  \Viisliiiif;ioii  (\  iciiiity  of  Mount  Itsiker);  east  irregularly  to 
(Ireiit  Ueiir  I/iiko  .ind  the  Mitekeu/ie  River  Vulle.y,  Northwest  Territory,  Dominion  of 
(Jitniidii. 

'V]w  Aliiskau  Tlirco-tocd  Woodpeckor,  iloscribod  by  Mi*.  1",.  \V.  Ni-lsoii  in 
"Tlui  Auk"  (Aiiril,  1,  1S81),  is  nuiiiily  (listiii;,''iiisliiibli)  from  tlm  iircccdiuff  H|>t'i'ics 
by  its  imic'li  luoro  (toiispit'iious  iiiiclial  cnlliiriiiid  geiioriill y  Iioavier  whito  barrinj;' 
of  tho  back  and  riini]»,  larmier  whitci  winjf  markings,  and  witli  tlio  top  of  tlio  head 
moro  or  less  mixed  witli  wliite.  Tlu!  most  tyiiical  specimens  of  this  race  oonio 
from  central  iVlaska,  and  as  it  ajtproatdies  tlie  range  of  J'icoidr.s  (iDifntvuiix  on 
the  east  it  gratbially  intergnuh's  with  this  as  well  as  with  J'icnidrn  iniirricaniis 
ilorsdlis  in  the  smith,  and  it  is  largely  a  matter  of  individual  opinion  just  where 
to  draw  the  line  of  its  range;  I  jjrefer  to  restrict  it  mainly  to  Alaska.  Very 
little  is  as  yet  known  about  its  general  habits,  food,  etc.,  but  it  is  not  likely 
that  it  diifers  much  in  these  resj)ects.  It  is  probal)ly  a  resident  and  breeds 
wherever  found.  Mr.  K.  W.  Nelson,  in  his  report  on  the  "Natural  History 
Cidlections  nuide  in  .Vlaska,  1S77-1881,"  pul)lish('d  by  the  Signal  Service,  United 
States  Army,  1887  (p.  159),  says:  "On  the  Yukon  these  birds  are  said  to  prefer 
the  groves  of  poplars  and  willows  to  the  s])rnces.  During  my  visits  to  the 
interior  I  saw  it  ali\e  only  in  a  few  instances,  and  h-arned  nothing  of  its 
habits.  From  the  lunnber  of  skins  brought  me  by  the  few  traders,  taken  at 
various  points  along  the  course  of  tluf  Yukon,  from  near  tlui  nuuith  of  that 
stream  to  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Ueliance,'  its  great  alunidance  is  attested." 

Nothing  has  l)een  ])ublished  al)ont  its  nesting  habits  and  <'ggs,  Init  these 
are  not  likely  to  ditl'er  from  those  of  the  ju'eceding  foiin. 

33.     Picoides  americanus  dorsalis  IJairu. 

ALPINE  THREE-TOED  WOODPKCKER. 

Pivoiiles  (lomaliH  liAiRD,  Itirds  of  North  America,  1858, 100. 
Pivinden  americanug  dorsaUn  ISaird,  Oriiitholo{,'y  of  California,  I,  1870,  SSfi. 

(1584,  0  301a,  11  3«8((,  O  445,  U  401/>.) 

Okooraimiical  RANGE:  Hocky  Mountain  regions  of  the  United  States  and  the 
Dominion  of  Canada;  south  to  Arizona  and  New  Mexico;  north  throuf!;h  C<»l<>rado  and 
intervening  Htales;  and  through  Alberta  and  eastern  Britisli  Columbia  to  Fort  I-iard 
and  Cassiar,  ami  occiisionally  to  southern  Alaska  (Fort  Keiuiy). 

The  Alpine  or  "Striped-backed  Three-toed"  Woodpecker  is  the  most  south- 
ern representative  of  this  genns,  and  appears  to  b(^  confined  mainly  to  tlu!  Rocky 

'The  Kurt  RoUmico  reforrud  to  liy  Mr.  Nelson  \n  Hitiintuil  <m  \\\f  lIpjuT  Yiikoii  liivcr,  in  Aliiska; 
another  (now  aliiuiihniccl)  Ilnilson  l!:i.v  Couipany  post,  Kiliiuled  on  tho  wiBturu  end  of  (i  real  Sliive  Luke,  was 
Bunilarly  nanicil,  and  Hhoiild  not  be  eonl'ouuded  with  it. 


■fl'lili. 

Hi 


THK  ALPINE  THRKKTOKI)  W'OODIMXJKKR. 


81 


Mmiiitiiiiis  and  nc.;^Iili(iriii<jf  m'lffOH.  It  iw  ruadily  (lixtiiiffiiislmldo  from  fho  two 
jirci'ciliii^''  I'niins  liy  llm  cniitiiiiioiis  wliitc  iiiiddlti  lino  of  tlic  buck,  with  few,  if 
an\,  liltick  Ittu'K,  tiid  inai'kinijj'.s  i)cin<{  mostly  lon;;itiidinal,  and  smalifi-  wliitc  npotK 
on  tlio  (|uill.s.  'I'lm  top  <»f  tlio  head  is  nmch  less  Htrcakcd  with  whito  tlian  tlui 
Ahiskan  nice,  and  tlio  hill  is  also  moro  sl(Mi(h'r  than  in  tiio  laltt-r.  It  is  |)rol»ai)ly 
resident  and  hreeds  wlierever  found.  It  has  heen  met  witii  in  tlie  IMack  Moun- 
tains, at  Cantoinnent  I5ur;iwin,  near  Taos,  Xew  Mexico;  in  the  White  and  San 
Francisco  Mountains,  in  Arizona;  ami  in  the  hijjher  ranf>es  in  ('(dorado,  etc.,  as 
well  as  in  the  liocky  .Mountains,  ami  tla^  Stdkirks  in  Alherta,  and  eastern  Mritish 
Columbia  northward  to  about  Fort  Liard  and  ( 'assiar,  near  the  northern  boiunl- 
arv  of  this  province,  whence  it  stra;;j(les  occasionally  alonj;;  the  coast  ran;ri's 
into  southern  Alaska  (Fort  Kenay).  It  rarely  occurs  north  of  latitude  (!"2°, 
however,  where  it  is  i'e|)lace(l  by  the  i)recedin;;'  subs])ecies.  Comparatividy  little 
has  vet  been  recoi-iled  about  the  nestiiij;'  habits,  etc.,  of  this  subspecies. 

Di'.  Fid}>ar  A.  .Mearns,  I'nited  States  Army,  in  his  ])aper  on  "Arizona 
Mountain  nirds,"says:  "'IMie  .Mpine  Three-toed  Woodpecker  brei'ds  connnonly 
throughout  the  ])ine  belt,  seldom  ascendinj^'  far  into  tlu-  spruce  woods  of  the 
lii<;hest  jteaks.  On  the  northwestern  slojto  of  San  Francisco  Mountain  I  dis- 
covered a  Host  of  this  spei'ies  on  Juno  8,  1887.  The  female  wa.s  seen  alone, 
jieckiufj'  at  a  larj^e  yellow  ]tine,  which,  althou<;li  dead,  still  retained  its  bark  and 
was  (piite  solid.  While  feeding;'  slu!  utteroil  a  peculiar,  harsh,  nasal  cry.  1  shot 
her,  and  then  '  oticed  a  small,  neatly  bored  hole  in  the  south  side  of  the  pine 
trimk,  about  i.  feet  from  the  fj;round  and  away  from  bramdies.  With  the  aid 
of  a  roi)e,  and  takiu};'  a  start  from  the  saddle,  I  was  scarcely  able  to  climb  to  tho 
nest,  which  the  male  did  not  ([uit  initil  I  was  well  up;  tlieU'  ho  camo  out  and 
uttered  a  suddiai,  sharp  'whi[)-\vhip-whip'  in  a  menacinj^-  tone,  remainin>^'  hard 
by  whih^  I  worked  with  saw  and  chisel.  It  took  nu»  nearly  half  an  hour  to 
make  an  opening;-  sutliciently  lar^e  to  admit  the  hand,  as  the  burrow  was  situ- 
ated .so  extraordinarily  <leep.  Two  younji',  male  and  female,  with  feathers  just 
sj)routin^',  were  fouml  on  a  bed  of  small  chips  at  the  bottom  of  the  burrow,  nt)t 
more*  than  8  inches  lower  than  the  entrance,  but  in  the  very  heart  of  the  tree, 
the  cavity  beinj^'  obliipie  and  j)ear-shaj)ed,  and  having'  tin;  strong  odor  character- 
istic of  Woodpeckers'  nests  in  general.  Both  parents  and  their  jjrogeny  were 
preserve! I,  and  are  now  in  tin;  American  Museum  collection.  Tlu*  irides  of  tho 
adults  were  (hu'k  cherrj'  red;  tlurn-  feet,  (daws,  and  basal  half  of  mandible 
plumbeous,  tho  rest  of  the  bill  being  plumbeous  black.'" 

Mr.  W.  fi.  Smith  writes  me:  "T  found  this  bird  (juit«*  conunon  in  Araoahoe 
(bounty,  and  have  also  met  with  it  in  summer  in  Estes  Park,  Larimer  Ciunty, 
Colorado,  and  have  reason  to  believtt  that  it  breeds  there;  1  never  saw  it  at 
h)w  elevations."  Mr.  G.  F.  IhiMiinger  informs  mo  that  he  found  a  nest  of  this 
subspecies  in  the  beginning  of  May,  at  an  altitude  of  about  (),,5(M)  feet,  west  of 
Fort  Collins,  Colorado;  the  nesting  site  was  located  in  a  burnt  spruce  stump, 
about  15  feet  from  the  ground,  and  contained  five  eggs. 


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82 


lilFE  IIISTOKIK8  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


Thoro  lire  no  e{^j^«  of  the  Aljtino  Tliroe-too<l  Woodpt'cktT  in  tliti  UnitCHl 
States  National  Muweuni  colloction,  and  I  am  luiahlu  to  jrivo  exact  measure- 
ments; but  these  are  not  likely  to  differ  mut^li  in  sltujie  or  size  from  those  of  the 
American  Three-toeil  Woodpeckers. 


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34.     Sphyrapicus  varius  ([^iNN.^rs). 

YELLOW-ltKM.lKI)  SAI'SUCKKK. 

JHcM  rariuK  LinN/EUM,  Systeiuii  Nutuiiu,  i-d.  12, 1,  17(56, 17(i. 
Sphi/rapicii»  rariuii  ISaiki),  IJinls  of  Niirtli  Americu,  ISTiS,  1(»3. 

(!'.  So,  (',  301;,  R  3(!»,  C  44(!,  U  402.) 

OKoc;uAi>Hi('At,  liANUE:  Kustei'u  aii<l  nortUei'ii  Nortli  Aiiu'.i'i(;n;  in  tlie  uasterii  parts 
of  tho.  Doniiaion  of  Civaada  north  to  Nova  Scotia,  New  Rranswick,  southern  Qudiec  aial 
northcra  Ontario;  thence  in  a  nonhwestcrly  direction  to  Forts  Itcsolation,  Providence,  and 
Kac,  on  (ircat  Slav<^  Luke,  and  sonu-wluit  north  of  Fort  iSinipson,  Northwest  Territory,  to 
aboat  latitude  (ilP  .'10'  N.;  west,  to  l''ort  Liard,  in  northeastern  ISritish  Coliunbia,  and  in  the 
United  States  to  North  and  South  Dakota,  Nebraska,  Kansas,  tlie  Indian  Territory,  and 
Texas;  south,  in  winter,  to  tint  West  liulia  Islands,  and  through  ^lexieo  to  Guatemala, 
HoMdurasan<l  (!osta  Rica,  Central  America.     Aitcidental  in  (ireeidand. 

Tlie  Vellow-ltellieil  Sapsucker,  also  known  as  "  Ued-throated  .Sapsuck«'r," 
"S(pU'alin<f,"  and  "Whiniii}''  Woodpecker,"  is  a  common  sunnuer  resident  in 
suita])le  localities  in  tiie  eastern  I'nited  States  north  of  aluMit  latitude  42'',  and 
in  Peinisylvauia,  (^liio,  Tidiana,  and  Illinois  it  is  known  to  breed  as  far  south  as 
latitude  40  ,  while  in  the  .Smoky  Mountains,  in  western  North  Car()lina,  it 
reaches  the  extreme  soutlu-rn  points  of  its  l)rc'edin;j-  raufje  in  the  southeastern 
corner  of  ^lacon  Coinity,  close  to  the  northern  b<ird"r  of  Georgia,  near  latitude 
3;")°.  Here  Mr.  William  Hrewster,  to  whom  the  ornith(do<>isfs  of  the  United 
States  are  "greatly  imlebtcfl  for  a  lar<j;-e  amount  of  valual)le  information,  uustwith 
this  sjjccies  sparin<fly,  and  shot  tv,d  speeinusns,  both  incubatinf--,  in  May,  iHSft. 
It  is  claimed,  however,  that  it  has  also  been  found  l)reeding  on  tlie  iledina  l{i\er, 
near  San  Antonio, Texas,  Ity  Dr.  Jlecrmiin,  and  that  its  egji's  were  taken  by  him, 
which  wouM  extend  its  breediuff  ranjje  still  farther  south.  More  recent  observers 
do  not  appear  to  contirm  this,  and  report  Spliifrupiius  rurins  only  as  a  mij^rant  in 
that  vicinity. 

Near  the  Atlantic  coast,  in  the  maritime  jtrovinces  of  the  IKaninion  of 
Canada,  it  is  rather  rare,  and  I  believe  it  has  not  yet  been  found  in  Newfoundland 
or  I^abrador,  but  it  is  mor<^  common  in  the  interior.  It  is  an  abun<lant  sunnner 
resident  in  tin;  northern  New  i"]nf^land  States  and  nortiiern  New  York;  and  in 
tlie  Adir<aidacks  it  a])pears  to  me  to  outmnnber  all  other  Woodpeckers. 

Mr.  W.  K.  jjoucks,  of  Peoria,  Illinois,  writes  me:  "I  consider  this  bird  to  l)e 
a  tolerably  connnon  resident  lien^;  1  have*  found  it  breedinji-,  and  a  fev.  nniy 
remain  here  tiu'ough  tlie  winter,  as  1  have  seen  tliem  ([uite  late  in  the  fall.  On 
May  IH,  18!)1,  wliile  collectinj^-  in  the  river  bottom,  I  discovered  a  nest  of  this 
Hpecies  in  the  trunk  of  ii  solid  dead  tree,  about  l.'i  feet  from  the  ^roinnl.     I  gave 


THE  YELLOW-BELLIED  SAPSUCKER. 


83 


tho  trunk  a  sliaq)  rap  witli  my  walking  stk-k;  this  had  the  ofiFeet  of  hrin<,'iii{,'  out 
a  female  Sapsucker,  which  gazed  out  inquisitively,  ami  then  Hew  to  a  distant 
bnuu'li  and  was  joined  by  her  mate.  Climbing  to  the  hole,  I  found  it  had  l)een 
dug  into  tlie  solid  wood  for  about  3  inches,  and,  upon  opening  it  to  secure  the 
eggs,  I  found  the  depth  to  be  about  a  foot.  The  excavation  tapered  from  the 
entrance  to  the  Ixtttom,  the  diameter  of  the  latter  being  somewhat  greater.  The 
sides  had  been  finely  and  evenly  chiseled,  far  suri)assing  any  nest  of  a  Woodpecker 
that  it  has  been  mj'  lot  to  examine.  The  entrance  itself  was  a  marvel,  being 
about  1  j  inches  in  diameter,  and  extending  about  3  inches  into  the  wood.  It 
was  so  perfect  that  it  resendded  an  auger-lM)red  hole.  The  excavation  contained 
five  i)artly  incubated  eggs,  of  a  dirty-white  ccdor,  which  were  deposited  upon  a 
good  bed  of  chips  at  the  l»ott<)m.  The  birds  were  not  very  shy,  sitting  around 
on  the  dead  lindis,  preening  their  feathers,  making  short  visits  to  some  other  tree, 
and  then  returning.  I  took  another  set  of  eggs  on  .)une  S,  and  found  the  birds 
there  in  sunnner  in  succeeding  seasons,  but  took  no  nests." 

Mr.  I).  ]{.  Huri" nvs,  of  Lacon,  Illinois,  likewise  informs  me  that  the  Yellow- 
bellied  Sapsucker  is  a  con»mon  summer  resident  of  Marshall  and  adjoining 
counties  in  liUnois,  wliio-e  it  is  confined  almost  entirely  to  the  river  Imttoms. 
lie  wrote  mo:  "These  l»i;"ds  nidke  their  a|»i)earance  here  the  latter  part  of  April, 
an."  I  ;'sting  begins  by  tlu*  middle  of  May  or  the  tirst  week  in  June.  During 
ni)  coil  :  ''"j^^  trips  by  skiff  in  the  ovei"flowed  lutttom  lands  I  always  met  with 
this  bin  "  i.  considered  it  common.  They  an;  easily  located  by  their  peculiiir 
comj)laining  but  I'lther  feeble  calls,  and  a  few  moments'  watching  will  usually 
locate  the  nesting  site.  When  nesting  tlmy  always  seem  to  bo  uneasy  if  their 
nest  is  approaclie<l  and  very  soon  fiy  to  tiie  tree  in  which  it  is  located.  In 
most  instances  it  is  a  newly  excavated  cavity  in  a  ilead  willow,  ranging  from  8 
to  40  feet  from  the  water  or  ground." 

Prof  Harton  W.  Kvermann  records  it  as  a  rare  sunnner  resiiK-nt  in  Carroll 
County,  Indiana,  wiiere  lie  has  also  ol)tained  it  in  winter,  on  l)«'cend»er  lA, 
1884,  and  January  11,  1885. 

Dr.  Kllioit  Cones  gives  it  as  a  common  sunnner  resident  in  the  wooded 
bottoms  of  the  Missouri  region,  and  found  it  l»i-eeding  <"onnnonly  along  the  Red 
Uiver  in  North  Dakota.  It  appears  also  to  be  connnon  throughout  tiie  wooded 
regions  of  the  provinces  of  IVIanitoba,  eastern  Assiniboia,  and  Saskatcliewan, 
Canada,  and  thence  northward  as  already  indicated.  A  set  of  eggs  taken  near 
Fort  Resolution,  (Ireat  Slave*  Lake,  in  June,  18()2,  by  Mr.  Alex.  McKenzie, 
is  now  in  the  United  States  National  j\Iuseum  collection.  Mr.  K.  MacKarlane 
also  found  it  breeding  at  Fort  Providence,  near  the  heatl  waters  of  the  Mjtckenzie 
Uiver,  in  the  spring  of  188(i,  this  being  the  nio.st  northern  breeding  ret'ord 
known  to  me;  but  tiiere  is  a  specimen  in  the  collection  which  is  labeled  as 
having  l)(.on  taken  100  miles  northwest  of  Fort  Simpson,  which  marks  the  most 
northern  known  point  of  its  range,  where  it  pr«d)ably  also  breeds.  Tiie  western 
limits  of  its  lireeding  range  in  the  United  States  are  not  well  defined;  I  lia»(*  no 
records  from  either  Kansas  or  Nebraska,  and  doubt  if  it  breeds  in  the  former,  or 
nnich  bevond  the  eastern  limits  of  tho  latter  State. 


84 


LIFE  IlISTOKIKS  OP  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


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Tlio  Yt'llow-bc'llied  Haiwuckor  Ih  a  rejfular  migrant,  usually  arriving  on  its 
breeding  grountls  in  our  more  northern  States  about  the  middle  ot"  April,  the 
males  preceding  the  females  about  a  week,  and  returning  to  its  winter  homes  in 
the  smith  in  the  latter  part  of  September  and  throughout  October;  while  many, 
presumably  birds  which  spend  tl.j  sununer  in  the  more  southern  portions  of 
their  breeding  range,  extend  their  migrations  to  tiie  West  India  Islands,  and 
others  even  through  Mexi<'o  to  Guatemala  and  Honduras,  in  Central  America. 
It  is  sometimes  met  witl  in  winter  as  far  nortii  as  latitude  40^,  and  (tccasionally 
even  farther.  None  of  v>ur  Woodiieckers  are  more  noisy  and  boisterous  than 
this  species;  their  <iueruloiis  call  notes  are  uttered  very  frecpientlv  after  their 
return  from  their  winter  homes,  and  the  males  may  at  this  timet  be  heard  drinn- 
ming  almost  incessantly,  res  irting  to  a  resonant  limb  of  some  tree,  the  gable  of 
a  roof,  and  even  to  tin  escaite  jtipes.  Dr.  C  Hart  Merriam,  in  his  paper  on  the 
"Hirds  of  Lewis  Comity,  New  Ycrk,"  makes  the  following  remarks  on  this 
subject:  "At  this  season  scarcely  an  hour  passes,  from  daylight  till  sunset,  that 
one  or  more  can  not  be  heard  drununing  with  connnendable  jerseverance  upon 
the  tin  roofs,  eave  troughs,  or  es(rape  pipes  of  our  houses  or  some  of  the  out- 
buildings. They  strike  the  tin  violently  half  ii  do/.en  <»r  more  times,  evidently 
enjoying  the  sound  thus  jiroduced,  and  then  rest  a  few  minutes  before  repeating 
the  performance.  Each  \Voodpe<'ker  usually  returns  to  the  same  spot,  and  on 
our  roof  are  several  i)atches  the  size  of  one's  hand  from  which  the  paint  has 
been  entirely  drnnnned  off.  On  the  escape  pipe  they  sometimes  f(dluw  around 
a  joint,  and  by  constant  and  long-continued  pounding  so  l<»osen  the  solder  that 
the  dependent  portion  of  tiie  pil)e  falls  down.  How  they  manage  to  cling  to 
these  vertical  pipes  and  nearly  perpendic.'ular  portions  of  the  roof  is  a  iny.stery 
to  me.  I  have  seen  b(»th  sexes  at  work  on  our  roof,  but  the  female  dcos  not 
often  indulge  in  tiiis  pastime,  and  is  rarely  observed  to  take  j)art  in  the  ooister- 
ous  gand)ols  of  the  males.'" 

This  species  is  a  true  Sapsucker;  its  hyoid  apparatus  is  not  as  well  developed 
as  is  the  case  in  the  majority  of  our  Woodpeckers,  the  tongue  being  but  slightly 
extensile  and  reaching  oidy  a  littht  distance  beyontl  tlm  tip  of  the  bill.  One 
of  the  most  notable  jieculiarities  of  this  Woodpecker  and  that  from  which  it 
derives  the  name  of  "Sapsucker,"  is  its  habit  of  tapping  certain  trees,  especially 
iu  the  spring  of  the  year,  puncturing  both  the  outer  and  iniu'r  bark  witli  small 
lioles  rest^nbling  giudet  holes,  which  causes  the  sa]»  to  How  fn-ely;  on  this,  iu» 
well  as  on  the  tender  inner  bark,  it  lives  to  a  considerable  extent. 

At  this  sea.son  of  the  year  I  believe  the  greater  portion  c»f  their  sustenance 
is  derived  in  this  manner,  varied  with  a  diet  of  sjtidi'rs,  ants,  beetles,  and  otlier 
winged  insects  anil  such  of  their  larvjc  as  are  found  hidden  under  the  bark; 
while  they  rarely  dig  sufticiently  deej»  in  tim  more  .soliil  w<»od  to  reach  those  of 
the  JhiprvMnlie  anil  other  wood  borers,  which  are  the  staple  food  of  the  majority 
of  our  Woodpeckers.  For  this  reason,  instead  of  being  a  beiielicial  species,  like 
the  rest  of  this  family,  in  certain  localities,  as  where  apple  orchards  are  abun 

I  Kiillutiii  Nuttall  OruillioliigirHl  t'liil>,  Vol.  IV,  ItlTI),  !>.  '2. 


THE  YELLOW-BELLIED  SAP8U0KER. 


85 


ilaiit,  it  becomes  a  nuiHanco,  and  materially  iiijuren,  and  eventually  kills,  many 
such  trees.  Indirectly  it  als()  causes  the  deatli  of  many  a  Hairy  and  Downy 
Woodpecker  (the  l)est  friends  the  fruit  {rrower  has),  these  species  l)eing  fre- 
quently shot  throuffh  ign»)rauce  of  their  habits  or  l)ecause  they  are  mistaken  for 
Sapsuckers.  Besides  ]»uncturiii<r  apple  trees,  it  is  also  jtartial  to  the  thorn  a])ple, 
elm,  white  and  yellow  birch,  red  and  sugar  maple,  j)oplar,  red  oak,  hendock, 
white  and  mountain  ash,  and  several  species  of  pines.  'J'hat  it  should  be  fond 
of  the  sweet  sap  of  trees  does  not  sm'prise  me,  as  this  contains  considerable 
nourishment,  and  likewise  attracts  a  good  many  insects,  which  the  birds  eat;  but 
it  is  not  so  easy  to  account  for  its  especial  predilection  for  the  sap  of  th<*  moun- 
tain ash,  which  has  a  decidedly  bitter  taste,  ami  1  believe  j»ossesses  intoxicating 
properties,  unless  it  be  taken  for  the  latter  purpose;  an<l  the  fact  that  after  drink- 
ing freely  of  the  sap  of  this  tree  it  may  often  be  seen  clinging  to  the  trunk  for 
hours  at  a  time,  as  if  stupefied,  seems  to  confirm  this  view.  It  is  well  known 
tliat  some  of  our  l)irds  indulge  in  su<'h  disreputalih^  practices,  and  possibly 
this  species  nuist  be  included  in  the  nund)er,  as  there  are  sots  among  birds  as 
well  as  among  the  genus  Homo.  Aside  from  sap,  the  soft  imu-r  bark  of  trees, 
and  the  various  insects  aln^ady  mentionerl,  it  fee<ls  to  a  considerabht  extent 
on  ben-ies  of  different  kiiuls,  such  as  those  of  the  .sour  gum,  dogwood,  frost 
grapes,  blueberries,  raspberri(;s,  strawberries,  an<l  blackbemes,  as  wctll  as  occa- 
sionally, when  hard  j)re8sed  by  hunger,  on  nuts,  acorns,  and  sometimes  even  on 
Indian  corn. 

Mr.  Otto  Widmann,  of  Old  Orchard,  Missouri,  has  kindly  furnished  me  with 
the  following  notes,  as  observed  bv  him  in  that  vicinity:  "They  \\rv  unobtrusive 
and  rather  sluggish  birds,  (piite  unlike  the  Ilairy  and  Downy  Wt»o(lpeckei"s. 
They  may  be  seen  sitting  for  half  an  lamrat  a  time  in  the  same  place,  sometimes 
crosswise  on  a  branch.  During  a  late  wintry  s])ell,  when  a  fre<'zing  rain  had 
enveloped  everything  in  a  sheet  of  ice,  a  Sapsucker  huggi'd  a  piei-c  of  bacon 
hung  uj)  in  a  tree  for  tw<»  whole  days.  While  the  Downy  and  Hairy  never  get 
tired  of  eating  nuts,  the  Sai)sucker  uses  them  otdy  when  hard  ]»resseil  by  hunger, 
and  after  his  return  in  February  he  spends  liis  whole  time  ])uncturing  the  pines. 
His  favorite  tree  among  our  ornamental  evergreens  is  the  Austrian  pine,  his 
second  choice  is  the  Scotch  jtine,  while  he  never  taps  the  white  pine  and  Norway 
spruce.  Of  deciduous  trees  he  occasionally  punciures  the  .sjiell-bark  hickory, 
sugar  maple,  an<l  cral»  apple;  this,  however,  is  not  done  to  any  great  extent. 

"The  trunks  and  larger  limijs  of  tlut  Austrian  and  Scotch  pines  look  very 
badly  at  times,  but,  strange  to  say,  though  they  are  not  only  girdled,  but  in 
some  places  compactly  covered  with  holes,  the  trees  thrive  as  though  they  had 
not  been  hurt  by  the  perforations  and  loss  of  sap.  This  saj)  has  no  terebinthine 
tiiste,  but  is  as  sweet  and  pure  in  flavor  as  that  of  a  deciduous  plant;  but  the 
e.vudations  of  resin,  the  secondary  result  of  the  Sajisucker's  labors,  mar  the 
appearance  of  these  trees  by  ruiming  d<»wn  its  sides  or  hardening  into  unsightly 
lumps.     Many  of  the  birds  remain  in  southern  Missouri  during  winter." 


i.  i 


86 


LIFE  HISTORIKS  OK  NOUTH  AMKIMCAN  BIKDS. 


Jl  t(i  - 


*  Jill  -'^i        t 
i]  I'     ^ 

il  I  -'I  ^ 

si       .  1 


i:'l 


1    <'  -: 


■ 


Mr.  Mnnly  Hardy,  ot"  Hrewcr,  Maiius  writes  nic  as  follows  aliout  tills  spe- 
cies: "Tlioufjli  not  j^i'iu'rally  iionsidt^rcd  as  a  very  lianly  l>ir<l,  tlicy  aro  really 
one  of  our  very  earliest  nu<,'rants  to  arrive  here  in  ilio  sprin<^.  I  have  heard 
them  druMuiiin<r  in  March,  when  the  thermometer  was  from  1;")°  to  20°  below 
zero,  Just  as  soon  as  the  first  sij^n  of  sunrise  eoulil  be  noticed,  on  one  of  the 
very  coldest  n>oriiin<fs  I  ever  expiM'ienced.  I  have  sometimes  been  inclined  to 
the  belief  that  some  of  them  hibernateil  in  hollow  trees  and  jtassed  the  winter 
with  us.  'I'hey  have  spoiled  several  trees  in  my  garden.  Formerly  I  always 
])rot(^cted  them,  and  did  not  allow  thiMu  to  be  molested;  but  I  find  that  con- 
fidence ill  them  has  been  misplaced.  They  destroyed  a  lur<fe,  hanilsome  moun- 
tain ivsh  tree  in  my  yard,  and  I  believe*  an(»tlier  will  die.  I  have  only  saved 
the  trees  by  killing  every  Sapsucker  coming  near  them.  Where  they  oidy 
partly  circle  the  tree  it  only  stops  its  growth,  but  where  they  entirely  girdle 
a  limb  or  the  trunk  in  several  places,  and  close  together,  it  stops  the  flow  of  the 
sap  and  it  soon  (lies.  I  have  examined  into  the  matti?r  very  closely  and  there 
is  no  doubt  of  the  cause." 

1  consider  the  Yellow-bellied  Sapsucker  the  conuuonest  Woodpecker  in 
the  Adirondack  wilderness,  in  New  York.  Its  ordinary  call  note  is  a  whining 
"whiiee,"  and  it  utters  a  number  of  other  sounds,  some  of  these  resembling  the 
calls  of  the  Blue  Jay,  and  others  those  of  the  Red-shouldered  Hawk.  During 
the  mating  sea.son,  when  the  sexes  are  chasing  each  otlier,  a  series  of  notes  like 
"hoih-hoih,"  a  number  of  times  repeated,  a»'e  fre(piently  heard.  Although  gen- 
erally dispo.sed  to  be  mon;  or  le.ss  noi.sy,  while  clinging  to  their  food  trees  they 
are  nearly  always  silent  as  far  as  my  observations  go.  On  June  25,  1H92,  in 
the  woods  in  Herkiuier  bounty.  New  York,  I  noticed  a  series  of  drinking  holes 
in  a  sugar  maple  standing  close  to  the  edge  of  a  swamj),  which  ran  up  and 
down,  on  one  sid«'  of  the  tree  only,  for  a  distance  of  iJ  feet.  These  drinking 
places  were  visited  by  diflerent  birds  at  short  intervals.  All  wen*  silent  while  at 
the  tree,  excepting  one,  a  mahi,  which  always  made  a  pecnliar  snorting  or  pur- 
ring sound  when  alighting.  There  wen-  three  rows  of  holes,  (*ach  about  an  inch 
apart,  running  jjarallel  to  each  other,  and  these  were  sejjarated  about  «fvery  (J 
inches  by  an  initouched  space  some  .'{  inches  wide.  On  June  24,  1892,  I  noticed 
a  nest  of  this  species  in  the  trunk  of  a  dead  majde,  about  40  feet  from  the 
ground,  near  Wilmurt,  New  York.  It  contained  nearly  full-grown  young,  which 
kept  up  an  almost  (constant  clamor  for  food  while  1  was  watching  them.  In  the 
Adirondacks  they  prefer  ash  and  butternut  trees  to  nest  in,  but  elms,  birches,  and 
maples  are  also  fret[uently  selected  for  this  purpose,  while  in  the  river  liottoms 
in  Illinois  and  Indiana  they  often  breed  in  willows  or  cottonwoods.  Solid  dead 
trees  seem  to  be  preferred;  if  a  living  one  is  selecteil  it  is  usi,.illy  one*  in  which 
the  core  is  decayed.  The  nesting  sites  vary  from  S  to  M  feet  in  heiglit  from  the 
ground,  being  usually  about  2f)  feet  up,  and  these  are  eitluir  excavated  in  a  dead 
lind)  or  the  main  trunk  of  the  tree;  if  in  the  latter,  tHMpiently  directly  under 
a  lindi,  which  affords  some  protet-tion  against  storms.  They  are  rather  tame 
and  fearless  about  their  homes,  and  generally  allow  themselves  to  be  closely 
approached. 


TIIK  YELLOW  HELLIKl)  SAPSUCKKU. 


87 


Wliilo  in  tho  wocmIh  ono  iii<irnin<r,  Hoatod  iifraiiiHt  the  trunk*  «»f  n  maple, 
«)})snrvinfr  tlic  niovoiiuMits  i>t'  a  Winter  Wren  and  lit-r  hrood,  u  malt'  Y««1I<)W- 
lu'llicd  Sapsiu'kor  suddenly  tlt'w  down  from  a  neif-liborin};-  treo  and  alifjlited 
on  the  side  of"  the  one  on  whieh  1  was  lean;.;;,",  -..iiiiin  a  toot  of  my  head.  Ho 
Htartle(l  me  not  a  little,  and  no  doiiht  he  was  ecjually  astonished,  as  h(>  remained 
only  altout  a  minute,  and,  uttering;  a  sluup  note,  like  "Iniwy,"  heat  a  hasty 
retreat.  Its  favorite*  resorts  dm-in^j  the  hreeilin^f  seas(Hi  are  deciduous  and 
mixed  woods,  ^reiu'rally  close  to  water,  in  river  bottoms,  alouj;  tlu»  shores  of 
the  nunu-rous  lakes  and  the  borders  of  swamps,  while  it  is  nuieli  less  fretjuently 
seen  at  this  sea.son  of  the  year  in  ext«'nsive  eoiiiferous  forests. 

In  the  more  southern  j)ortions  of  its  l>reedin^'  ran^fe  nidiiieation  usually 
connneuees  about  the  be^finnin^^  of  May,  and  S4imewhat  later  farther  north.  It 
takes  about  a  week  or  ten  days  to  comjjlete  the  excavation  for  a  nestinj'-  site, 
which  is  usually  <Tourd-sliaj»ed,  varyin^f  from  (J  to  IS  inches  in  d<!|ith.  The 
entranct!  hohs  is  perfectly  circular,  about  l.J  inches  in  diameter,  and  just  larf?«? 
enoii^ih  to  admit  the  bird;  the  sides  of  the  excavation  are  smooth,  and  a  layer 
of  Hue  ciiips  is  left  in  the  bottom  of  the  hole,  on  wliicii  the  e^i'^rs  are  deposited. 
The  sexes  relieve  each  other  in  this  work,  and  also  share*  the  duties  of  intniba- 
tion.  Several  other  fresh  holes  are  usually  excavated  in  the  same  tree,  pre- 
sumably l»y  the  male,  to  wliich  ho  probably  retires  n»  rest  diirinir  the  nij,dit,  and 
to  ;ruard  his  mate  from  jxtssibie  dan^^er. 

Fresh  e^fj^s  may  be  looked  for  durino-  the  lattt'r  half  of  May  and  the  lii-st 
week  in  Jiuie,  and  from  tive  to  s(*ven  are  laid  to  a  set,  those  containin;>-  five  or 
six  Cfi'^i's  bein;^'  most  conmion.  \n  e^j'^i'  is  depositei]  daily,  and  should  tiuf  first 
clutch  bo  taken,  a  second,  usually  containin^j;-  four  ejj'^is,  is  laid  about  two  weeks 
later,  frecpUMitly  in  an  excavation  in  the  same  tree.  'IMiey  are  devoted  parents, 
and  when  incubation  is  somewhat  advanced,  or  the  younj'-  have*  been  recently 
hatched,  tiu*  bird  on  the  nest  is  loath  to  leave  it,  and  will  somc^times  allow  itself 
to  be  captiu'ed  rather  than  to  di'sert  its  tn*asures.  Tlu*  one  olf  <luty  mav  also 
fre(|Uently  be  seen  clin^iiu"!'  just  below  tlu*  hole,  and  lemainin;;-  in  this  position 
perfectly  motionless  for  se\  oral  minutes  at  a  time,  as  if  in  a  deep  study.  The 
ey<^'s,  like  those  of  all  Woodpeckers,  are  pure  white  in  color,  tho  shell  is  dose- 
grained  and  only  moderately  <ilossy;  in  shape  they  vary  from  ovate  to  elliptical 
ovate,  and  occasionally  to  an  elliptical  oval. 

The  avera<f(*  measurement  of  seventeen  ogj;s  in  the  Unitid  States  National 
Mu.seum  collection  is  '2"2.1*;$  by  17.()(!  millimetres,  or  about  OSH  liy  O.CT  inch, 
"^riu*  larf^est  v'^if  measures  "23.37  l>y  17.0,3  millinuftres,  or  ()A^2  by  (>.(J1»  inch;  the 
smallest,  ■_'().r»7  by  1(;.-J(;  millimetres,  or  O.Sl  by  0.(14  inch. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  247-0  (not  fif^ured),  from  a  set  of  six  e^ffs,  was 
taken  by  Hr.  William  L.  Ralph,  near  Trenton  Falls,  Herkimer  County,  New 
York,  on  May  28,  1H8(!,  from  a  cavity  in  a  rotten  lind)  of  an  ohn  tree  standing 
in  an  open  field.' 

'  For  further  infuriimtiuii  on  tliJH  Hpm'iitH,  I  ri-l'i-r  tho  rtmili'r  to  Mr.  William  llri>»Ht<"r'«  int«riMtinK  article 
ill  thi'  Hiilli  till  ol'  thn  N'littall  OriiitlioloKli'al  Cliili.  Vol.  I,  IS'li,  ]>p.  );:!-T0;  also,  to  oiio  liy  Dr.  ('.  Hart  Mot- 
riaiii,  ihiIiIIiiIdmI  in  the  Haiiic  lliilli'tiii.  Vol.  IV,  IST'.I,  pp.  |-r>;  anil  to  lhi<  carcl'iil  oIiHor\  alioiifi  niailo  by  tho 
late  Mr.  Kraiik  Uollcx,  piil.liHiuMi  in  tho  AiiU.  \  <>l.  VIII.  IS<l|.  pp.  2.'>4i-TO,  aixl  Vol.  I\,  ISO-J,  pp.  100-110. 


'*  ■■  ■ 


88 


LIFE  UI8TOUIKJ  OF  NOJtTU  AMEUICAN  BlUliS. 


■3   ■ 


hi 


35.     Sphyrapicus  varius  nuchalis  Haiku. 

KKIl-NAI'KIJ  HAI'SIICKKK. 

Sphifraphwi  variuM  viir.  uiwhnliH  Haird,  Birds  oI'  Nortli  Ain<>i-icit,  ISTtS,  10.1. 
(II  H«,  C  3«»2rt,  U  3<iltrt,  r  447,  I'  iWii.) 

GRO(«RAriii<!AL  RANUK:  KiHiky  MoiiiitainM  ami  iMljiM-cnt  raiiges  from  western  TexiiH, 
Ari/.ona,  aiKl  New  Mexico;  north  tlimiiKli  dilormlo,  I'lali,  Nevada,  VV'yoniiiig,  Montaiiu 
and  Idaho,  into  thu  ItritiHli  provinffs  of  AllHtrta  and  caMtern  HritiHh  Colunihia  to  about 
hititudu  54°  and  prohalily  fartlicr;  wi-Ht  to  the  (Jnscade  Uan)re  in  VV'aHliini;ton  and  (>re);on, 
and  tliu  Hlerra  Nevada  in  California,  and  in  winter  into  Lower  (California  and  northern 
Mcxiuo.     ('liHinilly  east  to  western  Kansas  (Walliwe). 

Tlio  breeding  raiiije  of  the  Ue(l-nrt])eil  SajtHiK-ker  or  Woodpecker  appenra 
to  bo  ])riiuMj)ally  eoiifined  to  tlie  bigher  nioiintuiii  ranges  of  the  interior  from 
€!olorado  nortliward,  as  abvady  indu-ated,  ai.d  west  to  the  eastern  sloj)es  of  the 
Cascade  Mountains  in  <  >regon,  Wasliington,  and  British  Cobnnbia.  It  is  (|ues- 
tionabh'  if  it  breeds,  to  any  extent  at  least,  in  tlie  SieiTii  Nevadas,  in  northern 
California,  or  in  the  mountains  of  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  and  western  'iVxas, 
where  it  seems  to  be  only  11  migrant.  Dr.  Klliott  Cones,  however,  in  the 
"Proceedings  of  the  Philadelphia  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,"  January, 
1866,  records  the  lled-naped  Sapsticker  as  a  permanent  and  abundant  resident 
in  Arizona;  but  more  recent  observations  made  in  various  parts  of  this  t«'rri- 
torydo  not  coiiiirm  this  statement,  and  I  believe  it  is  only  a  i-atherrare  migrant. 
Its  Kunnner  homc!  appears  to  be  restricti'd  to  the  bor<lers  of  tlu«  numerous 
streams  found  throughout  the  mountains  of  rhe  interior,  including  the  eastern 
slojM's  of  tlu^  Kocky  Mountain  system  and  those  of  tln^  Cascades,  at  altitudes 
from  r»,(M»(>  to  1(1,000  feet.  It  usually  arrives  on  its  breeding  groimds  about  tHie 
fii;.t  half  of  May,  and  the  fall  migration  connnences  about  October  1.  Its  gen- 
eral hal)it.'<  are  similar  to  those  of  the  preceding  spt'cies,  and  in  the  fruit-growing 
.sections  within  its  rang*',  in  s()Utheiii  I'tah,  for  instance,  it  is  said  to  do  consider- 
able damage  to  the  orchards  in  ihe  early  spring  and  again  in  the  fall,  ta])|)ing 
the  peach  and  apple  tn-es  for  ;<ap  in  the  same  manner  as  SphiiiapitKs  rariiis  does 
in  the  Kast.  Its  principal  food  consists  of  small  beeth's,  spiders,  grasshoi)i»ers, 
ants,  and  sucii  larvic  as  are  to  l>e  found  imder  the  loose  bark  of  trt^es,  as  well  as 
of  wild  beiries  of  different  kinds. 

Mr.  V.  Stephens  writes  me:  ^^Siilifiraiiiciis  nniiis  iiiirhtilis  is  very  rare  in 
southern  California.  On  November  'J,  1S!(1,  a  neighltor  of  mine  shot  a  female 
of  the  year  and  brought  it  to  me;  he  said  that  it  was  boring  lides  in  tint  ajiple 
trees  and  had  damaged  on(M'onsi(h'rably.  This  is  the  only  California  instance 
of  sap-sticking  (in  orchards)  known  to  me."  In  a  more  recent  letter  he  iidorms 
me  that  Im  met  with  this  Woodpecker  on  Lassen  Creek,  in  .Modoc  County,  Cali- 
fornia, at  an  altitude  of  .'"),600  feet,  on  August  2,  lH!t4,  obtaining  both  parents 
and  ii  family  of  young  of  the  year 


TIIH  BUUMA1'£D  SAPSUCKER. 


Mr.  W.  O.  Smith  iiii'oniiH  lue  that  tliin  SapHUcker  Ih  a  common  Hummw  n-si- 
(lent  ill  EhIch  Park,  Cohjrado,  broeding  froin  7,000  foet  up  to  nwirly  timber  lino, 
invariably  ne«tin<f  in  live  (piaking  iu<pun8,  between  Juno  1  and  16. 

The  followinfr  is  taken  from  an  article  of  mine  i)ublislu'd  in  "The  Auk" 
(Vol.  V,  1K88,  pp.  22(1  to  22!>),  with  Honio  slij^ht  alterationH  made  in  the  text: 

Thirt  race  <»f  Spliifnipinis  variu^  I  have  met  sparin<,'ly  in  various  portions 
of  the  Blue  Mountains  of  Oregon,  Washinfrton  TeiTitory,  and  Idaho,  and  as 
far  west  as  the  eastern  slope  of  the  ('ascado  Uaiiffo  in  Southern  ()re<jfon,  in  the 
Klamath  Lake  re<;ion,  where,  however,  it  was  rare  and  replaced  by  Spli/inipicus 
riiltrr,  the  two  species  overlappin<;  each  other,  but  not  inter<>radin;,',  and  remain- 
in<.f  pertectly  distinct.  1  first  met  with  the  nest  and  ej^ffs  of  this  bird  in  a  small 
aspen  },Tove  at  the  ed},'e  of  a  beautiful  little  ])ark-liko  prairie,  near  the  summit 
of  the  Hlue  Mountains,  in  (Jrant  County,  Orej^on,  on  .Fune  12,  1H77.'  I  was 
escortinjr  an  army  paymaster  from  Canyon  (!ity  t(»  C'amp  Harney,  Crejcon, 
where  I  was  then  statitmed.  After  a  laborious  climb  to  the  top  of  the  steep 
mountain  at  the  foot  of  which  the  little  miniuff  town  of  Canyon  City  nestled, 
I  stopped  for  some  twenty  minutes  to  rest  the  animals  and  to  eat  lunch.  The 
spot  was  a  lovely  one;  the  little  {;rovo  at  the  mlffi  of  the  heavy  pine  forest 
contained  perhaps  half  a  dozen  aspens  that  measured  a  foot  or  more  throu<;'h, 
and  a  nuud)er  of  smaller  ones.  I  had  made  myself  comfortable  under  one  of 
the  lurf>est  ones,  which  8to<»d  on  the  (mter  od<fe  of  the  j^rove,  watcliin<>-  the 
horses  enjoyinj^  the  luxuriant  {jrass,  and  was  busily  en<,''aj^('d  in  eatinjf  my 
lunch,  shariii}^  it  with  several  ()re<jfon  Jays,  1'ciisoicii.s  obsnini.i,  which  were 
(piite  tame  and  absorbed  my  entire  attention  for  somt^  time.  A  IJed-naped 
Sapsucker  was,  in  the  meantime,  flviu}^  about  my  tree,  ali<!^htin}|[  on  others  in 
the  vicinity,  and  keepiii<f  up  a  constant  chatter.  I  thou<,dit  at  first  he  was 
jeah)us  of  the  day.s,  and  paid  no  attention  to  him,  till  he  Hew  onto  the  tree  I  was 
sittiu},'  under,  which  brou<:!ht  out  his  mate.  Their  nesting  site  was  directly  over 
my  head,  about  20  feet  from  the  ground,  and  I  might  have  noticed  it  .sooner 
by  the  fresh  chips  dropped  by  the  birds  in  excavating  the  <'avity,  and  which 
were  lying  all  around  me,  had  I  not  been  entirely  absorbed  in  watching  the 
Jays,  or  'Meat  Birds,'  as  they  are  called  there  by  the  hunters  ami  trajjpers. 
It  did  not  take  long  for  <me  of  my  men  to  climb  nj)  and  chop  a  sulHcieiitlv 
large  hole  in  the  tree  to  insert  the  hand.  The  entrance  to  tlie  excavation  was 
exceedingly  small,  not  over  l\  inches  in  diameter,  about  8  inches  deep,  and 
about  4  inches  wide  at  the  bottom.  It  contained  three  nearly  fresh  eggs,  lying 
j)artly  embedded  in  a  layer  of  fine  chips.  About  a  year  afterwards,  when 
passing  the  .same  spot,  June  2,  1878,  I  took  another  set  of  tlu'ee  fresh  eggs  of 
this  species  out  of  a  hole  in  another,  somewhat  smaller  aspen  tree  in  the  same 
grove.  Altlumgh  aspens  of  suitable  size  were  to  be  found  in  several  places  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  Camp  Ilaniey,  Oregon,  which  is  locatiMl  at  the  foot 
and  on  the  southern  slope  of  the  Blue  Mountains,  at  an  altitude  of  about  4,800 

>  But  I  had  previuualy  fuuud  a  nest  with  young  iu  Juuo,  1875,  in  the  same  locality,  as  weU  ui  several 
in  1876. 


90 


lilFK  1I18TUU1EM  UF  NUUTJi  AMUUICAN   ltllM>U. 


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il 


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■     f: 


li:& 


foot,  I  fiiih'd  to  find  any  of  tlicsi;  Itinls  iiostiu;,'  tlicrc,  tliou<;li  tlmy  woro  met 
witli  Ity  nio  tit  various  times  in  tin*  vicinity,  and  sometimes  even  <|uit<t  a  distance 
away  iVom  tiie  mountains.  They  aro  only  sunnnei'  residents  in  tliat  repon, 
l»nt  an  occasional  strajf^fler  remains  in  sheltered  locations  thro(i};'hont  the 
winter.  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  this  Itird  is  much  more  conunon  in  the 
Rocky  .Mountain  re;jfion. 

Mr.  Denis  (iaie,  of  (Sold  Hill,  Cohtrafht,  kindly  fuiliished  ine  with  the 
foUowinf?  observations  nfffardin;;  tiiis  subspecies,     lie  writes  as  follows: 

"My  observations  have  been  tiiat  this  subs|MH'ies  invarialily  selects  for  its 
nestin;^  site  a  living  aspen  tree.  1  have  never  met  with  it  in  any  other.  This 
tree  favors  the  mountain  <ridches  and  low.  sheltered  hillsides,  at  an  altitude  of 
from  7,(M)0  to  1(>,()(K)  feet.  Above  this  point  they  do  not  attain  sutHcient  size, 
and  are  mostly  dwarfed  and  scrubby.  Here  in  Colorado  Sphyrapints  rarins 
nnclinlis  is  seldom  found  abovt!  !>,0()()  feet  or  mu«'h  below  H,{M){)  feet.  The 
aspen  tree  is  short  lived,  and  ere  much  of  a  {jrowth  is  attained,  a  cross  section, 
in  t!io  majority  of  instanci's,  will  show  a  discolored  cent«'r  of  incipient  decay, 
involvinji'  half  or  twn-thirds  of  its  entire  diameter,  with  a  sound,  white  sap  zone 
on  the  outer  circumference,  tu-xt  to  the  l)ark.  This  sound,  healthy  zone  nouri.slies 
the  tree  until  the  decayed  core  discovers  itself  in  some  withered  liml)s,  and 
frecjuently  the  to|»  of  the  tree  manifests  the  canker. 

"Such  trees  the  Hed-naped  Sapsucker  selects  for  its  nestinjr  sire,  and  with 
{jreat  perseverance  chisels  throu<.di  this  touj^h,  sound  /.oiu!,  froui  1  to  l.J  inches 
in  thickness,  commencin};  with  a  very  smidi  hole  and  jiradually  extendin<;-  its 
circumference  with  each  staj^e  of  the  deepeninji'  process,  workin<>'  from  the  low<'st 
center  out,  till  the  exact  circumference  of  the  inteiuh'fl  aperture  of  entrance  is 
attained.  In  thus  radiatin;;  in  circles  fnaii  the  central  point  the  minute  chips 
are  chiseled  out  with  considerable  ease.  This  mode  of  workinji'  is  ol)served 
until  the  tou^h  zouo  is  worked  tlutni<i-h;  what  remains  then  is  comparatively 
easy  work;  the  soft,  sojj^y,  lifeh'ss  inside  is  worked  into  and  downward  with 
ffn^ater  facility,  and  a  roomy,  f;ourd-shapetl  excavation  (piickly  follows,  the 
female  (h»in<f  the  excavatiii}^  from  i»e<rinnin<,''  to  end,  ami,  according  to  exi}>encies, 
completes  it  in  from  six  to  ten  days. 

"Some  idea  of  the  vitality  and  toujjhness  of  this  zone  of  sap  in  a  live 
aspen  may  be  realized  when  it  is  stated  that  in  a  tree  used  consecutively  for 
three  or  four  years,  if  uiidisturl)e<l,  an  is  the  {general  custom  of  >Sphi)ia])iriis 
vtirins  uiirhitlis,  the  entire  apertiu'e  will  l)e  almost  doscid  by  the  recuperative 
aj^ency  of  the  .sap  wliicii  (piickly  heals  and  closes  uj)  tlu?  wound.  No  other 
Woodpecker  will  face  such  a  formidable  ta.sk.  Pirxs  viUosu.s  liurrisii  comes  next 
as  a  Ijorer;  then  follows  Siihi/riiiiiciis  thjiroidcKK.  Moth  of  these  species  nest 
sometimes  also  in  apparently  live  aspens,  but  upon  close  inspection  such  trees 
will  be  found  to  be  badly  decayed. 

^^Sjiliifrnpiciis  variwi  nnrlidlis  usually  insists  npon  a  new  excavation  each 
year.  The  heij^ht  of  the  nestin<j  sites  from  the  {jround  varies  from  ,')  to  80 
feet;  the  full  set  of  eyfjs  is  four  or  live  in  number;  sometimes  a  smaller  num- 


TUB  KED-NAl'KI)  8AP8UCKKR. 


91 


bor  of  «>jf(fH  iiuirk  a  full  set,  |)r('suinal»ly  tin*  ncHt  of  oiio  «»f  laHt  year'w  MnU. 
Fi'i'hIi  c'jifirs  may  ho  lookod  for  in  ('olofado  from  .fiiiic  1  to  IT),  anil  hIkhiM  tlio 
first  Hot  lio  takou,  a  hocoihI  oiio  may  jronorally  l»o  found  from  ton  to  fiftooii 
(lavH  lator;  and,  aH  a  rnio,  tlio  Hooond  noMtin^  sito  will  not  Ito  ;;roatly  distant  from 
tlio  fn'Ht  one.  Hovoral  nontH  of  tins  spooius  may  Ih'  found  witliin  a  short  distance 
of  each  <tthor  in  tho  sanu*  aspon  p-ovo." 

My  own  limitotl  ohsorvations  <lin'in<f  tlio  hroodin;;  soasun  hoar  out  Mr. 
(Jalo's  Htatoinonts  oom|)lotoly,  viz,  that  this  spooios  hroods  oxolusivoly  in  livo 
aspon  troos.  Dr.  .1.  C.  Morrill,  Unitod  States  Army,  in  "Mullotin  Nuttall  Clnh," 
Uotohor,  IHSl,  states,  liowoviM",  that  ho  found  a  nest  of  those  hirds  in  a  dead 
oottonwood  tro(«  in  Montana.  In  sonthwostoni  Ori'^m,  in  tho  mountain  parks  of 
the  Klamath  Lake  region,  those  hinU  brood  sparin;r|y  at  as  low  an  altitude  as 
5,000  feet,  and  it  is  more  than  probable  that  at  a  higher  one,  near  the  sununit  of 
the  Cascade  Rauf^e,  they  may  be  (juite  common. 

In  the  Hluo  Mountain  region,  in  eastern  ( )re<ron,  I  found  them  breed* 
inff  only  in  tho  sinj^le  locality  already  mentioned,  at  an  altitndi^  from  (>,()(I0  to 
7,0110  feet.  iJurinfif  the  winter  months,  I  have  occasionally  observed  a  Wod- 
najiod  Sapsuckor  in  tho  Harney  Valley,  in  ()re<>(>n,  busily  onffajrod  in  hunting 
for  food  among  the  willow  thi«^kots  ft.und  growing  along  tint  banks  of  tla-  small 
streams  in  that  sagebrush-covered  region,  often  long  distances  away  from 
timber  of  any  size.  In  Sphjiruincu.s  rnriiis  tnirlialis  the  red  or  crimson  markings 
found  about  the  head  and  throat  of  adult  birds  are  usually  wanting  in  tho 
young  birds  of  tluf  ytmr,  or  else  are  reidacod  by  a  pale,  claret-«'olorod  tinge  on 
tho  coiTosponding  piu'ts.  The  black  on  the  back  and  wings  is  also  duller  and 
not  so  ileop,  and  the  general  pattern  less  distinct. 

1  believe  that  both  se.xos  assist  in  tho  labor  of  excavating  tlu?  nesting  sit«', 
the  female  appearing  to  do  tho  greater  jiart  of  the  work,  however,  which  is 
frecpiontly  very  laborious,  and  that  tho  male  also  shares  tho  duties  of  incnltation, 
which  lasts  about  fourteen  days.  Tho  number  of  eggs  to  a  set  varies  from  throe 
to  six,  usually  four  or  five;  those  are  mostly  ovate  in  shape,  a  few  an-  elli|)tical 
ovate;  they  are  pure  white  in  color;  the  shell  is  fine  grained  and  moderately 
ghtssy. 

Tho  average  measurement  of  thirty-five  specimens  in  the  I'nited  States 
National  Museum  collection  is  22. 7S  l»y  17.07  millimetn's,  or  about  0.!I0  by  0.(17 
inch.  The  larg«^st  I'll;}!;  of  tho  series  mea.sures  24.1"3  by  lS.2!)  millimetres,  or 
0.95  by  0.72  inch  ;  tho  smallest,  20.S3  by  16.76  millimetres,  or  0.82  by  0.G6  inch. 

The  typo  specimen.  No.  I!t4ir)  (not  figured),  from  a  set  of  thre(f  eggs,  was 
taken  by  the  writer  on  tho  sunnnit  of  tho  Blue  Mountains,  in  (Jrant  County, 
Oregon,  as  previously  described,  on  Juno  12,  1877. 


I 


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ml 


U2  LIKE  IllUTUUlKS  OF  NUUTll  AMKltlUAN  111I{1>». 

36.    Sphyrapicus  ruber  (dlMKi.tN). 

RKD-IIRKAHTKI)  HAPSircKEK. 

Piruii  riihrr  (iMRLilf,  Sy«tflnm  Natiiin-,  I,  178H,  421). 
Sphyrapivun  ruber  liAiKi),  KirilH  of  Ntirtli  Aint'iicH,  LSSS,  204. 

(B  87,  C  M2h,  .MClf,  It  MWh,  U  44S.  II  40;«.) 

(tRnnRAPiiicAi.  RAMiF,:  I'licillt^  ('oust  (liHti'iutH,  tVoiii  noitlipm  Tiowor  ('nliruinia 
tlii'oiiKli  ('itlil'orniit,  (>r<>|{i)ti,  \Vii<4liiii!rt<>ii,  luid  BritiHli  tJuliiinltiii;  iiortli  tomMitliiTii  AlsiHkit; 
east  mainly  totlio  wuhUtii  hIhik^h  of  tliu  Siurra  N«va«la,  and  iin  lM>tli  MiduH  of  tin*  CuHcade 
MoantaiiiH  in  Ori-K<>ii.  WattliinKton,  and  Uritiitli  Colnnihia. 

'V\w  l{('il-hrcast«>(l  Sii|)sii('k«<r  or  Woudpcckcr  is  mily  »  Hiimiiicr  roKulcnt 
from  nurtliivrii  Ciilit'orniu  iiortliwanl,  ami  u  rcsidt'iit  tlii'oii<rlii)tit  tliu  lialaiuc  of 
its  raiifrc  ill  tlu*  SiiTra  Ncvadas,  in  tlio  Hoiitlicni  lialf  of  tliis  State.  Mr  II.  W. 
Ilciisluiw  found  it  near  Fort  Ti'jon  in  Anjjnst,  1H7<I,  takinjf  u  yoiui<;  bird  tlicro 
and  sccinjf  st'Vi'ral  others.  Mr.  F.  Stcpjicns  writes  me:  "I  saw  one  in  .Iiuie  in 
tlie  San  Mernardino  Mountains,  wliere  it  i»rol)ably  Imed.s,  and  eoiisider  it  as  a 
rather  rare  winter  visitant  near  tlie  coant." 

Mr.  \j.  Heldin<jf  says:  "A  eominon  sninnier  resident  in  tin*  fir  forests  of  the 
Sierra.  Like  nearly  all  the  ('alifornia  Woodpeckers,  it  is  fonnd  lower  down 
in  the  winter,  then  heeomin^i^  rather  connnon  in  the  foothills,  althonffh  rarely 
ween  in  tlu^  valleys.  I  have  seen  a  eonsiderahle  numlier  of  its  l>urrows  in 
Calaveras,  Tuolunnie,  Alpine,  Hntte,  and  other  eonnties.  They  are  rarely 
below  80  feet,  and  are  often  overlooked  or  foinid  with  some  diHieulty,  as  they 
frecjneiitly  aro  in  bark-eovered  trees.  It  was  notieed  at  Sierra  Valley  and 
Donner  Lake."' 

AFr.  (Mnirles  A.  Allen,  of  Nicasio,  f 'alifornia,  writes  me:  "These  Wood- 
peckers are  very  fond  of  hanj^inj^  to  tele^iTiiiih  pctles,  and  nniy  bt*  found 
driimmin<r  alonj^  the  lino  of  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad  throufjh  the  Sierra 
Nevadas,  where  you  can  hear  them  beatin<jr  '•  tattoo  for  hours  at  a  time.  If  you 
try  to  approacOi  one,  as  soon  as  a  certain  distance  is  reached  the  bird  will  sidle 
to  the  opposite  side  of  the  polo,  and  then  keep  peepiuff  around  the  corner  at 
whatever  has  excited  his  suspicions,  and  us  soon  as  it  thinks  it  has  a  <food 
opportunity  to  escape  it  will  fly  away  with  a  shrill  cry,  and  keep  the  pole  in 
line  between  it  and  yourself  for  protection.  Here  they  are  very  shy,  and 
re'nain  very  quiet  if  discovered.  They  feed  their  youn<f  on  black  ants  and 
other  insects,  which  they  i)ick  out  of  decayed  trees." 

Dr.  Clinton  T.  Cooke  fttuud  the  Ued-l»reasted  Sapsucker  moderately  com- 
mon in  the  vicinity  of  Salem,  Orejjfon,  and  took  two  sets  of  e{?<j:s  from  dead 
cottonwoods,  one  set  containinjr  five  fresh  e<f<>s,  on  May  12,  18X8,  the  other, 
also  of  five,  on  ilay  15,  18!)1,  in  which  incubation  had  connnenced.  The 
iie.stin{^  sites  were  situated  20  and  25  feet  from  the  ground.  Mr.  A.  W.  Anthtmy 
writes  mo  that  this  species  was  ratuer  common  in  Washiiig'ton  County,  Oregon, 

■  Land  Birds  of  the  Pacific  District,  Californl:!  Academy  <if  Science*,  II,  1890,  pp.  6G,  67. 


?!• 


TDK  IIKI)  BHRA8TKI)  SAPsnCKEB. 


93 


in  1885.  Il«)  li>ciit«Ml  two  piuM  in  ii  grovo  of  aldorH,  and  auotlier  wan  found 
uxcavatin^f  a  ntmtiii^f  Hitit  in  a  lii;;  lir  stuh,  fully  M  f(M>t  from  ilxt  ground,  on 
April  10.  Tlioy  Hi'i-int'd  to  prof»'r  tlit*  orclianU  to  tho  fonMtM,  altlioufjfh  timy 
wert*  often  H(>«*n  in  tliu  niapluH.  1I<^  alHo  olmorvtul  it  in  Marrli  nt>ar  KuHenada, 
LowtT  California. 

Ml.  Ii.  II.  Lawrcnco  nu»t  with  tliiH  Hpc'cicn  at  !Cid<;('(iold,  WaHliinffton,  on 
OctolMT  2,  18!I2.  Mr,  II.  MacKarlane  found  it  lir»'(;diiijr  mmr  Kort  St.  .lames, 
Stewart  Lake,  Hrititth  ('olumhia,  on  May  'if)  and  31,  1K8!),  and  Hi>nt  e^;;^  of  tliiH 
species,  and  also  a  youn;;  iiird  of  the  year,  taken  neir  liahim*,  somewhat  far- 
ther north,  to  the  I'nitetl  States  XatiiDial  Musemn.  It  reaches  the  northern 
limits  of  its  hreedin<;  ran^r(>  in  soutliern  Alaska.  A  specimen  taken  on  Juno 
."■),  1HH2,  near  Fort  Wraiijfel,  hy  .Mr.  W.  A.  dones,  is  now  in  the  United  States 
National  Musennt  collection. 

The  following-  account  U  taken  from  my  article  on  this  spt'cies  pid)lished 
in  "Tho  Auk"  (Vol.  V,  18S8,  pjt.  2-*!»-2;U),  only  a  few  chauffes  hein^r  made  in 
the  text : 

In  my  various  tmvels  throu<>-hout  tho  interior  of  Oreffon,  Nevada,  Wash- 
ington, and  Idaho.  coverin<j^  over  lifteen  years,  I  never  met  with  this  bird  till 
tlu^  sunnner  of  1882,  when  I  was  orden^l  to  takt*  station  at  Fort  Klamath, 
located  near  the  northern  end  of  Klamath  Lake,  in  the  southwestern  part  of 
Oreffon.  Hero  1  found  the  Ited-hreasted  Sapsucker  an  aliundant  sununer  resi- 
dent, and  I  have  no  doubt  a  few  of  these  liirds  winter  in  the  more  sheltered 
p(«*tions  of  the  deep  canyons  of  the  lower  Klamath  Uiver  ref^ion.  They  are 
amoii}^  the  earliest  birds  to  lu-rive  in  tlu!  sprinji;.  The  first  bird  of  this  species 
shot  by  me,  in  the  sprin;if  <tf  18H;{,  was  obtained  o'l  March  l.'J,  and  I  have  seen 
a  few  as  late  as  Novendier.  On  one  of  my  collectinj;  trips,  the  mornin<f  of 
.\pril  4,  1883,  while  ridin;;-  throu};h  a  patch  of  pine  tind»er,  near  Wood  River, 
the  principal  stream  ruiminf,''  throuj,di  the  center  of  Klamath  Valley,  I  noticed 
a  flock  of  those  birds,  at  least  twenty  in  nuud)er.  They  wore  very  iioisv,  ai)j)ar- 
entlv  ^lad  to  <ret  back  to  their  sunnner  homes,  and  seemed  to  have  an  excellent 
time  }ienerally,  flyiny  from  tree  to  tree  and  callinjc  to  each  other. 

As  I  wanted  a  couple  of  speciniens,  I  was  compelled  to  disturl)  their  jol- 
lification; those  |)rocared  were  l)oth  males,  svud  presumal)ly  the  entire  flock 
belon<fed  to  this  sex.  My  April  20  they  had  becom(!  very  common,  and  some 
pairs  at  least  were  mated  and  iiad  already  selected  their  future  domiciles,  in 
every  case  a  {food-sized  live  aspen  tree.  The  males  might  at  that  time  be  heard 
in  idmost  all  directions  drununin<y  on  some  dry  limb,  generally  the  dead  to])  of 
one  (»f  these*  trees.  They  scarcely  seemed  to  do  anything  else.  At  least  five 
pairs  nested  within  half  a  mile  of  my  house,  and  I  laul  excellent  oppttrtnuities 
to  observe  them.  Some  birds,  api)arently  more  industrious  than  others,  wouhl 
not  be  satisfied  with  one  hole,  and  excavated  several,  sometimes  all  in  the  same 
tree;  others  contented  themselves  with  a  single  one.  It  is  possible  that  the 
extra  ones,  after  being  begun,  were  abandoiunl,  either  being  found  to  be  too 
damp  inside  or  for  some  other  cau.se  unknown  to  me;  <»r  they  may  have  been 


ill 


■A- 


HM 


Mil 


m 


94 


LIFK  IIISTOKIES  OP  XOUTU  AMERICAN  UIKDS. 


niailo  l»y  tlio  inale  tor  his  own  tiso  to  ))as8  the  ni<^hts  in  and  be  olose  to  his  mate 
in  case  ot"  (laii<fer;  or,  a<,''ain,  jnst  to  keep  his  hill  in  chiselinff  imietice.  I  am 
niyselt"  inclined  to  think  that  the  female  does  nearly,  if  not  qnite  all,  the  work 
on  the  cavity  in  which  she  deposits  her  e<rg8. 

Tiiese  birds  an?  not  at  all  shy  during  the  breeding  season,  allowing  you  to 
approach  them  closely;  but  they  have  an  extraordinarily  keen  sense  of  hearing, 
1  freijuently  tried  to  sneak  up  to  a  tree  close  to  my  house  whi(rh  I  knew  had 
i)«'i!>  selected  l)y  a  pair  of  these  birds,  to  watch  them  at  work,  but  I  was  inva- 
riably detected  l)y  the  bird,  no  matter  how  carefulh*  1  tried  to  creep  up,  before 
I  was  aide  Ux  get  within  iJO  yards,  even  when  she  was  at  work  on  the  inside  of 
the  cavity  and  coulil  not  possibly  nee  me.  The  bird  would  cease  working  at 
once,  her  head  would  pop  out  of  the  hole  for  an  iustant,  and  the  surroundings 
be  surveyed  carefully.  If  I  kei)t  out  of  sight  and  perfectly  still,  she  would 
prol»al)ly  l)egin  working  again  a  few  minutes  afterwards,  but  if  I  moved  ever 
so  little,  witliout  even  making  the  least  noi.se,  in  my  own  estimation,  she  would 
notice  it  and  stop  working  again  at  once.  If  the  tree  were  approached  to*) 
do.sely,  .she  would  iiy  oil',  uttering  at  the  same  time  a  note  resend)ling  the  word 
'jay,'  or  'chiie,'  several  times  repeated,  which  would  invariably  bring  the  male 
around  also,  who  had  in  the  meantime  kept  himself  busy  in  some  other  tree, 
eitlicr  drunnning  or  hunting  for  food.  While  the  female  was  at  work  on  the 
inside  <tf  the  e.xcavation  the  male  woidd  fly  to  the  entrance,  from  time  to  time, 
and  look  in,  probably  asking  his  mate  how  her  work  was  coming  on,  how  soon 
the\'  might  l)egin  housekee])ing,  etc.;  and  at  other  times  he  would  hang,  for 
live  or  ten  minutes  even,  just  below  the  entrance  to  the  burrow,  in  a  dreamy 
sort  oC  study,  perfectly  motionless  and  seemingly  (hized,  evidently  thinking  of 
tlu^  family  responsibilities  tiiat  were  soon  to  come. 

I  am  inclined  to  think  that  this  species  does  not  indulge  in  tiie  hal)it  of 
girdling  trees  tor  the  sap  and  the  soft  inner  baiK  (caiiilnniu)  to  the  same  extent 
tiiat  Siilii/niiiiciis  niriiis  does — at  any  rate,  not  during  the  l)reeding  season. 
Thesi'  birds  were,  as  1  said  before,  extremely  abundant  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort 
Klamath,  and  this  being  the  case,  e\  idence  of  their  work  in  this  direction  should 
have  been  rather  coimnon.  I  do  not  rememl)er  having  seen  more  than  two 
instances  showing  extensive  and  systematic  signs  of  girdling — one,  a  medium- 
sized  Cottonwood  liml),  showed  tiie  punctures  all  over  for  a  distance  of  ii  feet; 
th(^  other,  a  species  of  mountain  ash,  on  which  none  of  the  shoots  were  over  3 
inches  through,  had  Iteeii  riddled  all  over  by  the  birds.  These  mountain-ash 
shrults,  none  of  wliicli  grow  to  any  size,  were  rare,  however,  in  that  vicinity. 

Throughout  its  range  1  think  this  species  breeds  frequently  at  lower  alti- 
tudes than  S/ilii/niiiiriis  rarius  iiticliulis.  Fiu-t  Klamath,  however,  altliough  but 
4,2iM*  teet  abovc^  sea  level,  has  a  very  cool  .sunmier  climate,  frosts  occurring  in 
almost  «'very  month  of  tiie  year.  The  surrounding  country  is  very  beautiful  at 
that  time.  Heavy,  open  forests  of  stately  ])ines  and  firs,  among  these  the  grace- 
ful ami  beautiful  sugar  piiie,  are  found  on  the  mountain  sides  and  reaching  well 
down  hito  the  green,  park-like  valleys.     Interspersed  here  and  there  are  asi)en 


THE  HKDBKKASTKn  SAl'SUCKEK. 


96 


jjrnves  of  viiriouH  extent,  tiii'lr  silvery  trunks  and  li<jflit-}freeii  t"i»liii<jo  l)len(ling 
iirtistii'iilly  witli  tlu'  sdiiiluT  };roen  of"  tlie  piiies.  TlieKO  aspen  }>Tuves  are  the 
sunnner  lionu^  nt"  the  Ued-lireastetl  Sapsucker. 

As  far  as  ni\'  own  ol)sei'vations  <i'o,  heaUliy,  sniootli-harked  aspens  are 
always  selected  as  suitable  nestiiij;'  sites  by  thes««  Itiids.  The  trees  used  vary 
from  \'2  to  IK  inches  in  diameter  near  the  ffround,  and  taper  very  j^radually. 


Tl 


a-  i'a\  it\   IS  usu 


dl\  excavateil  lielow  the  lirst  liml)  of  the  tree,  sav  from  ir»  to 


2/)  feet  from  the  {fround.  The  entraiu'e  hole  seems  to  he  ridiculously  small  for 
the  size  of  tla^  bird — perfectly  circular,  from  1  |  to  lA  inches  in  diameter  only — 
so  small,  indeed,  that  it  seems  as  if  it  took  considerable  efl'ort  for  the  bird  to 
s(pieeze  liimself  in  and  wriyjjle  out  of  the  hole. 

'i'lm  n'ourd-shaped  excavation  vavies  in  de]»th  from  C  to  10  inchtis,  and  it 
is  from  .'5  inches  near  the  to|>  to  4  or  "i  inches  wide  at  the  l)ottom.  'I'he  liner 
chips  are  allowed  to  remain  in  the  i>ottom,  forminj'-  the  nest  pro|)er,  on  which 
the  e}^}|:s  are  dejiosited.  KHMpiently  the\-  are  niori-  than  half  covered  by  thes(f 
chips.     The  interior  of  the  entire  excavation  is  most  carefully  snujothed  off. 


which  nuist  consume  consideralile  tim 


consHlermj'' 


the   loujih,   str 


muv, 


am 


elastic  nature  of  the  wood  when  filled  witli  sap,  makin^i'  it  even  more  <litlicult  to 
work  when  jtartly  decayed,  which  seems  to  be  the  case  with  nearly  all  aspi-ns 
<if  any  size.  I'roi)ably  ei<iht  or  ten  days  are  consumed  in  excavatinf^-  a  .satis- 
f'actor\'  nestin<r  site.  All  the  larjicr  and  coarser  chips  are  dropped  out  of  the 
hole  and  scattered  aitout  the  \y,\sr  of  tin-  tree.  From  the  (piantity  of  these 
found   uiuler  every  tree  occupied  by  thes(^  birds  durinj;-  the  nesting'  season  of 


is,sa,  1 


un   I 


nclined  lo  believe  that  thev  are  onlv  satisfied  with  an  entirelv 


1  not 


suniiiv  witn  an  o 


th 


.Id 


one  icpaired  fo  answer 


new  nesting;-  site  every  year,  aiu 

the  pur|)ose.     'I'huse  same  chips  are  an  extremely  simi»le  and  sure  jjuide  to  their 

nest. 

In  huntinj;'  for  them   I  looked  for  tlu!  chips  on  the  j;rouial  first,  and  after 

In 


lindin;;'  these  it  did  not  take  lonji'  to  find  the  hole  from  which  they  cam 
this  maimer  it  was  an  easy  matter  to  find  their  nest,  and  I  took  no  less  than 
fifteen  sets  of  their  e^^^s  in  a  siiiyle  season,  and  mij;lit  lia\e  taken  more  had  I 
been  so  inclinetl,  espi-ciallv  1)V  followinji'  up  the  itirds  for  their  second  sei,  when- 
they  had   iieeii  robbed  |)r(!viously.      Ordinarily  but  one    brood  is  raised  in  a 


season. 


The   numlier  of  cfiji's  varies   from  five  to  six  to  a  set.      Full  sets  of  fresh 


cfiji's  ina\   he  looiced  lor  in 


I  f( 


that 


loca 


litv  from   Mav  ■_'(»  to  J 


une  ;>,  anit 


I   h 


ive 


taken  nearly  fresh  ejijjs  as  late  as.Iiine  Hi.    1  took  m\- first  .set  on  Mav  '2'6,  lss;{. 


t  contained  six  fresh  etfu's,  and  tiie  cavitv  was  a 


I  bout 


(  iiicnc 


lies  d( 


tl 


le  entrance 
as  usual  a 


aitout  s  inches  la-low  and  directly  under  the  first  limb  of  the  tri 

live  aspen,  about  IS  feet  from  tlie  ••■round.     While  the  ne.st  was  beiii<i-  rifled  of 

its  contents   both   parents  flew   about  the  upper  limbs  of  the  tree,  utteriiiji-  a 


nuiiil) 


)er  of  (liftereiit  soiiiiilinji-,  plaintive  cries,  fike  'peeye,   'pii 


liki 


and 


some  o 


f  tl 


lese  reseiiilinii"' 


K'urr, 


somewhat  t\w  purriiifr  of  a  «'at  when  pleased  and 
rubbiu"-  a»ainst  \our  ley.     I  usi'd  to  note  the  difl'ereiit  sounds  in  a  small  note- 


im 


VI 


u 


96 


Lll' K  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


'.    . 


book  at  tlio  viTv  time,  but  Hfiirculy  ever  put  them  down  alike;  eacli  time  tliey 
appeared  a  tiitie  diti'ereiit  ti>  the  ear,  and  it  is  a  liard  matter  to  express  them 
exactly  on  paper. 

'riie  I'fffis,  when  fresh  and  before  blowinfj:,  like  those  of  all  Woodpeckers, 
show  tile  yolk  t]n"oii<rli  the  translucent  shell,  ffivinf:^  them  a  beautiful  pinkish 
Hp[)earau('e,  as  well  as  a  stsries  of  straight  lines  or  streaks,  of  a  more  pronounced 
white  than  the  rest  of  the  shell,  running'  toward  and  converging  at  the  smaller 
axis  of  the  egg.  After  blowing,  the  pink  tint  will  be  found  to  have  disappeared 
and  the  v<x<i;  changed  to  a  pure,  delicate  white,  the  shell  showing  a  moderate 
amount  of  luster.  There  is  considerable  variation  in  their  shape,  runmng  as 
they  do  tiwough  all  the  ditt'erent  ovates  to  an  elongated  ovate. 

tiotii  st'X((s  assist  in  incubation,  which  lasts  from  twelve  to  fourteen  days, 
I  think.  Tlieir  food  consists  princii)ally  of  grubs,  larvjv  of  insects,  ants,  various 
species  of  lepi(h>ptera,  wliidi  they  catch  on  the  wing,  like  Flycatchers,  and 
berries.  Of  tiie  latter  (piite  a  number  of  ditlerent  edil)le  s])ecies  are  found 
about  Fort  Klamath,  and  they  seem  to  be  especially  fond  of  wild  strawberries, 
which  grow  there  in  abundance  The  young,  after  leaving  the  nest,  stick  to  the 
tree  in  which  tliey  were  hatched  for  the  first  day  or  two,  without  venturing  to  fly. 

Tlie  l)eautiful  carmine  or  crimson  on  the  head  and  breast  in  the  adults  is 
replaced  l>y  claret-brown  in  the  young,  varying  in  amoiuit  and  intensity  in 
different  individuals;  in  some  it  is  very  distinct  and  prevalent.  The  yellow,  so 
plainly  noticeabh;  on  the  belly  of  adidt  birds,  is  also  wanting  in  the  young. 
Tlie  colors  throughout  are  much  duller  and  the  general  pattern  less  distinct. 
]iy  the  latter  })art  of  Septeml)er  the  majority  of  these  birds  leave  for  their 
winter  haunts,  only  a  few  stragglers  remaining.  I'hese  are  pos.sibly  birds  that 
breed  farther  northward  and  winter  in  the  warm  valleys  of  northern  California, 
and  are  tiien  comparatively  near  tlie  end  of  their  migration,  reuiaining  in  the 
Klamath  \  alli'v  region,  where  there  is  always  an  al)undance  of  food  for  the 
Woodpecker  family,  judging  from  the  nund)i'r  of  diflerent  species  of  the.se  birds 
found  tiiere  throughout  the  year,  till  the  heavy  winter  .snows  drive  out  the  less 
hardy,  among  wiiicli  the  Hed-breasted  Sapsucker  must  be  included. 

While  stationed  at  Fort  Klamath,  Oregon,  I  took  especial  pains  to  collect  a 
good  series  of  l»oth  adult  and  young  birds  of  this  species,  as  well  as  a  number  of 
sets  of  their  eggs,  and  devoted  considerable  time,  at  no  little  inconvenience  to 
myself,  to  ob.serve  their  general  habits  closely.  Although  my  perscmal  observa- 
tions differ  materially  from  those  of  other  naturalists  (see  'History  of  Nortii 
American  Minis,'  l)y  l^aird,  Hrewer,  and  Ridgway,  Vol.  II,  ])p.  044  and  r)4r)),  I 
am  confident  that  they  will  be  found  substantially  correct  by  future  observers. 

The  average  mi^asurement  of  seventy-two  sj)ecimens  in  the  United  States 
National  Museum  c(dIection  is  23.. "57  by  17.5S  millimetres,  or  about  0.92  by  ().()!• 
inch.  The  largest  0}>:<<;  of  the  series  measures  25.40  by  17.78  millimetres,  or 
1.00  by  0.70  inch;  the  .smallest,  21.84  by  17.27  millimeters,  or  0.8G  by  0.68  inch. 

Tiie  ty])e  specimen.  No.  19395  (not  figured),  from  a  set  of  six  eggs,  was 
taken  by  the  writer  near  Fort  Klamath,  Oregon,  on  May  23,  1883. 


WILLIAMSON'S  SAPSUCKKU. 


97 


37.     Sphyrapicus  thyroideus  ((Jassin). 

WII.LIAMSON'8  SAl'SUCKER. 

PivuH  tInjroideiiM  Cassin,  I'roceediiifjs  Aciulciiiy  of  Niitural  Sciences,  I'hilmlelphia,  1850, 

1.S.51,  M'J. 
SphyriipicH*  thyroideiiji  Uaiki),  Birds  of  North  Aiiiorlcn,  1858,  KMi. 
(IJ  88,  8»;  (1  .{04,  305;  U  .{TO;  C  W!t;   U  404.) 

(iEoobaphical  isanok:  Western  North  America;  from  the  eastern  slojies  of  the 
Rocky  Mouiitiiins  west  to  tlic  I'acilic.  coast,  and  from  Arixonu  and  New  Mexico  northwest- 
ward to  soutiiern  liritish  ('ohimbia;  east,  in  winter  o'>dy,  to  western  Texas  (Concho  und 
Tom  <ireeii  counties);  south  to  Jalisco,  Mexico. 

The  soiitlieni  limits  of  tho  hruediujr  rjiuffn  of  Williiinison's  Sapsncker,  also 
known  as  tlii'  '■  Ulack-hn-asted,"  "  Urown,"  anil  "  Konnd-Iicadcd"  Woodpccki-r,  as 
far  us  tlu'V  can  ho  di^lined  at  prt'scnt,  (extend  throu^^li  the  liifihcr  nionntain  ranjics 
of  luM'tlu-rn  Now  Moxico,  sncli  as  tlio  Hlack  mid  ('uloltra  mountains,  tlio  Mof;dl- 
lon  and  San  Francisco  mountains  of  Arizona,  and  northward  aloni"'  tlu^  eastern 
slopes  of  the  Uoeky  Mountains,  where  it  has  as  yet  been  found  i»reedin}'-only  in 
Colorado.  However,  as  .several  specimens  hav(^  heen  taken  on  Laramit^  I'eak,  in 
southeastern  Wyomin<>',  in  Au<;;ust,  this  would  indicate  that  it  hroeds  at  least  as 
far  north  in  this  direction.  I  have  been  tmable  to  find  any  records  for  Jfontana. 
The  northern  limits  of  its  sunnnor  ran<;e  on  the  Pacific  ("oast  include  southern 
British  Columbia,  where  it  has  been  taken  near  Similkameeu  in  June,  1HH2,  and 
it  breeds  throughout  the  Cascade  Mountains  of  VVasliin<;ton  and  Orej^fon  and 
southward  throu<>h  the  Sierra  Nevadas,  in  .southern  California. 

Mr.  V.  Stephens  writes  me:  "I  have  fovmd  Sitlii/nipiiiis  fhifroiifrii.s  feedinjj^ 
their  younf>-  in  Taquitch  Valley,  in  the  San  .Jacinto  Mountains,  in  southern  Cali- 
fornia, on  .Fune  20,  lS!>i{,  at  an  altitude  of  al)out  7,000  feet,  and  .shot  the  female. 
"^I'he  nest  was  sonuf  4.")  feet  from  the  ground,  in  a  dead  and  broken  fork  of  an 
otherwi.se  f^reeu  fir.  'I'he  nest  contained  three  younjr,  one  of  which  laid  dead 
and  decomposinfi'  in  tiie  Itottom  of  tint  nest;  the  others  were  but  a  few  days  old. 
In  the  week  f'ollowin;^'  I  saw  several  more  adu'ts  of  this  species,  between  7,000 
and  S,r)00  feet  altitude,  and  succeeded  in  shootinj^-  two  more.  The  locality 
where  they  were  obtained  is  in  about  latitude  3i}°  50'.  I  have  also  taken  it 
near  Fort  liayard,  New  Mexico." 

Mr.  Robert  Hid<>way  obtained  specinu'us  near  Car.son  City,  Nevada,  anxl  at 
Parley's  Park,  in  the  Wahsatch  Mountains,  in  Utah,  where  it  is  known  to  breed, 
and  J[r.  II.  W.  llenshaw  found  it  to  be  a  fairly  eonmu»n  sumnu'r  resident  in  the 
mountains  near  Fort  (jarland,  in  southern  Cidorado. 

Mr.  W.  (J.  Smith  writes  me:  "Williamson's  Sapsucker  is  a  common  summer 
resident  in  Kstes  Park,  (jolorado,  where  it  nests  mo.stly  in  dead  pint^s,  often  within 
a  few  feet  of  the  ijronnd,  and  a<>ain  as  hijrh  as  70  feet  up.  Full  sets  of  fresh 
ef>}is  are  usually  found  here  during'  the  first  week  in  June.  Tlui  nudi*  appear-s 
to  UK*  to  do  most  of  the  incubatiu"',  and  hereabouts  it  is  most  often  found  at 
altitudes  between  7,000  and  8,000  feet,  but  I  have  also  taken  it  at  much  higher 
ones,  where  it  nests  somewhat  later." 

ItiSlW— Nu.  3 7 


m 


■rM 


■'Mis 

1.     «.    1    1 

■if  '"ii 


•f 


w 


II" 


''II 


» 


m 


:^l 


98 


LIFE  UlSTOl'lES  OF  NORTH  AMEltlCAN  BIRDS. 


Mr.  Lyman  IWdin;;,  in  liis  "Land  Birds  of  tlio  Pacific  District,"  speaking'  of 
this  species,  says:  "Ttderahly  connnon  from  about  7,(K)(>  feet  upward  in  summer, 
often  breedinji'  in  livinfj  tamaracks  anil  covered  witli  their  resinous  juice.  In 
winter  down  to  about  tlie  lower  edf^i'  of  the  sw^kir  pine  (IHuiis  himhert'iuua), 
ahitude  ai)out  2,r)()0  feet,  i»ut  rare  here,  and  mostly  female  or  youn^  birds  found 
so  low,  while  at  \\\\r  Trees,  Calaveras  (^tunty,  ("alifornla,  January  ()-13,  1879, 
1  ffot  thirteen  adult  males.  In  the  breedinj;'  season  they  are  most  numerous  in 
the  valleys,  as  at  IMoods,  Hermit  Valley,  Blue  iiakes,  etc.  Their  burrows  vary 
from  f)  to  6  fe^'t  up  to  30  or  40  feet.  The  youiifi'  were  still  in  their  nests  at 
Bloods,  July  21,  188(»,  but  in  1881  they  were  about  a  month  earlier."' 

The  followiiifif  account  i.>i  taken  from  my  article  on  this  species  jiublished 
in  "The  Auk"  (Vol.  V,  188H,  jtp.  23r)-23!>),  a  few  alterations  bein^  made  in  it: 

This  interesting;'  Wooilpecker  is  so  uni<|ue  in  the  entire  difference  (»f  color- 
ation of  the  se.xes  that  for  a  lon<;'  time  they  were  considered  and  described  as 
sei)arate  species.  It  remained  for  Mr.  II.  W.  Ilenshaw,  when.attached  as  naturalist 
to  Lieut,  (leoriife  M.  Wheeler's  expedition,  enj^a^nMl  upon  the  f^eoffraphical 
exphtration  of  (Ndorado  and  New  Mexic(),  in  1873.  to  establish  their  identity, 
he  findinjr  the  supjiosed  two  species  paired  and  breedin<>',  near  Fort  Garland, 
Colorado,  in  June  of  that  year.  Like  Siilii/nipiriis  rariHs  nticlialis,  it  has  an 
equally  wide  and  extended  ran<;;e,  reachinff  from  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Rocky 
Mcmntains  to  tlie  western  spin's  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  and  Cascade  ranjres  in 
California  and  ( >re<>'on.  In  its  habits,  however,  it  dift'ers  considerably  from  the 
three  other  species  of  the  };'enus  S/tlii/nipinis^M  of  which  seem  to  prefer  rej^ions 
aboundinjf  in  deciduous  trees,  and  usijiji'  these,  as  far  as  at  present  known,  almost 
exclusivelyfornestinjipurposes,  while  Williamson's  Sapsuckerj^ives  the  preference 
to  coniferous  forests,  selectin<i'  ]»ines  to  breed  in,  at  least  as  frequently  as  aspens, 
and,  accordin<i'  to  my  own  obs^Tvations,  oftener  than  the  latter. 

Althoufi'h  it  undi)ubtedly  occurs  in  the  ref>'ion  interveninj;  between  the 
Rockies  on  the  east  ami  the  Cascades  (m  the  west,  I  can  not  jiositively  recall  a 
sin<>le  instance  where  1  have  si-en  this  bird  in  the  entire  mountain  sy.stem, 
be<;innin<>'  at  the  Bitter  Root  Ranjre,  in  Montana,  in  the  east,  followin<f  the  contin- 
Ucation  of  this  throu<ih  the  Blue  Mountains  of  Washinfjton  and  Orej^on,  as  well  as 
in  most  of  the  Salmon  River  mountain  country  in  Idaho,  till  I  first  met  with  it 
on  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  C-ascade  Ranj^e,  near  Fort  Klamath,  Oregon,  in  the 
autunm  of  1882.  It  was  here  Dr.  .1.  S.  Newbeny  obtained  the  type  of  the 
so-called  ' Sphi/iviiints  irilHaiiisoiii.''  Here  I  saw  it  for  the  first  time  on  Septend)er 
23,  and  as  late  as  Novend)er  8  of  the  same  year,  takin;i'  specimens  on  both  dates. 
Stran<>e  to  say,  all  the  birds  I  saw  and  secured  for  a  period  coveriufj'  about  five 
weeks,  at  that  time,  were  females;  and  I  oidy  succeeded  on  October  28  in  seein<j[ 
and  obtainiufr  my  first  male  of  this  species.  It  was  taken  under  rather  peculiar 
circumstii  I  had  oidy  to  walk  a  C(iui)le  of  hundred  yards  from  my  lumse 

to  find  I  i  a  fine,  open  j)ine  forest,     (iun  in  hand,  I,  as  usual,  t^ok  a  short 

stroll  tiiii    .iiorninfr,  foUowinj.''  clo.se  alonjr  the  banks  of  Fort  Creek,  directly  east 

'OrcnHiDiiiil  I'iipcru,  C'ulifnrnia  Acaclriiiy  of  Stinicfs,  II,  1S!K),  pii.  tiT,  (!8. 


WILLIAMSON'S  SAPSUOKEB. 


99 


of  tho  Post,  and  I  had  not  procoeded  more  than  half  a  mile  from  my  house 
wIkmi  I  saw  two  lualoH  chaHinfr  oach  other  about  a  dead  jjine  stump,  and  utter- 
'm<!:  at  the  same  time  shrill  cries.  These  cries  attracted  my  attention  to  the 
birds.  I  tried  to  {^et  within  ordinary  sliootinfj:  distance,  but  they  took  alarm 
and  flew  in  opposite  directions  bef(»re  I  was  near  enoufj^h.  Nevertheless,  I  took 
a  snap  shot  at  the  one  nearest  to  me;  but  it  continued  its  tlifjht,  apparently  miin- 
jured,  crossing  the  creek,  about  (iO  yards  in  advance  of  me,  which  was  too  deep 
and  cold  for  me  to  ford,  and,  nnich  to  my  disjifust,  disappeared  in  the  heavier  pine 
tind)er  on  the  opposite  side,  without  stoppinjy  while  it  was  in  sijyht.  As  it  was 
useless  as  well  as  impracticable  to  follow  thi»  one,  1  kej)t  on  in  the  direction  the 
other  had  taken,  but  failed  to  see  it  a<fain.  Fully  an  hour  afterwards,  on  my 
way  back  to  the  Post,  and  when  within  a  few  yanh  of  the  j)lace  where  I 
first  noticed  the  two  birds;  tired  out  and  disfrusted,  I  sat  down  on  an  old  lo<>-  and 
was  taking  a  rest,  absorbed  in  reHections  on  my  bad  luck,  when,  from  (juite  a 
distance,  1  noticed  a  black-looking  bird  flying  toward  me,  coming  from  the 
ojiposite  side  of  the  creek,  and  from  the  same  direction  the  one  I  shot  at  had 
taken  earlier  in  the  morning.  Its  flight  was  so  peculiar  and  strange,  constantly 
sinking,  tiiat  I  refrained  from  shooting  when  it  lirst  came  within  range.  No 
wondei';  it  was  its  last  expiring  eff"ort,  and  it  actually  dropped  within  a  yard  of 
where  I  was  sitting.  It  was  iniquestionably  the  very  bird  I  had  shot  fit  more 
tliim  an  hour  before;  no  one  else  was  out  hunting  at  the  time,  as  no  other  shots 
were  heard.  A  single  No.  12  j)ellet  had  penetrated  the  lungs,  and  the  bird,  in 
its  dying  struggle,  had  evidently  tried  to  reach  the  same  stump  again  on  which 
I  first  noticed  it. 

My  earliest  record  for  1883,  on  which  date  I  obtained  a  male  specimen, 
was  March  20.  It  seems  to  me  to  be  a  more  siditary  bird  than  Splii/nipicHs  nihrr. 
I  never  saw  more  than  two  together  or  in  close  i)roximity  of  each  other.  It  is 
also  more  shy,  and  does  not  allow  it.self  to  be  approached  so  reailily  as  either  of 
the  preceding  species.  Its  breeiling  range  extend.s,  near  Fort  Klamath,  from  an 
altitude  of  alxmt  .'),()()0  feet  to  the  higlier  peaks  of  the  Cascade  Hange,  which 
attain  in  that  vicinity  a  height  of  about  !>,()0()  feet.  On  the  mountain  sh)pes 
about  Crater  Lake  it  seems  to  l)e  most  abundant,  but  not  as  much  so  as  is  Sphi/ra- 
picKs  ruber  in  the  lower  valle}',  where  almost  every  aspen  j^rove  harbors  a  i)air 
of  these  birds. 

Crater  Lake  itself  is  such  a  strangely  interesting  and  unique  freak  of  nature, 
the  peer  in  sublime  grandeur  of  the  Yosemite  Valley,  in  California,  and  the 
Yellowstone  Park,  with  its  grand  canyons  and  geysers,  in  Wyoming,  and  so 
little  known  withal,  that  i  will  give  a  short  descrii>tion  of  it  as  it  appeared  in 
"Phe  Auk:"  "The  lake  is  about  7.^  miles  long  and  (J  wide,  and  unlike  anything 
found  in  this  or  any  other  country.  It  is  situated  on  the  sunnnit  of  the  Cascade 
Kange,  about  25  miles  north  of  P\>rt  Klamath,  at  an  altitude  of  about  7,500 
feet;  the  highest  peak  in  the  vicinity  reaches  up  to  9,000  feet.  The  rocky  walls 
surrounding  it  on  all  sides  are  nowhere  less  than  1,000  feet  and  in  places  more 
than  2,000  feet  high,  at  many  points  almost  perpendicular,  so  that  a  stone  can 


ly  ? 


'■'§ 

■Mi 

■■.■■  '*.  =1 


.     .u 

'i'k 

§ 

,      ■  '■■■  * 

ItMJ 


LIFK  IIISTOUIES  OF  NOUTU  AMKKICAN  BIUDS. 


.,'■  ♦ 


■■'*.. 


bo  tlirown  without  strikiii^j-  aiiytliiiijj:  i>n  its  way  till  it  rcjiciu's  the  wat«'r,  fully 
2,U0()  fV'<^t  Ik'Iow.  It  is  said  to  l)o  s<>nu>  1,M()()  tin-t  dt'cp,  an<l  in  placi-s  is  |»rui»- 
ably  more.  Ouo  can  not  realize  the  niafrnituih!  of  t!iis  hole  in  the  jiTound  with- 
out seein}"'  it.  A  mountain  the  s'y/.v  ot"  .Mount  Washinjiton,  the  hijihest  peak  of  the 
White  Mountains,  in  N(>w  Hampshire,  mi^ht  he  dumped  into  it  and  not  till  it  up 
then.  The  water  is  beautifully  clear  and  deep  aziu-e  Idue  in  eidor;  the  only 
livinji'  thiu}r  seen  near  it  on  a  visit  to  the  lake  on  .luly  '-'7,  IKH2,  was  a  solitary 
female  Wandering  Tatler  {llctrtdctilis  iiiiKiiiis),  apparently  Ncry  correctly  named. 
An  island,  covered  with  ;j(iod-sized  trees,  rises  out  of  the  water  to  a  height  of 
nearly  a  tln>usand  feet,  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake.  It  is  composiHl  mostly  of 
volcanic  scoria-  and  pumice,  ami  evidently  was  tlu^  principal  cone  of  the  now 
extinct  crater,  traces  of  whose  activity  in  former  times,  in  tlu*  shape  of  heavy 


IIUl 


nice  deposits,  can  Ik^  foimd  for  oO  mih^s  iidaml  to  the  east. 


tl 


on  the  roa( 


Ifi 


the  I>eschutes  Itiver  to  Kort  Klamath.     There  is  oidy  one  place  from  which  tlio 
shore  of  the  lake  can  be  reached  with  com|iarative  safety,  and  even  from  there 


it  is  I 


)v  no  means  an  eas\'  matter. 


Mr.  (iale,  who  is  quite  familiar  with  this  species,  writes  me  that  in  Ooloradu 


they  nest  sometimes  at  an  altitude  of  10, 0(10  feet,  and  that  they  are  {generally 
distributed  between  that  limit  and  S,000  feet.  The  ne.stinji'  sites,  lie  says,  are  as 
often  met  with  in  moderately  thick  woods  as  in  the  more  open  clearinjjs  and 
i.solated  pine  trees  and  shrul)s,  the  only  coiulition  ^iiidinj;-  their  choice  of  a  home 
beiiiff  a  sheltiM'  from  the  stronj^-  west  wimls.  .My  own  ol»servatit>ns  af^ree  j)retty 
well  with  his.  lie  says:  ".V  marked  peculiarity  I  have  noted  with  Sjthi/ni/ncK-s 
tlii/roidcii.s  is  that  the  male  takes  a  lookout  station  upon  some  suitalde  tree,  where, 
at  the  approach  of  any  possii)le  dan^^cr,  he  };ivt's  the  alarm  by  strikinj^  a  short 
dry  limit  with  his  l)ill,  l)y  which  a  pecidiar  vibratiui;-  sound  is  ;;i\en  out,  which 
the  female,  not  ver\'  distant,  fullv  understands,  and  is  at  oi 


ice  on  the 


th 


lert. 


If 


either  excavatm^^',  j;uarilm^',  or  coverin;;-  lier  eji'^^s    she  wi 


sh 


immeiliatelv   look 


out  of  her  burrow,  and,  slioidd  the  intiuder's  path  lie  in  tlm  direction  of  her 
nust,  she  will  silently  slip  away  and  ali>iht  in  a  tree  .some  distance  otV,  but 
in  view  of  both  her  nest  and  the  intruder.      The  first   or  second  blow  of  a 


•kl 


ler  move- 


hatchet  upon  the  tree  trunk  in  whicii  the  nest  is  excavated  will  ma 
ment  a<4aiu  by  a  short  Hijiilit,  so  mauaj;'ed  as  not  to  increase  the  distance — in 
fact  oftener  coming'  nearer.  When  satislicii  that  her  treasiu-es  have  been  dis- 
covered, she  utters  a  pt  'uliar,  low,  fjratin^-  sound,  not  unlike  the  i)urrin<i'  of  a 


cat.    The  male  tliei 


I  col 


ties  to  till'  fore  and  bravinii'  the  danyer, 


IS  \  erv  courajreous, 


urn 


1,  should   the  efi'^^s   be   far  advanced  in  incubation,  he   will   even   enter  tl 


le 


nest  when  you  are  almost  within  reach  of  it.  When  the  latter  is  riHed,  he  is 
always  the  first  to  f-o  in  and  discover  the  fact,  often  passin-;-  in  and  out  sesei'al 
times  in   a   surprised    sort   of  maimer.      The   lar;;'e,   fi'apin;;'  openin;;'   made  by 


the  roblter's  hatchet  he  seems  to  i<>iiiire  al 


tou-etl 


ler. 


To  1 


irn  it  seems  impos- 


sible that  a  few  minutes  only  sufhces  to  cut  tliroufih  the  wall  of  wood  that  took 
his  inat(!  as  many  days  of  hard  laiior  to  accomplish.  I'l-eseiitly  he  is  joined  bv 
the  female,  a  joint  insjiection  is  made,  a  verdict  of  jiraiid  larceny  (juickly  reaclud, 


WILLI AMSOX'H  HAPSICKER. 


101 


and  tlio  conclusion  arrived  at:   'Well,  wo  sliall  liavi;  to  try  ajrain,  witli  tlie  liojKi 
of  iK'ttcr  luck  next  time.'" 

Nidirication  is  similar  to  that  of  tlio  other  species  of  the  fjenns,  with  the 
exce|)ti(»n  already  mentioned,  of  the  <liH'erenc(!  in  the  kind  of  trees  preferred. 
The  heiffht  of  nestinjf  .sites  varices  consideraldy,  say  from  o  to  (10  feet,  and  jier- 
haps  still  moi'e  in  exceptional  cases.  Fresh  efrj^s  may  lie  looked  for,  accordin^i" 
to  altitude,  from  May  •_'(»  to  .lune  la;  on  May  •2(1,  1H,S7,  Mr.  (Jale  took  a  line 
set  of  six,  which  1  juiific  to  have  l)een  perfectly  fresh,  from  the  ex((uisite  maimer 
in  whicli  tiiey  are  ]irepared. 

I  ol)tained  my  fu'st  set  of  cirfTs  of  this  specie's  on  June  3,  lSSi{,  ahout  1> 
miles  north  of  For)  Klamath,  in  the  open  pine  forest  on  the  road  to  (.'rater  Lake. 
It  consisted  of  five  e;ins,  sli<ihtly  incubated.  The  nestin<:f  site  was  excavated 
in  a  parti\'  decayed  pine  who.se  entire  top  for  some  20  feet  was  dead;  the  heijjht 
of  the  excavation  from  the  firound  was  ahout  W  feet.  The  man  dindiiii}''  the* 
tree  re|)orted  it  to  lie  alioiit  S  ini'hes  dee|i  and  about  a  inches  wide  at  the  bottom, 
and  freshly  maile.  A  second  set,  of  six  fresh  "'ji'^rs,  was  taken  .lune  12  of  the 
same  vear,  about  12  miles  north  of  the  I'ost,  at  a  still  hi<jher  altitude  than  the 
tirst  one.  It  canu^  also  out  of  a  pine  iiliout  40  feet  from  the  (ground.  A  third 
nest,  found  a  week  later,  near  the  same  jilace,  contained  five  y«iun<,'',  Just  hatched. 
This  nest  was  in  a  dead  aspen,  about  20  feet  from  the  {ground.  Oidy  one  brood 
is  raised,  and,  like  the  two  other  species,  it  is  only  a  sunnner  resident,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Fort  Klamath.  Its  food  stu'ins  to  con.sist  almost  exclusively  of  in.sect8 
and  their  larva',  various  species  of  le|iidoptera,  and  an  occasional  <;rasshopper. 
Merries,  I  think,  are  seldom  eaten  by  them. 

I  have  found  fully  Hedjied  yoiniji'  in  .Fidy;  a  youu'f  female,  shot  .Tuly  21, 
must  have  left  the  nest  certainly  by  the  be<iinnin<r  of  the  month.  WluMi  the 
youufi'  are  lar<ie  enough  to  tly,  they  are  not  at  ;\11  rare  at  the  lower  altitude  of 
Fort  Klamatii..  They  show  the  same  diH'erences  in  coloration  in  the  sexes  in 
their  first  jilumaj^-e,  with  tlie  followinj«- exceptions:  The  younjj  males  lack  the  red 
on  the  throat,  which  is  rejilaced  liy  dirty  white;  the  sulphur  yellow  on  the  lower 
jiarts  is  mostly  wantinji',  a  slinht  trace  of  it  beinj;'  noticealile  on  some  sjiecimens; 
and  the  lilack  on  the  liack  is  nnicli  didler.  The  youn^'  females  diH'er  likewise  by 
the  absence  of  yellow  on  the  belly,  tins  black  pat<'h  on  the.breast  is  wantin<jr,  the 
markings  and  barrings  on  the  upper  parts  are  less  distinct,  and  the  colors  jjen- 
erally  duller.  In  its  uudulatinjj'  Hijiht  from  tree  to  tree  this  species  utters  a 
shrill  note,  like  "hiiit,  liuit." 

Williamson's  Woodpecker  winters  in  the*  lower  valleys  and  fo<it  hill  rcfyion.s 
in  the  southern  half  of  California,  and  southward  in  the  pine  forests  ot  Arizona, 
New  Mexico,  western  Texas,  and  probably  als<i  in  similar  localities  of  northern 
.Mexico.  The  number  of  e;"<fs  laid  to  a  set  varies  from  three  to  seven,  sets  of 
five  or  six  beiufi'  most  often  foinid.  Tlui.se,  like  all  Woodpecker's  ejj'g's,  are  jiure 
cliina-whitc^  in  color;  the  shell  is  close  grained,  rather  thin,  and  only  slightly 
glossy.  In  shape  they  vary  from  ovate  to  (>longate  ovate,  and  a  few  ajiproach 
an  ovate  pyriform,  a  sliajie  apparently  not  found  in  the  eggs  of  the  other  species 
tif  this  geiuis. 


^  •••>» 


*:u 


a  .  ■■■■» 


it 


102 


LIFE  UISTOIUKS  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


The  averajre  nieiwurement  of  thirty-four  Hpt'ciniens  in  the  United  States 
National  Museum  colhH'tion  m  '24.20  by  17.1!<  inillimetres,  or  about  O.!*.')  hj- 0.1)8 
int'h.  Tlie  larprest  ejj^  of  tlio  series  nicaHurcs  2.').40  by  17.78  millimetres,  or 
1.00  by  0.70  hu'h;  the  smallest,  22.35  by  1G.51  millimetres,  or  0.88  by 
0.(ir>  inch. 

The  typo  8i)eeim('n,  No.  liMOit  (not  fi}rnre<l),  from  a  set  of  five  eggs,  was 
taken  by  the  writer  near  Fort  Klamath,  ()regt)n,  on  .Tune  3,  1883. 


Hi 


.'A 

w 


tlli 


V. 


38.     Ceophlceus  pileatus  (Linn.eus). 

I'lLKATEU  WOOUPKCKEK. 

Picun  pileatus  Linnaeus,  Systema  Natura-,  ed.  10,  1, 1758, 113. 
C[eophleeu8]  pileatus  Cabams,  Journal  fiir  Oriiitliologie,  1802,  176. 

(B  00,  C  1'94,  R  .371,  C  43L>,  U  40.5.) 

tiEoouAi'nicAL  RANCJE:  Moie  or  leas  irregalarly  distributiid  tlirongh  the  heavier 
wooded  di.sti'icts  of  North  Ainerietv,  excepting  Ni;\vfoundhiud,  Labrador,  the  shores  of 
Hudson  Bay.  and  those  portions  of  the  Northwest  Territory,  in  tlie  Dominion  of  Canada, 
north  of  latitude  (W°.  In  tlie  United  States,  apparently  absent  or  very  rare  in  the  south- 
ern Rocky  Mountains,  and  in  the  Territory  of  Alaska.  Rare  or  extiri)ated  in  the  more 
thickly  settled  parts  of  the  eastern  United  States. 

The  Pileated  Woodpecker,  also  known  in  different  sections  as  "Cock  of 
the  Woods,"  "Logcock,"  "Woodcock,"  "lilack  Log"  or  "Black  Woodcock," 
"Johnny  Cock,"  "Wood-hen,"  " Woodchuck,"and,  according  to  Mr.  R  F.  Gault, 
by  the  peculiar  name  of  "Good-Gods"  in  southeastern  Missouri,  is  generally 
resident  and  breeds  wherever  found,  although  in  winter  it  may  sometimes  rove 
about  more  or  less,  according  to  the  food  sujiply.  Throughout  most  of  our 
Eastern  States,  north  of  latitude  IV.)^,  the  Pileate<l  Woodpecker  is  now  some- 
what rare,  an<l  here  it  is  mainly  confined  to  the  heavily  timbcre(T  bottom  lands 
along  the  larger  streams  and  the  more  thinly  settled  sections  in  the  mountain 
regions,  where  in  a  few  favorable  localities  it  is  still  met  with  in  small  nund)ers. 

In  quite  a  nundjer  of  our  Southern  States,  however,  it  is  far  more  comnam, 
and  in  suitable  localities  it  may  be  called  fairly  abundant.  This  is  esi>ecially  the 
case  througlamt  the  greater  part  of  Florida,  as  well  as  in  portions  of  South 
Candina,  Georgia,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  Arkansas,  southern  Missouri, 
the  Indian  Territory,  and  the  greater  part  of  Texas  It  is  i)y  no  means  rare  in 
portions  of  the  other  Southern  States,  as  it  is  well  known  to  occiu'  throughout 
North  Carolina,  generally  below  an  altitude  of  4,.")(K)  feet,  and  I  have  occasion- 
ally seen  bunches  of  these  i)inls,  nundtering  from  four  to  twelve,  exposed  for 
sale  in  the  mark<'ts  of  Washington,  1).  C,  whii-h  had  been  killed  in  some  of 
the  neighboring  counties  in  Virginia,  where  this  large  nnd  handsome  \Vood- 
pecker  a])i)ears  to  be  considered  as  a  game  Itird.  I  tried  to  cat  one,  when 
short  of  meat,  while  traveling  through  the  Hlue  .Mountains  of  Oregon,  but  I 
certainly  cnn  not  reconnnen<l  it.  It  feeds  to  a  great  extent  on  the  large  black 
wood  ants,  which  impart  to  it  a  very  peculiar,  and  to  me  an  extremely  impleasant 


TUK  IMLKATEI)  WOODPEOKEK. 


103 


flavor,  ii  kind  of  swoot-sour  taste,  wliicli  any  amount  of  seasoninj^  and  cookiiif,' 
(locH  not  disjfuisc,  and  I  consider  it  as  a  very  unpulatahle  substitute  for  j-anie 
of  any  kind. 

In  tile  Uoeky  Mountain  rejjions  of  Arizona,  New  Mexico,  (!ol(mulo,  and 
WvoMiini;  tlie  I'ileafefl  Woodpecker  apparently  does  not  oc(  ur,  and  if  it  occa- 
sionally should,  it  must  lie  considered  very  rare.  'I'lie  same  remarks  apply  to 
I'lali  and  tlie  "freater  part  of  Nevada,  but  it  is  occasittnally  met  with  in  the 
western  part  of  the  latter  State.  I  found  it  (piite  rare  also  in  Idaho,  Orefjfon.  and 
Washinji'ton,  (^xceptinjif  in  the  coast  rej^ions  of  the  latter  States.  In  California 
it  is  not  unconnnon  in  portions  of  the  Sierra  Nevadas,  while  in  Hriti.sh  Columbia 
it  appears  to  be  far  more  abundant  than  anywhere  else  west  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  both  on  the  coast  and  in  the  interior,  especially  in  the  vicinity 
of  Lake  Habine,  in  about  latitude  f)^t",  from  which  point  Mr.  H.  MacFarlane 
sent  a  nundier  of  specinu>ns  to  the  United  States  National  Museum  in  IHS'I.  It 
has  .dso  been  taken  by  Mr.  li.  U.  Itoss,  of  the  Hudson  Hay  Company,  at  Fort 
Lianl,  in  the  extreme  iiortlufasteni  corner  of  Hritish  Columbia,  and  on  Hi;;- 
Island,  in  (Jreat  Slave  Lake,  by  Mr.  John  Heed,  which  marks  the  most  northern 
point  of  its  known  ran^e. 

It  can  thus  be  seen  that  the  Pileated  Woodpecker  is  by  no  means  dis- 
tributed over  the  whoh*  of  North  America,  and  that  it  is  not  found  in  many 
heavily  tindjered  sections  which  appear  to  be  equally  suitable  as  a  habitat 
as  many  of  those  which  it  occupies.  It  is  eminently  a  bird  of  the  more  extensive 
forest  regions,  and  is  as  much  at  hom<f  in  a  semi-tropical  as  in  a  cold  climate. 
As  a  rule,  specimens  from  the  northern  i)orders  of  its  ran^e  are  considerably 
larger  than  tho.se  from  the  south.  There  ajipears  to  be  considerable  difference 
in  the  habits  of  this  bird;  in  .some  sections  it  is  extremely  shy  and  wary,  while 
in  others  it  is  exactly  the  reverse. 

Mr.  Manly  Hardy,  of  Hrewer,  Maine,  writes  me:  "This  splendid  bird  is  not 
uncommon  in  the  heavily  timbered  portions  of  our  State,  and.  although  usually- 
very  shy,  becomes  accustomed  to  man  if  not  ilisturbed.  I  once  had  two  so 
tame  they  would  aUow  me  to  sit  within  4  paces  of  them,  and  put  my  hand  upon 
the  tree  when  they  were  not  10  feet  above  my  head.  They  usually  select 
certain  lar"e  dead  hemlock  trees  to  which  thev  "o  almost  dailv,  often  remaining 
for  hours,  rejieatin;'-  their  visits  until  the  bark  is  almost  entirely  removed  from 
the  tree.  It  was  owin^-  to  the  proximity  of  several  such  trees  to  my  home  camp 
that  I  was  able  to  become  so  familiar  with  them.  They  often  chisel  holes  6  or 
H  inches  deep  in  cedar  and  other  .soft-wood  trees,  and  as  lar^e  as  the  holes  in 
a  post-and-rail  fence.  I  have  seen  one  jiick  a  lar^^e  hole  throu;;h  2  inches  of 
frozen  fjreeu  hemlock  to  ^et  at  the  hollow  interior,  and  it  seemed  impossible 
that  a  steel  toed  of  the  same  size  could  have  dime  such  work  without  beinpf 
l)roken.  They  are  easily  called  by  clfipjiin^  the  hands  so  as  to  imitate  their 
l)ounding.  This  re(|uires  skill,  but  I  have  taught  others  so  that  they  have  been 
successful  in  it.  When  called  they  seem  to  lose  their  nsual  shyness,  and  seem 
stupefied  at  not  finding  their  mate,  as  they  had  exjjected.     I  have  found  them 


P 


■,•1' 


f  * 


104 


lilFH  IllHTOUIKS  OK  NOUTii  AMKUICAN  lilltDS. 


Ml 


''f 


noHtiiijf  ill  tlm  liirj^t'  yt-llnw  Itircli,  and  once  fouiid  niu>  laic  in  tliu  tall  af  wmk 
inHitlo  tho  troo,  as  1  liavn  often  seen  other  species  of  \V<>o(l|ieckers  tlo  in  llit^ 
fall;  lait  vvliether  workinjf  on  next  year's  u«'st  or  providinL;  a  winter's  r(!treat  is 
unknown  to  ine.  Its  food  consists  very  lar^foly  of  ants.  In  some  cases  it 
d(^scends  to  the  ground  to  obtain  them,  after  the  maimer  of  the  I'Micker.  I  have 
seen  them  in  Vosuinite  Valley  and  ('alaveras  (irove,  California,  and  their  actions 
and  notes  seemed  exactly  the  same  as  in  Maine  hirds. 

"I  once  saw  a  Sharp-shinned  I  lawk  persecute  a  pair  of  these  Woodpeckers 
most  persistently.  They  spent  coiisideralile  of  their  time  on  some  dead 
hemlocks  <-los(^  to  my  camp,  and  while  l>usily  at  work  tlu^  little  Hawk  would 
dart  at  one  ami  follow  him  with  his  le;rs  stretched  out  a.«  if  to  seize  him,  all  the 
time  utteriii};'  a  'ca-ca-ca'  to  scare  him.  When  the  Woo^ljiecker  aliffhted  and 
faced  him  from  behind  a  tree,  tho  former  would  also  alight  close  by  on  some 
convenient  limb,  ready  to  repeat  the  pert'orinanco  as  soon  as  the  other  commenced 
to  work  af^ain.  Sometimes  the  Woodpecker,  instead  of  Hyin;>;,  would  sidle 
around  tho  body  of  the  tree,  and  the  Hawk  would  occasionally  follow  him 
twice  entirely  around  before  aliffhtiii'j  to  take  a  rest,  only  to  make  a  fiercer 
da.sli  next  time.  On  some  days  this  performance  would  be  (•ontimie<l  for  at 
least  an  hour  at  a  time,  and  the  Hawk  seemed  to  put  in  all  the  tiiiu;  he  ctuild 
spare  from  {jetting  a  living  in  annoying  these  birds.  It  was  very  eviilent, 
however,  that  he  ilaretl  not  seize  one,  as  he  easily  could  ha\(^  done  ha<l  he 
wished  to  (h)  so.  Oiu!  would  hardly  think  that  a  I'ileated  Woodpecker  could 
catch  on  tho  side  of  a  tree,  swing  his  l)ody  arr.nnd,  and  present  his  bill  to  the 
llawk  so  (piickly,  but  I  saw  this  done  dozens  of  times.  The  Sharp-.shinncd 
Hawk  reminded  me  of  some  ])eople  who  never  can  bear  to  see  otiiers  getting  an 
honest  living. 

"The  Pileated  Woodpecker  is  a  constant  resident  in  Maine,  1)Ut  rarely  leaves 
the  vicinity  of  large  timber.  It  prefers  places  where  large  hemlocks  abound, 
esj)ecially  those  localities  where  a  few  have  been  killed  by  camp  building  or 
small  fires.  In  fall  and  winter  a  jtair  will  regularly  visit  such  trees  every  day 
for  weeks,  spending  hours  daily  in  stripping  ofi' the  bark,  until  trees  from  2  to  ;j 
feet  in  diameter  are  often  entirely  denuded  or  large  |)atches  of  the  bare  wnod 
are  exposed.  In  the  spring  1  have  often  seen  bushels  of  bark  under  a  single 
tree." 

Mr.  R.  S.  William.'^,  of  Columbia  Falls,  Montana,  writes  me:  ^^Ccnphhvm 
pilciitiin  is  rather  common  all  through  the  timber  of  the  lJi)])er  Flathead  liiver 
region,  in  the  northwestern  ]»art  of  the  State.  The  bark  of  tlie  wi-stern  vellow 
pine  .seems  to  ofi'er  attractive  foraging  for  tlics(?  birds.  One  tree  I  observed, 
some  2  feet  in  diameter,  is  alumt  stripped  to  the  wood  for  ftO  or  (10  feet  up.  The 
birds  strike  their  blows  sidewise,  splitting  the  bark  of!"  in  thin  scales  that  .soon 
accumulate  in  large  heajis  at  the  base  of  the  trees  where  they  work.  I  ran 
across  one  bird  obtaining  his  meal  in  a  rather  novel  manner.  Tie  was  eating 
the  berries  of  a  dogwood  {('oniiis  stoloiiifrra),  and  as  the  stem  of  the  shrub 
was  nuich  too  small  for  him  to  perch  upright  on,  he  allowed  himself  to  swing 


TIIK  IMLKATKI)  WOOIUMX  KKK. 


105 


licnd  (lowmviinl.  iitid,  HfiTtcliiiijj:  ]\\x  neck  to  one  nidc,  inimiiifcil  t<»  rciicli  tlic 
licrrii's.  Not  unt'r<'()ii('Mtly  tlii-y  scincli  I'ort'ooil  oii  tin-  jiTtiiiinl,  iisiiiilly  ali;ilitiii^' 
low  ilowii.on  u  trunk  mid  ilru|i|)iii<r  Itackwanl,  a  i\-\v  iiiclics  at  a  time,  till  tlu-y 
rt-acli  tin*  liaso,  where  they  seareh  aiiiuii^r  the  chips,  ete.,  hut  coiistaiitly  Itiiikiii;; 


lip  "I 


th  tl 


le  inoi 


Ht  k 


iitiwi  !"•  "■laiiees,  as 


it"  to  sav  that  thev  were  not  to  lie  siir- 


iirised  in  such  a  |»roeeedin;!'.      1  have   never  seen   this  speeies  east  of  tiie  Uoeky 


Mountains  in  Montana. 


have  seen 


tl 


ns  species   i 


n  hut  tew  localities  in  the  West,  and  with  iiut 


one  exception  I  always  t'oinid  the  I'ileated  Woodpecker  extremely  shy  and 
dilHcult  to  approach.  In  tiie  latter  part  otMinie.  ISH'.',  I  t'ound  a  nest  containinji' 
four  xoun^r  ahout  one-half  mile  southeast  from  Fort  l\lamatli,  Orepm,  and  I 
noticed  this  family  on  several  occasions  afterwards  in  the  heavy  ]iine  timher  in 
the  vicinity  of  tho  I'ost.  These  birds  w«'re  not  shy,  and  1  could  readily  have 
whot  thoni  all,  hut  refrnined,  hopiujj  they  would  u«'st  in  tho  neijrhhorhood  a^^'ain 
next  season,  which  thev,  however,  faile(l  to  do.  The  ordinary  call  note  is  a  loud 
"ciick-ciick-ciick,"  several  times  repeated;  another  resemhles  the  "chink-up"  of 
the    l{ed-shafteil    Flicker,  oidv  somewhat  slower,   htuder,   and    clearer:  others 


auam 


remind  me  of  the  cackliuy  of  a  domestic   hen.     ( )ne  of  its  love  note; 


according;'  to  Mr.  A.  Nehrliiij;',  soiuids  like  "a-wtu-k,  a-wucl 
or  ani"er,  like  "ha-hi,  ha-hi."     It  is  v«'rv  noisv  durinj,-'  th 


mil  one  ( 


if  all 


u'ln, 


IS  v«'rv  noisv  durm;,''  the  matm^'  si-ason  and 
iudulji'es  in  a  ji'ood  deal  of  (Irununini^r  at  this  time  of  year.  I  lielieve  tlie\' 
remain  mated  thron;;h  life,  and  pairs  are  more  fre(pieutly  seen  than  sinj^le  itirds. 
Its  food  consists  of  the  ditlerent  species  of  hoi'in;''  iu'ctles  and  llieir  lais.e 
iufestiu}^  timltered  tracts,  and  of  ants,  many  of  which  it  captures  on  the  jiiound; 
it  also  feeds  on  wild  <irapes,  the  herries  of  the  Mack  ;;uni,  doji'wodd,  pokeweed, 
service  l)erri«'S,  acorns,  heechnuts,  and  chestnuts.     Considered  from  an  economic 


I 


oint  of  view,  it  does  far  more  n'ood  than  harm,  and  onl\'  attacks  decaviny  and 


fallen  tindier.     In  the  mountains  of  Oregon,  and  presumahly  in  oilier  localities, 
the  I'ileated  Woodpi-cker  is  most  fre<piently  met  with   in    the  extensive   liiirnt 


tracts,  the  so-called  "deadeninys,"  when^  forest  tires  have  sweitt  tliroii" 


h  mil( 


of  line  timlier  and  killed  everythiii}'-  in  its  jiath.      Such  localities  afford   thi.-* 
species  an  altmidant  food  su])ply  in  tlu^  slowly  (le('ayin;4-  trees,  and  art?  sure  t'l 


ittract  then 


1  h 


ive 


I'cn  the  Sim  ohsciU'ed  for  weeks   at    Fort    Klamath    li\ 


the  dense  smoke  caused  hy  such  a  tire,  which  raffed  in  the  ( "ascaile  .\lountains, 
near  Diamond  Park,  soniu  .W  miles  north  of  the  I'ost,  in  Au^iust,  \XX',\.  T\u' 
hrijiht  scarlet  crests  of  thest;  birds  were  in  former  years  hif;hly  prized  by  niaii\- 


liiilian 


tril 


)es  m  our 


Northwestern  Slates,  litMiifi-  used  as  ornaments 


their  war  bonnets,  and  these  birds  were  eagerly  hunted  for  this  |impose.      Its 
flijiht  is  both  stronjf  and  swift  at  times,  but,  as  a  rule,  when  at  ease  it  is  slow  and 


crow 


-liki 


e,  rather   mor 


e  direct  and   not  s«  undtdatinir  as  that  of  most  of 


our 


Woodpeckers,  and  is  often  protracted  for  loufj;'  distances. 

In  .southern  Florida  the  niatin^-  .season  commences  early  in  ^larcli,  and 
farther  north  corres])ondinj;ly  later.  A  suitable  tree  havinji'  been  .sele<'ted,  <;'en- 
erally  a  dead  one  in  larjre  and  extensive  woods,  both  birds  work  alternately 
ou  the  nesting  site.     This  is  usually  excavated  in  tho  main  trunk,  from  12  to  75 


'!^'H 


106 


LIKK  IIISTOUIKH  OK  NOUTII  AMKUU'AN  IIIUDH. 


!,K.' 


i 


• 


t'»M't  from  tilt'  ^niiiMil,  ami  it  takon  froin  seven  to  twelv(>  dnvM  to  eoiiii»lete  it. 
'I'lie  eiitniiice  iiieiiHiireM  tVoiii  'A  to  Hf^  iiielieH  in  iliiinieter,  iniil  it  often  j^oeM  f) 
in«'lu's  straiji'lit  into  tlie  trnnk  before  it  is  woi'ked  tlowinvanl.  The  ea\Il\  Miiloi* 
from  7  to  ;j(t  inelies  iu  fleptli,  ant!  is  ;iTa(lnalIy  enlaiyed  tnwaril  tlie  linttotn, 
where  it  is  al)ont-(>  inclies  with).  A  layer  of  chips  is  K>ft  at  tlie  hottoiii,  on  whieli 
the  e<fjfs  are  <l(*|iosite(l.  Occasionally  the  entrance  hole,  instead  of  IxMnji'  circu- 
lar, is  oval  in  shape,  like  that  of  the  Ivory-hilled  Woodpecker.  The  insidtt  of 
the  cavity  is  (piite  sr.iooth,  the  eil^i'es  of  the  entrance  are  nicely  lievtded,  and, 
taken  as  a  whole,  it  is  <|iiite  an  artisti<-  piece  of  work,  Sonu>  of  the  liirds, 
presnmalily  such  as  Inve  heen  molested  jd'eviously,  art'  (piite  shy  and  artfid, 
removin/j'  every  trace  of  chips  as  soon  as  loosened  and  droppin};-  them  in  dif- 
ferent places,  at  stane  distance  from  the  nesting;'  site,  so  as  not  to  hetniN'  its  location 
l»y  the  accmnidafion  of  chips  at  the  base  of  the  tre<',  and  occasionally  tlu-y  show, 
if  possible,  still  more  intellijfence.  Dr.  William  L.  Italph  t(dls  me  that  in  tim 
sprinj;-  of  1H!C_*  ho  found  a  nest  of  this  species  in  Putnam  County,  Klori(hi, 
•vhere  the  l»ird  is  (piit(*  common,  excavated  in  a  dead  cypress  in  swamjty  woods, 
which  was  .comparatively  easy  to  ^fet  at.  lie  found  this  in  the  second  week  in 
iVpril,  aitout  the  time  nidilication  is  at  its  heiffht  there.  ( )n  rappiiij;-  on  tluf 
trunk  of  the  tree  the  bird,  wlTudi  was  at  home,  stuck  his  head  out  of  the  hide 
and  dro]iped  some  chips,  naturally  causiuf;  the  Doctor  to  believe  that  the  nest- 
in^f  site  was  still  unfinished.  The  same  ]»erformance  was  repeated  on  several 
subsetpU'Ut  visits,  and  fmally  he  ctauluded  to  examine  the  nest  anyhow,  when 
he  found  nearly  f'ulI-<frown  yoiuiji'.  This  j>air  of  birds  must  have  had  e}f<fs 
at  thi'  tiuK!  he  first  discovered  the  nest,  and  tla;  chips  were  simply  thrown  out 
as  a  ruse  to  deceive  him. 

The  trees  most  often  used  for  nestinji'  sites  are  cypress,  fium,  ])ine,  fir, 
tamarack,  oak,  sycanatre,  elm,  1)irc,h,  and  cottouwood,  and  in  .stuuhern  Florida 
the  trunk  of  the  cabbaj>-e  palnu'tto  also  furnishes  suitable  nestin<i'  sites.  Besides 
the  customary  layer  of  chips  found  in  the  bottom  of  the  hole,  one  of  the 
nestin-^  sites  exanuned  by  Dr.  Kalph  contained  fully  a  i)int  of  clean  sand.  A 
fresh  cavity  is  jrenerally  madt*  each  season,  ami  this  species  also  excavates 
others  in  the  fall  of  the  year  to  retire  to  durin<r  intdement  and  stormy  weather 
in  winter.  On  the  data  blank  furnished  by  Dr.  Walpli,  for  a  .set  of  three  e^^j^s 
taken  by  him  iu  I'utnam  County,  Fh)rida,  on  April  20,  1S!»2,  from  a  hole  in  the 
side  of  a  rotten  pine  stump,  27  feet  above  the  firounil,  in  low,  flat  pine  woods, 
near  a  small  swamp,  1  find  the  followiufr  entry:  "This  nest  was  examined 
April  13,  but  contaii'ed  no  egjrs.  At  that  tinui  the  cavity  was  opened  by 
tearin<»'  out  a  piece  about  8  inches  wide  from  the  aperture  nearly  to  the  bottom. 
The  ilamajicd  places  was  repaired  by  nailinj;'  over  it  a  ])iec(*  of  bark  from  the 
stump,  with  a  small  holl.iw  in  the  top,  to  reston*  the  openinji'  to  its  |iroper  sha|»e." 
The  cavity  was  about  18  incdies  deep.  In  northern  Florida  full  sets  of  ejffjfs 
naiy  be  looked  for  about  Ajn-il  15.  Three  efjfi's  to  a  set  seems  to  be  the  usual 
nundier  found  here,  and  most  of  the  cffjjs  in  tln'  United  States  National  Mu.seum 
collection  came  from  this  State.  Dr.  \.  K.  Fisher  took  a  set  of  four  at  Lake 
George,  Wairen  County,  New  York,  on  Jlay  If),  1S78;  and  Mr.  .F.  Harris  Heed, 


■^ 


TIIK  IMLKATKI)  WwODPKCKKR. 


107 


of  Hovcrly,  N«'W  .F«'rM('y,  writi'K  tin-:  "On  .hiiu<  4,  ]H'X\,  in  coinimiiy  witli  a 
tVii'iid,  1  (li.iciiv«Ti'il  II  iioHt  of  tlic  l'il('atf<l  Wo(i(l|icckt'r,  ill  ( ')i|n'  Miiv  ( 'oiiiity, 
Ni'\\  tlerwcy,  coiitiiiiiiiijf  list'  yoiiu;>'  Itinln.  Our  iittfiitioii  was  attnictcil  li\  tlic 
fi'iiiului  wlio,  witli  iooil  ill  li*-r  iiioiitli,  Hi-w  alioiit  iis  from  tree  to  titc,  \i  r\ 
iinicli  ayitiitcil,  iiiul  iilti'iiiiK:  a  cliattcrin^''  iioto  n-Hciiililiiiy;  tiiat  of  a  tree  fio<i-. 
I'lioii  an  cxaiiiiiiatioii  of  tiif  sinToiiiidinM  triiiikH  of  <lcail  tries,  wt-  locatiil  tiic 
nest,  wliifli  was  alioiit  12  ffct  alnivc  the  {froiniil.  'I'wo  of  tlir  \oiiii;.''  win- 
rcinovcil  ami  t'xaiiiiiicil,  tlicy  with  nearly  iil)l(^  to  tiy.  Altiiou;;li  we  rcinaiiifil 
tiu'if  nearly  an  liour  wafcliin;f  tlie  female  tliion^ili  Held  j.diif*^<es  as  she  letiniied 
to  tlie  nest  to  feed  lier  yoiiii;;',  tlu*  male  liird  was  not  seen.  This  is  the  tirst 
oeciirrenee  of  itH  Inveiliiij,'  in  tins  loeality  that  I  have  met  with." 

From  thre«'  to  live  ^'^<:^!«  are  usually  laid  to  a  set,  lait  I  have  seen  it  stated 
that  the  I'ileated  Woodpecker  often  laid  six,  and  that  a  nest  found  near  Karni- 
ville,  Vir<finin,  contained  eipht.  An  ej-fr  is  de|iosited  daily,  and  iiieiiliation 
hej^iiis  occasioiiilly  hefore  the  set  is  completed,  and  lasts  ahoiit  ei^-hteeii  days, 
lioth  sexes  assistin;>°  in  this  duty,  as  well  as  in  carin;^'  for  the  \oiin;^'.  I, ike  all 
Woodpeckers,  the  I'ileated  ant  very  devoteil  parents,  and  the  yoiin;;  tollnw  tliein 
for  some  weeks  after  leaviii};  tlu?  nest,  until  fully  capalile  of  i  nriiiji'  for  themselves. 

The  e;,''i^s  of  the  I'ileated  Woodpecker 


Oiilr 


V  one  lirood  is  i'aise( 


(i  in 


a  season. 


ire  (Hire  china-white  in  color,  mostly  ovate  in  sha] 


th 


•11 


is  e\ci'e( 


liimli 


fine  (>;rained  and  very  };iossy,  as  if  «'nameled;   they  are  not  as  pointed  as  those  of 


the  I 


V4)rv 


-hill 


eil,  ami  averii<>'e  siiiallei 


The  averaj^e  measurements  of  twenty-nine  siiecimens  in  tin*  I  nited  States 
National  .Museiim  c(dlection,  mostly  from  Florida,  are  .'('J.  ft  liy  "J  I. us  niiHimetres. 
or  about  1.28  by  O-Of)  inches.  The  larji'est  e^'^'  of  the  series  measures  '6'tJ>*>  by 
2.').15  millimetres,  or  1.40  by  0.!)!>  inches;  the  smallest,  3g.22  Ity  22.(;i 
metres,  or  1.1  It  by  O.Hil  inches. 


milli- 


.f  till 


riie  type  specimen,  No.  2()52!>  (PI.  1,  Fiff.  5),  Italpli  collection,  fi 


•om 


set 


ie(!  e{><is,  WHS  taken  by  Dr.  WiUiam  L.  Walpli,  near  San  .Mateo,  Florida, 
April  13,  l8!>iJ.     It  reiiresents  one  of  the  larmier  ejijis  of  the  .series. 

39.     Melanerpes  erythrocephalus  (Linn.kis). 

KEU-llKADKp  WOOIH'i;CKF,l{. 

PiriiH  iriitliroci'iihidiin  Linn. iocs,  Systciiiu  Niitiiras  cil.  10,  I,  17-"»H,  ll.'l. 
MiUiuerpcx  irylhrocvithttlm  HWAINSON,  Kaimii  Hurcali  Americana,  II,  1H.!1,  ;{l(i. 

(H  94,  C  3(iy,  U  .{T:.,  (J  4.j,l,  U  4(M!.) 

< JEociUAriiifiAL  KANriK :  Teiiiperatt*  North  America ;  from  the  .southern  United  States 
iiortli  ill  tlie  eastern  ])roviiieus  of  the  Doiiiiiiioii  of  Canada  to  about  latitude  4(t"';  rare  or 
eiLSUul  only  in  the  maritime  )>roviiiccs;  in  the  interior  in  Manitoliit  iKUtii  to  alimit  latituili^ 
5(P;  west,  in  the  United  States,  to  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Itouky  Mountains  fioni  jMhii- 
taiia  to  Ooloradi*,  western  Kansas,  the  Indian  Territory,  and  the  eastern  half  of  Te.xas. 
Casual  ill  Utah  (Salt  Lake  City)  and  southern  Arizona  (Chiricahna  Mountains). 

Tii^  Red-headed  Woodpecker,  ono  of  the  best  known  aiul  handsomest 
species  of  the  /'^VvV/rf' found  in  the  United  States,  is  nn(|uestionably  tlu^  most  dis- 
reputable representative  of  this  family;  but  this  fact  does  not  appear  to  be  very 


'■..':ip 


il 


n  n  r 


1 


•^  .'I 

.i.-i 

'ill 


108 


urn  HIHTOIMKH  OF  NOUTII   AMKUICAN  ItlUDS. 


1^1 


•^^•^j 


gt'iicrnllv  known.  'I'hroiifiliout  tht>  jircati'i"  portion  of  tlic  ciistcrn  (Tnitcd  Stiitcn 
it  is  ii  ratluT  irn-jfulnr  resident.  Manx  ot"  tliese  hirds  winter alon^'  oni'  noitliern 
Itorder,  in  certain  years,  wlien  tliey  ean  find  an  ai>nndant  supply  of  food;  in 
fact,  it  is  not  ninisnal  to  lind  tlie  l{ed-lieade(l  Woodpeeker  at  snrli  times  in  local- 
iti«'s  wliere  snow  falls  to  a  deptli  of  ■">  feet  and  more.  'I'lndujiliont  tlie  western 
]iarts  of  its  ranf^e,  however,  it  appears  to  niij^rate  pretty  rej^idarh  ,  and  it  is  rare 
to  see  one  of  these  birds  there,  north  of  latitmht  40",  in  winter.  In  the  eastern 
portions  of  tlie  New  Knfiland  States,  Itorderin^-  the  .\tlantie  Ocean,  it  is  rather 
rare,  ami  the  sa*  •  remarks  apply  to  that  part  of  New  York  east  of  the  llndson 
Uiver,  and  to  Vermont  east  of  llie  (ireeii  .Monntains,  where  it  is  onl\  a  casnal 
sinnmer  visitor.  Its  lireedin;;- ran;;e  is  coextensive  with  its  distrihntion.  Hirds 
that  miurate  nsnally  retnrn  to  their  snnnner  homes  aiiont  tli"  latter  part  of  April 
or  the  l>ejiinninj;-of  May,  and  leave  for  the  sonth  a<,^ain  ahont  the  tirst  <if  ( )ctolier. 
Their  niovt'ments  are  very  nncertain  at  all  times,  and  arc  evidentlv  rejiiilated 
laruch  lt\'  tlu!  food  snjiply;  even  on  their  hreeiiiiio-  o-runnds,  wjiere  tiiev  nia\  he 
common  one  \ear,  not  a  sini;le  |iair  may  l>e  I'oinid  tlie  next.  Its  favorite  resorts  in 
snmmerare  the  borders  of  woods,  l"rin;;cs  of  timiier  alon;;'  stremns,  solitarv  trees 
in  lieldsand  pasti':\  s,  shade  trees  alon;;- connlry  woods,  and  on  the  triM'less  prairies 
of  some  of  onr  Western  States  it  contents  itself  witii  telciiraph  poles,  fence  jxists, 
etc.  In  the  Sonth,  newly  cleared  lields  in  which  a  nnndier  ot'  dead,  ^.jirdlcd 
trees  still  remain  standiii};'  are  nnicli  resorted  to.  tind  in  sucli  localities  these 
hirds  are  \-er\'  ahnndant  at  almost  all  seasons,  hut  cspecialK   in  winter. 

In  snnnner  the  food  of  the  Ited-lieaded  Woodpecker  consists  to  a  consider- 
aitle  extent  oi'  insects  of  ditfei'ent  kinds,  sncli  as  orassi nippers,  ants,  lieetles,  and 
Hit's, maiiv  of  \\hich  are  cauiiht  on  the  winji',  and  of  sneli  lar\a'  as  mav  l»e  hidden 
nndcr  the  hai'k  of  ^rces,  or  in  rotten  wood;  l»nt  it  rareh'  di<is  out  those  ot'  the 
\iood-liorin<i'  beetles  wliicli  are  fonnd  in  more  solid  trees.  .\t  this  season  it  .dso 
feeds  larjicly  on  fruits  and  bei-ries,  sucli  as  chi-rries,  apples,  pcn-s.  ti^s,  peaches, 
and  grapes,  as  well  as  on  bhn-kberries,  raspberries,  mulberries,  poke  and  elder 
licrries,  i^-reen  peas,  and  Indian  corn  in  tlie  milk;  and  last,  but  not  least,  on  \  ounj;' 
birds  and  eji'H's.  In  the  late  fall  and  win'er  its  diet  is  more  larii<d\-  vciictable, 
one  of  its  staples  beinj;'  beechnuts;  the  berries  of  the  sour  iium,  doMwond,  and 
|ialmetto  are  also  larfi'cly  eaten;  acorns,  Indian  corn,  ami  small  j;raiiis  are  like- 
wise used, and  it  is  well  known  that  these  iiirds  also  store  awa\'  supplies,  consistini^' 
iioth  of  insects  and  veji'ctable  matter,  foi'  winter  use. 

One  of  the  stranjicst  thini^s  in  the  life  history  oi'  tiiis  species,  so  eiitirelv 
<litVerent  in  every  respect  from  the  habits  ot'  all  our  other  \\  oodpeckers,  is  the 
fact  that  it  feeds  on  both  t\n'  e<ij;s  and  youiij;  of  other  birds.  I  wouki  hesitaitt 
s(»niewhat  to  nfcord  such  an  t^xci'e(linjily  pt'rnicioiis  habit  if  I  had  llie  least  doubt 
as  to  it  and  had  not  jiersonally  witnessed  it.  I  ha\e  been  aware  ot'  the  fact  that 
it  did  !-iometinies  throw  out  tli(^  <'ji'fix  ot'  other  birds  nestin<4'  in  caxities  in  trees, 
since  .M.ivlH,  jSS,"),  when  I  found  a  b'ed-hcadcd  Woodpecker  riilinii'  the  nest  of 
a  Uei'-shafted  Flicker  near  Fort  ( 'nstcr,  Montana,  wher(^  both  these  s|)ecies 
were  not  nncomintm.      The  cavity  contained  six   fresh  ej;ys,  two  of  which  had 


m 

lii 


t'l 


TIIK  UHDIIKADKI)  WOOIM'lHMvEU. 


KM) 


alrt'iuly  boon  tlin»\vii  out,  and  1  oaii^lit  tlio  Kod-lioad  in  tlio  act,  <«>niin<>;  out 
til'  tlio  holo  witli  liis  hill  stnck  tin'(>n;;li  tla^  tliinl.  At  that  tinitt  !  sinipl}' 
(•(insidoii'ii  lliis  act  on  its  part  as  a  I'ui-cililo  approiniation  ol'  u  coxi'tod  nostinj^' 
site,  as  suitaltlo  troos  \voro  scarci^  in  this  \it'initv,  and  thnu;^'ht  no  nioro  aliuut 
ihc  niattor.  'I'lm  noxt  year  1  saw  t!at  lolldwin};'  ufticio  in  tho  "Ooloyist"  (\'ol. 
•  i,  April,  ISSd,  p.  -Jli),  whicii  I  was  rather  rolnotant  to  lioliovo  at  first,  writton 
1(V  a  ficntloiiian  si;;nin;;'  liinisolt'  L.  15.  l'\,  Anjiiista,  (ia.: 

"('iiiuiil)(ili'<iii  (if  the  linl-liitiiliil  Wdiulpcrkir. — I  notiot'd  two  intcrostinjf  inci- 
dents last  sprin;;'  connected  with  a  Weii-headed  Woodpecker,  which  may  interest 


the  readers  o 


i  tl 


'Ool 


Oi-lSt. 


arh'  ni 


M 


IV 


lonnd  a  nest  ot  this 


liird 


contani 


ni"'  SIX  e: 


tiS,    SI 


tuated  in  the  dead  hranches  of  an  oak,  ,'U)  t'eet  lii<>'h 


»ear 


l.v 


Crested 


Titi 


Mouse 


had  iiidustriouslv  carved  out  his  little  home,  in  which  I 


le  was 


I'eedini^'  .1  nest  I'nll  of  Nonn^'.  A  few  days  alter,  havinj;'  taken  the  Woodpecker's 
(.Mu-s  (\  needed  them  ior  m\'  collection),  I  was  watchinj;'  the  Titmouse's  nest  to 
see  him  feed  his  little  ones,  when  suddenly  t^o  owner  of  the  rolihed  nest  Hew 
down  and  lit  near  the  entrance  to  the  nest  of  its  nei^hlior,  an  I  thrnstinji'  his 
head  inside,  he  delilierately  drew  ont  Ji  yonn;;-  l)ird,  carried  it  to  a  liranch  near 
li\,  ami  ale  it.  \\v  and  his  mal(^  re|ieateil  tlu*  same  action  until  they  had  killed 
the  whole  l»rood;  after  which,  liavinj;-  pulled  ont  the  linin;;-  of  the  nest,  they  Hew 
awa\'.  'This  was  vcrv  surprisin;>'  to  me,  as  I  have  no\tM"  heard  of  Woodpeckers 
indidninji'  in  caimilialism  hefoic.  Mut  I  had  not  yet  done  with  the  actions  of 
the  Woodpeckers.  A  week  or  so  ai'ler  havinj^  broken  up  the  Crested  'ritmouse 
nest,  I  iivticeil  the  K'ed-heads  repeatedly  \isitin};' tho  sito  of  their  old  nest.  'I'his 
aroMNcd  mv  curiositv,  and  supposing'  they  had  tlecided  to  la\  a  new  clutch,  I 
\  isited  tile  cavity  to  see  whether  my  supposition  was  true.      What  was  my  sin-- 


ise  to  liud  that,  the  hollow  contained   not  ej.;"'s,  liul    the  decaxiu"'   l(od\-  of 


<!reat   ('I'cstei 


hiatclii'r. 


II 


iw   it  came  there 


know  not;    hut    I 


iun 


fidh 


iii\  iiiced  that  tlu^  IJed-lu-ads  visited  the  spot  for  the  |ini'pose  of  devouring;'  the 
•rmin  which  infested  the  tlecayin^-  llesh." 

.V  similai'  incident  is   i-ecorde(l   in   the  same   periodical  (\dl.  ■'),. I imo,  188!f, 


where  one  o 


ft! 


lese  hinls  was  seen,  Mea 


r  llvdi^  Park.  Ontario,  .liilv,  ISSO 


p.  11  ;i). 

carr\inu'  a\\a\'  a   iVeshlv    killed    xduni^'   I'oliin. 

Lo\ (land,  Colorado,   well   known  as  a  perfectly  reliaiile  and   carefid  ohserxcr. 


.Mr.  W.   (J.   Smith,   \ 


ormerlv    oi 


writes  me 


The    l{ed-ilea( 


Wood| 


lecker  IS  a    common   slimmer  resident    in 


the  lower  foothills  aloiiii'  liie  eastern  slopes  of  the  Uockx'  iMoiintains  in  this 
Slate,  and  I  coiisidi-r  it  a  veritahh^  hiitcher  anion;;'  our  Nuthatches  and  Chick- 
adees, driviii''-  e\-er\'  one  a\\a\   from   its   iiestiii"-  sites,  and  woe  to  the   liii'd   that 


tl 


lis  villain  can  re 


aeli.      It  destiovs  liotli 


e<i'i:s  ami   xoiiiii;-,  ilra^-jiii';-  the 


latti 


out   of  their  nests  and  fretpieiitly  lea\  in^'  them   dead  al    the  entrance  of  their 


.Mr.  Howard  .loiies,  Circleville,  Ohio,  1  helieve  was  tho  first  naturalist  to 
record  the  fact  that  this  species  rohhed  the  nests  of  other  hirds  of  tlii'ir  eji^s, 
and  states  how  a  coloii\-  of  ('lill'  Swallows  which  had  estalilished  themselves 
under  the  eaves  of  a  lar"-e  harn,  near  .Mount  Sterliiiji-,  Ohio,  was  iiearlv  e.\ter- 


|!i? 

1  1  ''  ;  . 

(  -4  ■  ' 

<      * 

1 

t ..  ■;  ■= 

Ih 

:•  ' 

II 

1 .     " 

i 

m 

''9 

liSk 

,-•*'* 

la 

1 

;     .   '     ' 

1 

^      <-  * 

•-,' 

■  " 

m 


li 

If 
ill'  '  ' 


m 


,,'i. 


110 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


minntod  by  these  pests.  (See  "Ornitholdgist  and  Oologist,"  Vol.  8,  July,  1883, 
]).  /3(!.)  To  these  instances  I  will  now  add  my  own  testimony,  it'  further  eon- 
firmation  of  the  evil  doin<>-8  of  this  handsome  freebooter  is  wanted. 

On  tiio  evenhij;-  of  July  1,  18l»2,  while  walking  with  Dr.  AVilliam  L.  Kalj)!! 
along  the  border  of  an  open  jjiece  of  mi.\ed  woods,  used  as  ii  pasture,  near 
Holland  Patent,  New  York,  we  noticed  a  Red-headed  Wood|)eeker  take  some- 
thing, ajjjjarently  a  bunch  of  moss,  troni  a  crotch  of  a  maple  and  carry  it  to  a 
fence  jjost  of  an  adjacent  field.  After  worrying  some  time  in  trying  to  swallow 
something  rather  too  large  for  his  gullet,  he  finally  succeeded,  after  an  eft'ort,  and 
then  worked  some  little  time,  evidently  trying  to  secrete  the  remainder.  Both 
of  us  had  our  field  glasses  and  were  watching  the  bird's  actions  closely.  After 
some  little  time  he  flew  back  t<»  the  tree  he  had  started  from,  while  we  pro- 
ceeded to  the  fence  post  to  investigate,  and,  nuu  in  to  our  disgust  and  surjtrise,  we 
found  the  freshly  killed  and  partly  eaten  l)ody  of  a  young  bird,  almost  denuded 
of  feathers,  securely  tucked  aA^ay  behind  the  loose  bark  of  the  post.  His 
victim  was  too  nuu'h  mutilated  to  identify  positively,  but  looked  like  a  half-grovtii 
liluebird,  whose  head  had  been  crushed  in,  the  l)rain  abstracted,  and  the  entire 
rump  and  entrails  torn  <iut;  the  only  parts  left  intact  were  the  breast,  upi)er  i)art 
of  the  back,  and  tlie  lower  portion  of  the  head.  Tin*  missing  parts  had  evidently 
just  been  eaten  by  the  rascal  while  clinging  to  the  top  of  tluf  post,  and  the  rem- 
nant was  then  hidden  for  future  use.  After  carefully  replacing  this  as  nearly  as 
possilde  in  the  position  in  which  it  was  found,  we  retvu'iu'd;  liut  I  was  interested 
enough  to  revisit  the  spot  next  morning,  only  to  find  that  the  Ued-headed 
Woodpecker  had  evidently  been  there  l)efore  me  and  breakfasted  on  the 
remains  of  the  bird,  as  not  a  ve.stige  of  the  victim  was  there  to  tell  of  the 
tragedv.  It  is  sincerely  to  be  hoped  that  all  Heil-headed  Wood])eckei-s  are 
not  addicted  to  cannibalism;  but  when  this  matter  is  looked  into  more  carefully 
I  fear  that  this  habit  will  be  found  not  imcommon. 

Its  Might,  lik(^  that  of  all  Woodpeckers,  is  inidulating  and  surging,  and  the 
bird  looks  especially  graceful  and  jdeasing  on  the  wing.  It  is  an  adept  fly- 
catcher, and  its  vision  is  exceedingly  shar|).  A  considerable  portion  of  its  food 
is  pickeil  up  tioui  tlu;  ground.  1  have  seen  one  drop  down  from  his  perch  on 
some  dead  liml:,  fully  "JO  feet  overhead,  ])ick  up  a  small  beetle  out  of  the  grass, 
flv  back  to  its  percli  to  eat  it,  and  rejjcat  the  same  performance  as  soon  as 
anotiier  was  espied.  I  have  also  seen  them  cling  to  the  side  of  a  tree  or  fence 
post,  perfectly  motionless,  for  fifteen  minutes  at  a  time. 

Dr.  William  L.  Ralph  tells  me  that  the  Red-headed  AVoodpecker  is  the 
latest  of  these  birds  to  arrive  on  its  breeding  grounds  in  Putnam  County, 
Florida,  where  it  rarely  begins  laying  before  May  1.  It  undoubtedly  spends 
the  winti'rs  in  some  other  ])art  of  the  .State  where  the  food  su])ply  is  more 
abimdant.  It  is  known  to  breed  throughout  the  South,  from  Florida  .x'estward 
through  the  eastern  half  of  Texas,  and  to  the  foothills  of  the  Rocky  Mountains 
where  it  is  fairly  conmion,  in  suitable  localities,  from  Colorado  northward,  but  it 
has  not  yet  been  found  in  New  Mexico.     In  the  South  it  is  stated  to  raise  two 


THE  BED-UEADED  WOODPECKER. 


Ill 


broods  in  a  season,  but  in  tlio  northern  ])arts  of  its  ranjjo  it  raises  only  one.  Wliile 
stationed  at  Camp  Marney,  Oreji^on,  T  was  nuicli  surprised  to  se«*  a  headdress  of  a 
prominent  I'ah-Ute  chief  profusely  (U'corated  with  a  number  of  the  heads  of  the 
Kt'd-iieaded  Woodpecker,  and  1  was  led  to  believe  that  it  nii^^ht  ])ossibly  occur 
in  the  vicinity,  but  learned  subsecpU'Utly  that  an  enterprising;-  Indian  trader  had 
im])orted  a  number  of  tlie  skins  from  the  East  and  sold  tliem  to  the  Indians  at 
fan(\'  prices.  .Mr.  Kobert  Kiilgway  records  havinf^-  seen  one  near  Salt  Lake 
City,  Utah,  prol)ably  a  straj'-f^ler,  and  I  know  of  only  one  other  reliable  record 
west  of  tlu*  Rocky  Mountains,  that  of  a  bird  taken  by  Mr.  \V.  W.  Price,  in  tlie 
Chiricahua  Mountains,  Arizona. 

Like  most  Woodjjeckers,  the  Red-headed  is  rather  noisy  durinjj'  the  niatin;,^ 
season,  ctmtinually  frolickin<j  and  i)layin;i'  iiide  and  seek  with  its  mate,  and  when 
not  so  eu<>a<;'ed,  aimisinj;'  itself  l)y  drunnnin<;'  on  some  resonant  dead  lindt,  or  on 
the  roof  and  sides  of  houses,  barns,  etc.  It  is  a  rather  suspicious  l)ird,  l)ut 
where  not  molesteil  it  will  occasionally  nest  in  clo.se  i)roxiniity  to  houses.  Its 
ordinarv  call  note  is  iv  loud  "tchnr-tchur;"  wlien  cliasinj;-  each  other  a  sinill 
note  like  "cliiirr-chiirr"  is  frecpiently  uttered,  and  alarm  is  exjtressed  by  a  harsh, 
rattlinj"-  note,  as  well  as  by  one  which,  accordinff  to  Mr.  Otto  Wi<lmann,  is  iiidi.s- 
tiiiiiuishal)le  from  tiie  note  of  the  Tree-frof'-  {Jli/la  tirhorm).  He  tells  me  tiiat 
both  bird  and  fro^i'  sometimes  answer  each  other.  I  consider  this  species  rather 
(|narrel.s()me  and  domineerinj;-,  botli  toward  its  own  kind  and  witii  otiier  l)irds, 
and  see  little  in  its  "general  character  to  connnend.  From  an  economic  view,  it 
ap})ears  to  me  certiiinly  to  do  fully  as  nuich  if  not  more  harm  than  jiood,  iind 
1  consider  it  less  worthy  of  protection  than  any  of  our  Woodpeckers,  tlie  Yellow- 
breasted  Sapsncker  not  excejjted. 

In  tlie  northern  jiartsof  its  ranj^e  nidificiition  bei,nns  usually  duriny  the  last 
week  in  May  or  the  lirst  week  in  June.  Siuiie  of  its  nestinj,^  sites  are  exceed- 
inj^ly  lU'iit  piei'es  of  work;  the  edjjes  of  the  eiitraiu'e  hole  are  beautifully  beveled 
off,  and  the  inside  is  as  smooth  as  if  linishi'd  witli  a  line  rasp.  'Plie  entrance  is 
about  !•'{  inches  in  diami'ter  and  the  inner  cavity  varies  from  8  to  24  inches  in 
depth;  the  e^ji's  are  deposited  on  a  Inyer  of  fine  chips.  It  usually  nests  in  tiie 
defid  tops  or  limbs  of  di'ciduous  trees,  or  in  old  stumps  of  oak,  asli,  butternut, 
maple,  elm,  sycamore,  cottonwood,  willow,  and  other  species,  more  rarely  in 
coniferous  and  fruit  trees,  at  heijihts  vjn-yiiifi'  from  8  to  8(1  fi-et  from  the  <;roiiiid, 
and  also  not  infrecpiently  in  natural  cavities.  On  tlii'  treeless  jirairies  it  liiis  to 
resort  mainly  to  telejirapli  poles  and  fence  jiosts,  and  here  it  also  nests  muler  the 
roofs  of  houses  or  in  any  dark  cornel  it  can  find. 

Incubiition  lasts  about  two  weeks,  and  both  sexes  assist  in  this  lai)or,  as  well 


IS  111  the  preparation  ot  tlie  iiestinj;'  cavity 


f  th 


an 


eii't   is  laiil  dailv,  and  incubation 


sometimes  commences  before  the  set  is  conij)leted.  The  young  of  this  species 
lire  fed  in  the  ordinary  way,  at  any  rate  after  they  are  half  }>Town,  the  parents 
hrin;;in<>'  their  food  in  their  bills.  The  number  of  eggs  to  a  set  viiries  from  four 
to  seven,  sets  of  five  being  most  frequently  found,  while  occasionally  as  many 
as  eight  eggs  have  been  taken  from  a  nest.     Mr.  R.  C.  McGregor  records  taking 


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112 


LIFK  HISTOltlES  OF  NOltTH  AMEKICAN  HIRDS. 


a  set  tit"  tell  cffffs  of  tlu^  Ri'd-lu'iul,  vnrviii<»-  in  sizo  from  onliiiiiry  <lowii  to  tlmt 
of  tlio  Soiij;-  Sparrow,  rnciihatioii  varicil  from  fresh  in  the  smallest  e;;<^'  to 
advaiieetl  in  the  larjfer;  the  nest  was  in  the  cn<l  of  a  rotten  limh  of  a  lar<>e 
willow,  al)out  'JO  feet  from  the  <;ronn(l.  I^oeality,  (Irow  Creek,  Weld  ("onnty, 
Colorado,  May,  1887.'  Likt*  the  (fj^fjfs  of  all  onr  Woodpeckers,  they  are  pure 
china-white  in  color;  the  shell  is  tine  jirained  and  rather  jjlossy,  and  when  fresh 
thoy  are  ([iiite  translucent;  they  are  mostly  short  ovate  in  shape,  and  show  but 
little  variation  in  this  respect. 

'I'he  average  measurement  of  sixty  eggs  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  25.12  by  19.25  millimetres,  or  about  (>.!)!(  by  0.7(1  inch. 
The  largest  oifix  of  the  .series  measures  2(!.D2  by  20.32  millimetres,  or  1.06  by 
0.80  inches;  the  smallest,  22.!tO  by  18.03  millimetres,  or  0.!»0  by  0.71  inch. 

The  ty])e  specimen,  No.  23423  (not  figured!,  from  a  set  of  ii\e  eggs,  was 
taken  bv  .Mr.  C.  W.  Richmond,  near  Washington,  1).  (J.,  June  23,  188.^). 


40.     Melanerpes  formicivorus  bairdi  Kukiway. 

OALIKOIiNIAN  WOOUl'KCKKK. 

Mclaiicriics  finiiiicironis  hiiirili  UllxiWAV,  Itnllctiii  >f(>.  L'l,  11.  S.  National   Musimmm,  1881, 
;i4,  S5. 

(H  95,  0  ;{10,  1!  ;f77,  O  i.'M,  U  »07.) 

(iKOOKAi'UiCAi.  WANtiK:  Xortlioni  and  western  Mexico,  northern  Lower  California, 
and  adjacent  portions  of  tlie  United  States,  from  western  Texa.s,  New  Jlexico,  and  Ari/.oiui, 
north  tiironjih  ("alifbi'nia.  into  western  Orcfjon  to  about  latitude  41'';  east  to  the  western 
slojies  of  tilt!  Sierra  Nevada  and  ("a.seade  mountains  in  (California  and  Orcfjon.  Sporadic- 
ally oil  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Cascades  in  Lake  and  Klamath  counties,  Oiegon. 

f 

In  suitable  localities,  the  Californian  Woodja'cker  is  one  of  the  moat 
abundant  and  familiar  spi-cies  along  our  soiuhern  border,  and  it  is  also  rather 
common  in  numy  portions  of  C'alifornia  and  west<'rn  Oregon.  Meing  esst'iitially 
a  bird  of 'the  oak  belt,  this  iiandsome  Woodpecker  need  only  be  looked  for 
where  these  trees  arc*  abundant.  In  the  northern  portions  of  Calitbrnia  and  in 
southwestern  Oregon  it  is  rarely  met  with  at  a  greater  altitude  than  4,500  feet, 
but  in  .Vri/.ona,  New  Mexico,  and  in  northern  Lower  California  it  is  often  found 
at  considerable  distances  above  this  ])oint.  In  California  it  reaches  the  eastern 
limits  of  its  range  on  the  western  slojies  of  the  Sierra  Ne\adas,  and  in  Oregon 
it  rarely  crosses  over  to  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Ca.scades.  As  far  as  I  have 
been  abh*  to  ascertain,  it  reaches  the  northern  limits  of  its  range  in  ( )ri'goii,  and 
it  a|)pears  to  be  rare  or  entirely  absent  in  the  northwestern  parts  cd'  tins 
State.  I  ha\('  been  unable  to  lind  a,  single  ri'liabh;  recortl  (d"  its  occurrence  in 
Washington,  and  do  not  bt;lie\'e  that  it  has  I'ver  been  met  witli  so  far  north.  It 
attains  the  eastern  limit  (d"  its  range,  as  far  as  known,  in  the  Santa  l'\'  Moun- 
tains, in  northern  New  Mexico,  wher«*  Mr.  II.  W.  Ileiishaw  secured  several 
specimens,  and  it  is  also  connnoii  in  the  riuadalu[ie  and  Davis  Mountains,  ami 

'Thu  l)uloj,'i8t,  Mil.  ->,  .Marili,  1«K«,  ji.  41. 


THE  CALIFORNIAN  WOODPECKER. 


113 


in  the  hilly  country  in  the  vicinity  of  Harris  Lake,  near  tlio  head  waters  of 
the  Guadalupe  River,  in  Kerr  County,  Texas.  A  female,  shot  on  November  25, 
1S!)4,  in  the  vicinity  of  this  lake,  was  recently  sent  mo  for  examination  by  Mr. 
11.  1*.  Attwater,  of  Sun  Antonio,  Texa-s,  and  ho  writes  me  that  it  is  reported 
as  fairly  conuaon  there  in  winter,  and  may  possibly  also  l)reed  there.  This, 
as  far  as  1  can  ascertain,  marks  the  most  eastern  jjoint  of  its  known  ranj^e  within 
our  l).)nlers. 

Jlessrs.  L.  Beldino-and  A.  W.  Anthony  both  met  with  the  Californian  Wood- 
])('('ker  in  northern  Lower  California,  and  it  is  well  known  to  bo  a  connnon 
inliabitant  (jf  many  localities  in  northern  Mexico.  It  is  usually  a  resident  and 
l)iveds  wherever  found,  and  it  is  jfenerally  more  ])artial  to  the  canyons  and 
foothill  rcjiions  than  to  the  extensive  level  tracts  and  larger  valleys. 

Tile  (/alifoniian  Wooil[)e(!ker  is  by  far  the  most  social  rej)resent<ative  of 
tliis  family  found  within  the  United  States,  and  it  is  no  umisual  occurrence  to 
see  half  a  dozen  or  more  in  a  sinfylo  tree.  It  is  alst)  a  well-disposed  bird,  and 
seldom  (piarrels  or  iiyhts  witli  its  own  kind  or  with  smaller  species;  but  it  most 
einphatically  resents  the  thievin<r  propensities  of  the  ditferent  Jays,  .Ma<>i)ies, 
and  Scpiirrels,  when  cauf^ht  tresi)assin}»'  on  its  winter  stores,  attacking  these 
intruders  with  such  vigor  and  persistency  that  they  aro  compelled  to  vacate 
the  premises  in  a  hurry.  Its  manner  of  flight  and  call  notes  chtsely  resend)le 
those  of  the  Red-headed  Woodpecker,  and,  like  it,  it  loves  to  clmg  to  some 
convenient  dead  limb  near  the  top  of  a  tree  and  drum  for  hours  at  a  time.  It 
is  one  of  the  most  restless  Woodpeckers  [  know  of,  and  never  appears  to  be  at 
a  loss  for  anuisement  or  work  of  some  kind,  and  no  other  bird  belonging  to  this 
family  could  ])ossibly  be  more  industrious.  During  the  spring  and  sununer 
its  food  consists,  to  a  great  extent,  of  insects,  ineluding  grasshoppers,  ants, 
beetles,  and  diH'erent  species  of  Hies,  varied  occasionally  with  fruit,  such  as 
cherries,  which  aro  carrieil  off  whole,  apples,  tigs,  and  also  berries  and  green 
corn;  but  acorns  always  form  its  principal  food  supply  during  tiie  greater 
portion  of  the  year,  and  large  ninnbers  are  stored  away  by  it  in  the  thick 
bark  of  ])inos,  as  well  as  in  dry  and  partly  rotten  limbs  of  oak  and  other  trees, 
also  in  telegraph  poles  an<l  fence  posts.  This  peculiar  habit  of  storing  acorns 
in  rece])tacles  especially  made  fov  this  purpose,  and  not  under  loose  l)ark  or 
similar  hiding  places,  seems,  lK)wever,  to  l)o  principally  conhned  to  the  birds 
found  in  California  and  southwestern  Oregon,  while  it  has  not  as  yet  l)een  noted, 
to  the  same  extent  at  least,  in  the  ijomewhat  smaller  birds  found  in  Arizona 
and  New  Mexico;  and  this  habit  is  far  too  noticeable  to  have  been  overlooked 
by  the  many  careful  ornithologists  who  have  visited  Arizona  since  I  was  there 
in  1S72  and  1873,  and  have  had  far  better  opportunities  for  ol)serving  its  lia))its 
tlian  I  I'ujoyed.  Although  I  traveled  over  considerable  areas  in  l)oth  years 
where  these  bii'ds  W(;re  fairly  common  in  places,  I  saw  no  evidence  of  their 
storing  acorns  in  the  way  they  do  in  the  more  northern  ])arts  of  their  range, 
tliough  I  must  confess  that  I  was  then  generally  far  more  on  the  lookout  for 
hostile  Indians  than  ornithological  matters. 

1()896— No.  3 8 


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114 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


Dr.  E.  A.  ^learns,  United  States  Army,  separated  tlic  birds  found  in  Arizona 
from  tiioso  in  (Jaiifornia  and  ( )re<'()n,  descril)inff  the  sotitliern  form  as  Mchinvrpvs 
fonnicivonis  aridratKs,  and  taking''  into  consideraticjii  tlie  principal  ditference 
claimed  by  him,  which  appears  to  be  constant,  and  also  some  api)arent  discre])- 
ancies  in  its  <roneral  iiabits,  I  believe  it  is  as  well  entitled  to  subspecitic  rank  as 
not  a  few  other  now  reco;;iuzed  subspecies.  The  most  notable  ditt'erence  of  this 
southern  form  from  other  reco^niized  races  of  this  species  is  the  small  size  and 
peculiar  shape  of  the  bill,  lioferrinfjf  to  its  hal)its,  the  Doctor  saj's:  "A  very 
common  resident  in  the  pine  belt,  breedinjj  plentifully.  I  have  found  it  as  hif^li 
as  the  spruce  forests,  but  never  in  them.  It  is  essentially  a  liird  of  the  pines, 
only  occasionally  descendinj>'  to  the  cottonwoods  of  the  low  valleys.  The  oaks 
which  are  scattered  throuji'h  the  lower  pine  zont*  supply  a  hufi*'  share  of  its  food. 
Its  habit  of  industriously  hoardinjf  food  in  bark  of  ])ines  and  in  all  sorts  of 
chinks  and  hollows  is  well  known.  These  stores  are  the  source  of  luiendinf; 
([uarrels  Ijctween  this  Woodpecker  and  its  numerous  pilferinjf  enemies,  and  I 
have  laiil  its  supplies  under  contribution  myself,  when  short  of  provisions  and 
lost  from  the  connnand  with  which  I  had  l)een  travelin<f,  by  iillin<^-  my  saddle- 
baj^s  with  half-dried  acorns  from  under  the  loose  bark  of  a  dead  ]>ine."' 

In  Mexico  it  is  rejtorted  that  they  store  acorns  in  the  dry  fiower  stalks  of 
the  yuccas  and  the  majiuay,  Ai/nrc  americnna,  which  is  generally  known  as  the 
"mescal  ])lant"  in  Arizona. 

In  the  Rogue  River  Vallev,  in  southwesteni  (Oregon,  1  found  these  birds 
exceedingly  al)undant  in  the  canyons  and  foothills  along  the  western  slopes  of 
the  Cascade  Mountains,  and  here  one  could  see  evidences  of  their  industry 
every  little  while.  I  have  seen  t'.ie  thick  bark  of  laige  sugar  and  other  ])ines, 
as  well  as  partly  decayed  oak  liml)s  and  telegraj)h  poles,  completely  riddled  with 
small  holes.  Some  trees  certainly  contained  thousands  of  holes.  A  section  of 
a  partly  decayed  oak  hmb  now  before  me,  which  is  ;<  feet  2  inches  long  and  A.^ 
inches  in  diameter,  of  which  only  about  three-fifths  of  the  surface  has  been 
utilized  (the  remainder  having  i)rol)ably  i)een  found  too  .solid)  contains  205  holes 
by  actual  count.  These  holes  are  circuhu',  and  average  about  three-quarters  of 
an  inch  in  dejjth  by  half  an  inch  in  diameter;  each  one  is  intended  to  hold  a 
single  acorn,  and  they  aw  generally  jjlaced  from  half  an  incii  to  aii  inch  ai)art. 
The  acorns  tit  these  holes  pretty  accurately,  and  are  ai)par('ntly  always  driven 
in  point  foremost,  the  base  of  the  acorn  being  flush  with  the  surrounding  wood  and 
not  readily  extracted.  It  seems  improbal)le  and  almost  impossible,  for  a  single 
pair  of  these  birds  to  be  al)le  to  excavate  all  the  holes  I'ound  in  <'ertain  favorite 
trees,  and  I  believe  that  stores  so  ])Ut  away  are  shared  in  conunon  by  a  numl)er 
of  birds  living  in  the  vicinity.  There  is  (•()nsideral)le  dirterence  in  the  edible 
cpialities  of  acorns;  some  are  exceedingly  palatal)Ie,  while  otiun-s  are  rather 
bitter.  The  Calitornian  Woodj)eckers  know  tiiis,  and  as  far  as  1  have  been  able 
to  detect  only  select  the  sweet  ones.  The  sup])osition  that  they  store  only  wormy 
ones,  and  allow  the  inhabitant  to  get  fat  Itefore  eating  it.  is  nonsense;  the  meat 

'The  Auk,  Vol.  VII,  ISIWl,  pp.  l.'19-ijl. 


THE  OALIFORNIAN  WOODPECKER. 


115 


fit"  the  acorn  is  the  attraction,  not  the  worm  in  it,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  it 
t'liniishes  their  ijrincipal  food  during  the  winter,  and  more  or  h'ss  (Uirinj^  the 
remainder  of  tlie  year  as  well.  To  get  at  their  contents,  they  are  carried  to  a 
convenient  tree  wiiero  a  limb  has  been  broken  off;  the  acorn  is  then  driven 
finnlv  into  some  suitable  crack  between  the  spli.iters,  or  in  a  crevice  in  the  bark 
(imy  place  which  holds  it  firmly  aTiswering  the  jjurpose)  it  is  soon  split  open, 
the  outer  hull  removed,  and  the  kernel  is  then  ready  to  be  eaten. 

Mr.  F.  Stephens  writes  me:  "The  Californiau  Woodpecker  is  an  abundant 
winter  resident  in  the  oak  forest,  on  the  mountain  slopes  in  southern  California, 
and  a  rather  common  sunnncr  resident  in  mixed  oak  and  pine  forests;  less 
common,  tliou;«h  still  not  rare,  in  summer,  in  the  oaks  below  the  pines.  It  is 
always  active  and  noi.sy,  and  more  or  less  j^regarious.  At  one  of  my  camps 
in  the  pine  rej^ion  of  Smith's  Mountain  a  family  of  this  species  developed  the 
sap-suckinj>'  habit.  I  had  noticed  some  fresh  holes  in  the  bark  of  two  live  oaks, 
a  foot  or  two  from  the  ground,  from  which  sap  was  flowing,  and  later  I  .saw 
the  birds  drinking;  in  one  case  three  were  seen  drinking  at  the  same  time. 
Tills  is  the  only  instance  of  the  habit  in  this  species  that  has  come  under  my 
observatif»n." 

I  foimd  the  Californiau  Woodpecker  very  abundant  on  the  western  slopes 
of  the  Cascade  Mountains,  on  the  wagon  road  from  Fort  Klamath  to  Jackson- 
ville, Oregon,  in  the  middle  of  June,  1883.  Shortly  after  crossing  the  sununit, 
and  .IS  soon  as  the  first  oak  trees  were  met  with  along  the  western  slo|)e  of  the 
niduntains,  soum  of  these  birds  wen>  continually  in  sight,  and  their  loud 
"tchurr,  tchurr"  could  bo  heard  in  all  directions.  Several  nests  with  young 
were  found,  and  these  made  a  buzzing  sort  of  noise  when  disturbed;  a  single 
set  of  four  slightly  incubated  eggs,  one  of  them  a  runt,  was  taken  on  Juno  15, 
ISS.'J,  ])rol)ably  a  second  laying,  the  first  set  having  been  destroyed,  as  nearly 
all  tli(^  birds  had  good-sized  young  at  that  time.  The  nests  were  all  situated  in 
livo-oak  trees,  from  1.")  to  25  feet  from  the  ground.  The  site,  from  which  I 
olitained  the  set  of  eggs,  was  excavated  on  the  under  side  of  one  of  the  main 
iiranclifs  of  a  good-sized  oak,  about  22  feet  from  the  ground,  sonui  eight  feet 
away  from  the  main  trunk,  and  i-ather  difficult  ti)  get  at.  I  never  saw  Wood- 
])eckers  so  abundant  anywhere  as  this  species  was  here.  Evidences  of  their 
indefatigable  industry  were  frecpu'utly  visible.  A  telegraph  polo  was  observed 
which  was  fairly  honcycomlied  with  small  holes,  and  a  large  bla'k  pine  had 
the  bark  perforated  from  near  the  base  of  the  tree  fully  40  feet  up  and  all 
ai-oimd  the  trunk.  This  tree  alone  must  have  contained  several  thousand  holes. 
The  only  locality  where  1  have  observed  this  species  on  the  eastern  shipcsof  the 
Casc-ade  Mountains  was  near  Pelican  Hay,  on  the  west  side  of  Klamath  Lake, 
where  a  few  straggling  oaks  existed,  the  only  ones  I  have  seen  (in  that  side  of 
the  mountains;  this  accounted  for  the  presence  of  this  Woodpecker  there.  It 
was  quite  rare,  however,  only  three  birds  being  noticed.  1  am  erroneously 
quoted  in  "Nests  and  Eggs  of  American  IMrds,"  l)y  Oliver  Davie  (Sd  edition, 
18Hy,  p.  220),  as  having   found   this   species   breeding   near  Camp  Harney, 


m 


1! 


Mi 


U\-; 


116 


LIFK  HISTOUIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS, 


m'm 


■■"■I .  .• 


M: 


Oref^oii;  I  novtT  mot  with  this  bird  in  southeiisterii  Oregon,  and  know  that  it 
does  not  occur  there. 

.^^r.  J.  K.  Lord,  tlio  naturalist  of  th(!  Britisli  Houndary  Coniinisaion,  on 
^fav  25,  18(!(),  observed  this  species  on  tlie  head  waters  of  the  Deseinite«  River, 
(>re;;on,  also  on  the  eastern  slopi^s  of  the  Cascades,  ainonj^  a  mixed  growth  of 
l)ines  anil  oaks.  The  latter  are  found  hero  only  in  a  few  localities,  and  are  not 
generally  distributed  through  this  region.  He  does  not  claim  to  have  met 
this  species  in  Washington,  and  is  mis(][Uoted  in  "History  of  North  American 
Birds"  (Vol.  II,  1874,  p.  5(;S). 

Viewed  from  an  economic  standpoint,  the  Californian  Woodpecker  deserves 
prote(!tion,  as  it  is  unquestionably  more  l)eneiicial  than  otherwise.  The  small 
amount  of  fruit  it  steals  during  a  sea.son  is  fully  paid  for  by  the  insects  and 
their  larvai  it  destroys  at  the  same  time. 

In  the  more  southern  portions  of  its  range  nidification  commences  some- 
times as  early  as  A|)ril,  and  somewhat  later  farther  north.  The  nesting  sites 
are  nmstly  ex(!avated  in  white-oak  trees,  both  living  and  dead,  but  preferably 
one  of  the  formtn"  is  selected  in  which  the  core  of  the  tree  is  decayed.  It  also 
nests  occasionally  in  sycamores,  cottonwoods,  and  large  willow  trees,  and  more 
rarely  in  telegraph  poles.  Both  sexes  assist  in  the  excavation  of  the  nesting 
site,  as  well  as  in  incul)ation.  The  entrance  hole  is  about  If  inches  in  diameter, 
perfectly  circular,  and  is  sometimes  chiseled  through  2  or  3  inches  of  solid 
wood  before  the  softer  and  decayed  core  is  reached.  The  inner  cavity  is  grad- 
ually enlarged  as  it  descenils,  and  varies  from  8  to  24  inches  in  depth,  usually 
being  from  4  to  5  inches  in  diameter  at  the  bottom,  where  a  quantity  of  the  fine 
chi])s  are  allowed  to  remain,  on  which  the  eggs  are  deposited.  In  the  Rogue 
River  Valley  the  nesting  season  is  at  its  height  about  the  latter  part  of  May,  and 
full  sets  of  fresh  eggs  may  be  looked  for  here  alxmt  the  20th  of  that  month. 
I  have  seen  the  parents  here  canyiug  fcK^l  in  their  bills  to  the  young,  and  I 
believe  they  are  mostly  fed  in  this  way.  "^riie  number  of  eggs  laid  to  a  set  is 
usually  fi>ur  or  five,  rarely  more.  Mr.  F.  II.  Fowler,  Fort  Bowie,  Arizima, 
writes  me  that  he  has  taken  a  set  of  ten,  saying,  however,  "evidently  the 
product  of  two  females." 

Like  the  eggs  of  all  Woodpeckers,  they  are  piu'e  white  in  color;  the  shell 
is  fine  grained  and  not  nearly  as  glossy  as  in  the  eggs  of  the  preceding  species. 
They  are  mostly  short  ovate  in  shape,  a  few  oidy  being  elongate  ovate. 

The  average  measurement  of  nineteen  specimens  in  the  United  States 
National  ^luseum  collection  is  20.40  by  ID.O.')  millimetres,  or  1.00  by  0.75  inch. 
The  largest  egg  measures  2(!.42  by  lit. HI  millimetres,  or  1.04  by  0.78  inches;  the 
smallest,  24.38  l)y  18.2i)  millimetres,  or  ().9(i  by  0.72  inch;  and  a  runt  egg,  19.05 
by  13.21  millimetres,  or  0.75  by  (t.52  inch. 

The  ty])e  specimen.  No.  19414  (not  figured),  Bendire  collection,  from  a  .set 
of  four  eggs,  was  taken  by  the  writer  near  Ashland,  Oregon,  on  June  15,  1883. 


TdE  \AUUOW.FUONTED  WOODPECKER. 


117 


41.     Melanerpes  formicivorus  angustifrons  TUird. 

N AKKOW-FKONTKI )  WOODl'ECKEK. 

MeliinerpcH /ormimi'oriiii  var.  (imjuKtiffititH  Kaiim),  Oriiitlii)li)<;y  "f  Ctililoniiit,  T,  1870,  4(15. 
(U  — .  (J  .MOrt,  11  ;t77«,  V  4."..-.,  IJ  4(l7i(.) 

(lEoiiuAPHiOAi,  BANOK:  Soiitliorii  jwrtioiis  of  Lower  ( 'alifoniiii. 

Tlu'  NiUTow-tVonti'd  Woodjjocker,  a  slifflitly  siiiiillcr  liuo  witli  a  hri^iliter 
siilpliur-yellow  tlirt»at  nn<l  a  iiarmwor  frontal  Imiul  than  X\w  Calil'iirnian  Wodd- 
IH'ckiT,  is  confined  to  tlio  nioro  southeni  ])()rtions  of  tlu*  ]u'ninsida  of  Lowor 
Califoniia.  It  was  described  by  tlie  \i\W  IVof  Spencer  V.  Maiid,  !ii  the  "Orni- 
tiiolo;jfV  of  California,  1870"  (p.  40")),  from  specimens  obtaim-il  l»y  Mr.  J. 
Xantns,  in  tiio  vicinity  of  Capo  St.  Lucas,  Lower  California.  Since  then  Mr. 
L.  Heldinji'  foun<l  it  conunon  at  Jlirailores,  and  still  more  abundant  in  the 
Victoria  Mountains.  Mr.  JF.  Abbott  Frazar,  while  colhictinfi'  for  .Mr.  William 
Brewster,  in  18H7,  in  the  Sierra  de  la  Laguna,  Lower  (California,  found  a  nest 
of  this  8ubsj)ecies  on  June  3,  containiu},'  four  e<ij;s,  which  are  now  in  AEr. 
lirewster's  collection.  He  describes  these  as  white,  with  a  rather  dull  f^loss, 
varvin^'  in  shape  from  blunt  ovate  to  l)road  elliptical  oval,  nieasurinji-,  respeiv 
lively,  0.95  by  0.75,  0.94  by  0.74,  0.89  by  0.77,  and  0.89  l)y  0.7(1  inch:  (.r  24.13 
by  {9.05,  23.88  by  I8.80'  22.G1  l)y  19..-)(1,  anil  22.G1  by  111.30  millimetre.s. 
Mr.  Frazar  tells  me  that,  as  nearly  as  1k^  remend)ers,  the  nestinj;'  site  was  in  ti 
dead  pine  stump  at  no  very  f;reat  distance  from  the  "ground,  its  jrencral  habits, 
food,  etc.,  api)ear  to  l)e  very  similar  to  those  of  the  Californian  Woodpecker. 
There  are  no  eyj^s  of  this  subspecies  in  the  United  States  National  ^fuseum 
collection. 


W"'.! 


4 


k    ti  t 


42.     Melanerpes  torquatus  (Wilson). 

LEWIS'S  WOOUrECKER. 

Picm  iiirquatux  WiLsox.  American  Ornithology,  III,  IHll,  31.  I'l.  XX.  I'i};.  3. 
Mvlaiurpen  torqii<ititn  BoNAl'AKTK,  (!eoj;ra|ilii('al  inid  Coniiwrative  List,  1.S3.S,  40. 

(H  'M,  ('  311,  li  37ti,  V.  45t!,  L'  408.) 

(lEOORAPHirAL  RANOE:  VV'estern  North  America:  from  western  Texas,  Xew  Mexico, 
and  Arizona  tlironjjh  C'oloiado,  Wyoiiiinfj,  western  Sontli  Daicota,  Montana,  and  interven- 
ing rejjions  west  to  the  I'rtcilic  coast;  nortli  to  soutlieru  Mritish  Colundtia  on  liotli  siiles  of 
tlie  Cascade  Mountains,  and  to  southern  Alberta,  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada.  Casual  in 
western  Kansas. 

Lewis's  AVoodpecker,  a  handsome  and  rather  pccidiarly  colored  species, 
whose  rich  dark  crimson  and  bristle-like  breast  feathers  identify  it  at  once,  is  of 
coininou  occurrence  in  suitable  localities  throu<^hout  tin!  West,  raniiinj;'  from 
the  eastern  .slopes  and  foothills  of  the  Kocky  i\[ountains  and  adjaci-nt  ranjivs 
westward  to  the  Pacific  coast.  In  the  more  northern  ])arts  of  its  raiifi'e  it  is  only 
ii  sunnner  visitoi',  and  from  about  latitude  38°  south  it  is  an  irrei^ular  resident, 


'  .  % 


il 


■f  i 


i( 


M 


w 


\i\ 


i 


A 


m 

"m  ■ 


Mi 

i 

'Mi 


V 


II 


118 


LIKH  1I18TOUIE8  OF  NORTH  AMKIMCAN  lUUDS. 


rotiriii<f  to  tlic  lower  I'ootliills  iiiul  valleys  to  winter.  It  is  eHpi'ciall',  ahiiiidant 
iiloii;^  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Sierra  N'evadas,  in  Calit'ornia  antl  Nevada,  as 
well  as  on  those  of  the  CascadcH  in  Orejfon  and  Washinj^ton,  and  on  both  sides 
of  the  nine  Moinitains  and  eonneetin^  raiifres  in  Orcffoii,  Washington,  and 
Idaho,  in  the  innnediate  vicinity  of  the  coast  it  is  not  so  eonnnon  and  occurs 
only  sparin^^ly,  hut  a  few  appear  to  winter  here. 

Mr.  1{.  II.  Lawrence  writes  mo:  "I  occasionally  saw  one  in  January,  lH!r2, 
at  Vancouver,  and  later  in  the  ^eason  seviU'al  apparently  nestcsd  in  the  vicinity 
of  {{idfi'eville,  ( "larke  ( 'ounty,  Washin^iton,  in  tla-  hrokeii  tops  of  lar;>'e  cotton- 
woods  or  willows,  on  the  Ixu'dcr  of  a  sloiijih  of  the  Coluinbia  calleil  'Lake 
Uiver.'  In  the  sunnner  theses  liirds  came  to  feed  in  sonw  cherry  trees  by  tho 
furndioiise  where  1  stoppe<l.  I'pon  Hvinfi'  away  each  one  usually  carried  off 
a  cherry  in  its  bill.  The  only  call  or  note  of  this  bird  I  have  heard  is  a 
kind  of  ])eepin<r  twitter,  a  sound  that  is  weak  and  feeble  for  a  bird  of  this  size 
to  {.rive.  On  July  10,  1H!)2,  1  saw  one  on  a  cherry  tree  in  the  '^-.n  leu,  circlin<f 
for  insects;  each  time  it  Hew  a  robin  chased  it,  almost  touchin<jf  it,  as  valiant 
as  a  Crow  after  a  Hawk,  but  the  bird  made  no  resistance  to  the  several  attacks. 
I  also  observed  this  species,  on  September  27,  1893,  near  Wilson's  Peak,  in 
southern  California,  at  an  altitude  of  about  0,200  feet,  llyinj;'  by  with  an  acorn 
in  its  bill." 

^Ir.  v.  Stephens  writes  me:  ^^ Mrhincfix's  torifiiofiin  is  irrejiular  in  appearance 
in  southern  ( 'aliforuia,  but  is  at  times  a1)undant.  I  have  seen  this  species  under 
circumstances  that  warrant  the  belief  that  it  occasionally  breeds  here,  but  such 
instances  are  rare." 

It  ])robablv  breeds  in  small  numbers  in  the  pine  forests  of  the  hiji'her 
mountain  ranf>'es  in  Arizona  and  southern  New  Mexico,  where  it  has  been  found 
at  all  seasons  of  the  year  l)y  different  observers.  1  saw  larfji-e  flocks  near  my 
camp  on  IJillito  ("reek,  during  the  winter  of  lH72-7i{,  on  several  occasions; 
they  are  more  or  less  }>T(.'ji'arious  at  this  season.  In  northern  New  Mexico  and 
in  Colorado  it  is  a  eonnnon  summer  resident  up  to  7,000  feet;  these  remarks 
apjily  also  to  similar  rej^'ions  in  Wyominji'  and  ^lontana.  The  eastern  limit  of 
its  breediuji-  ran;;e  extends  to  the  Hlack  Hills,  in  South  Dakota,  where  .Mr.  W.  T. 
Wood  took  a  specimen  on  .\uj;-ust  2,  1H,')G,  which  is  now  in  the  Cnited  States 
National  Museum  collection.  In  winter  it  has  been  met  with  in  western  Texas, 
and  it  strajf^les  also  occasionallv  into  the  western  pai'ts  of  Kansas.  Althouiih  I 
have  not  l)een  able  to  find  a  sinule  reliable  record  of  this  bird  haviu"'  been 
taken  in  anv  of  the  northern  Statt's  of  the  ^lexican  Republic,  1  am  confident  it 


vet  be  found  there  as  a  winter  visito 


fiave   met  witti    Lewis  s 


W. 


])ecker  in  the  \  iclnity  of  nearly  all  the  Military  Posts  I  ha\c  l)een  stationed  at 


abuntlant  as  alou"-  tiie  soutl 


lern  sioiies  or 


tl 


le    \'eiirs 


in  the  West,  but  found  it  nowhen' 

the  lihu!  Mountain.^,  in  the  vicinity  of  ('amp  Harney,  Orej^dn,  durini. 

1H7.")  to  1.S7S.     Here  it  was  only  a  sunnner  resident,  usually  arrivinj;'  about  tho 

20th  of  April,  and  in  some  seasons  from  seven  to  ten  days  later.      It  is  by  far 

the  most   silent  Wooilpecker   I   hake  met,  and,  aside   from  a  low   twitterinii',  it 


LKWISH  WOOKl'ECKKlt. 


119 


riirt'lv  iitkTH  a  loud  luitc.  Kvcn  wlicii  sudiU'iily  iiliiniu-il,  and  wlu'U  it  m-cks 
siit'clv  in  riiglit,  tin-  siii'iil  "  liuit,  liiiit"  '/tvu  on  siicli  dci'iisions  l>y  nearly  all  ut" 
our  Woodpeckers  is  seldom  uttered  liy  it.  ()nly  wlieii  niovin;:-  al)ont  in  (locks, 
on  their  first  arrival  in  tlie  sprin;^'  ami  during  the  matin;;'  season,  which  lolluws 
shortUal'terwarils,  does  it  indnl;ie  in  a  few  rattlint!'  call  notes,  resendilin;;' those  of 
the  I{ed-shat't(Ml  Flicker,  and  it  diiiins  more  or  less,  in  a  lazy  .sort  ot'  way,  on  the 
dead  top  of  a  tall  |)ine,  or  a  snitahle  liml)  of  a  cottonwood  or  willow.  Its  tli^^ht 
is  not  nearly  iis  swift  as  that  of  the  majority  of  our  Wooilpeckers,  and  reminds 

oiir  more  of  that  of  Clarke's  Xntci'acker  and  sunu'  of  our  .lavs,  hein^j'  a mh- 

panieil  by  a  considerahle  amoinit  of  tla|>pin;i'  of  the  \\in;;s;  it  is  also  less 
inidulatinu'  and  more  direct.  In  smnnier  its  t'odd  consists  mainlx'  ot'  insects  «>f 
ditfercnt  kinds,  such  as  ;irasshop]iers,  lar;;-e  lilack  crickets,  ants,  heetle.^,  tlies,  larvie 
of  different  kinds,  as  well  as  of  herries,  like  wild  strawlierries  ami  ras|il)erries, 
service  herries  and  salmon  herries,  acorns,  pine  seeds,  and  jiniiper  tierries,  «hih» 
in  cultivated  districts  cherries  ami  other  small  fruits  enter  into  its  daily  hill  of 
fare.  Mere,  when  connnon,  it  may  occasio?ially  do  some  little  dama;^'e  in  the 
orchai'ils,  hut  this  is  fully  compensated  hy  the  noxious  insects  it  destroys  at 
the  same  time.  In  localities  where  ^irasshoppers  are  ahnndant  they  live  on 
these  pests  almost  ex(dusively  while  they  last.  Mr.  Shelly  W.  Denton  tells  mo 
he  noticed  this  Woodpecker  ;iatherin;i'  lunnhers  of  .May  tlies  (/\/ilii'iiiir(i)  and 
stickin^i'  them  in  cre\ices  of  |)ines,  generally  in  trees  in  which  it  nested,  evi- 
(h'Utly  imttin;;'  them  away  for  futiu'e  use,  as  they  lasted  Imt  a  few  days,  it  is 
an  expert  flycatcher,  and  has  an  extremely  keen  \  isioii',  sallyin;;-  forth  freipieiitly 
after  some  small  insect  when  this  is  perhaps  t'ully  llKt  feet  from  its  perch. 
Solitary  trees,  such  as  have  a  few  dead  lind)s  near  their  to]is  and  afford  a  ;foo(l 
outlook  over  the  surroundin;;'  countrv,  are  much  liked  hv  them,  and  such  a  olio 
is  almost  certain  to  he  teiianteil  hy  a  pair  of  these  hirds,  it'  there  are  anv  to  ))o 
found  ill  the  vicinity.  I  havt)  rarely  seen  Lewis's  Woodpecker  in  deep  forests; 
far  more  frocpieiitly  just  on  the  oiit.skirts  of  the  i)ines,  in  juniper  ;;ro\-es  on  the 
tahle-lands  borderin;;'  the  ])ines,  as  well  as  in  the  deciduous  timlter  alon;;-  streams 
in  the  lowlands,  and  occasionallv  even  in  solitarv  cottonwouds  or  willows,  near 
some  little  si)riii;i-,  in  the  drier  saji'ebru.sh-covered  Hats,  miles  away  from  the 
nearest  forest;  it  is  by  no  means  as  ]tarticnlar  in  the  choice  of  a  nesting;'  site 
as  the  majority  of  our  Woodpeckers.  Shortly  after  arrivin;;'  on  their  bree'ling 
eruuiids  a  suitable  site  is  selected  for  the  nest,  and  not  infre(|Uently  the  saino 
excavation  is  used  for  successive  Acars.  In  most  cases  the  iiestini;'  sites  are 
excavated  either  in  llu^  tops  of  tall  ])ines  or  in  dry  cottonwoods,  and  in  tall 
rotten  tree*  trunk.s,  occasionally  in  partly  di'cayed  limbs  of  sycamores,  oaks,  an<l 
less  fre(pieiitly  in  jiiiui»ei's  and  willows.  The  nests,  as  a  rule,  are  not  easily 
u'otton  at,  and  (piite  a  niimbi'r  are  practically  inaccessible,  varying;'  in  hei;;ht 


from  (i  to  fully  !(»(»  feet  from  the  "round.     Dr.  ('.  T.  (' 


\e  iniorms  me 


that 


111 


the  yicinity  of  Salem,  Oreyon,  it  usually  iiests  in  oaks,  and  is  a  ran-  hreeih-r 
there.  Lieut.  H.  C  Henson,  United  States  Army,  has  sent  to  the  National  Museum 
a  set  of  five  eirirs,  taken  near  Gilrov,  C/alifornia,  <»ii  May  8,  I<S1>4. 


I 


I 


*■' 


■■4 


■''If 


« 


( 


HI'' 


I 


II 


^Jiii 


■../, 


I 


ill 

If 


U 


120 


lAVK  msTOUlKH  OF  NOIMII  AMKKICAN  HIUDH. 


Mr.  W.  (i.  iSinitli  took  Huverul  wntn  «>t'  ••f.'^f*  in'tir  l.tivcland,  ( 'oliinnli),  diiriiiff 
tlu*  (ii'Mt  tell  iliiVH  ill  .hint',  ami  I  liiivo  t'oiiiKl  it  Itrccdiii};  iinir  Fort  l.iipwai, 
Idaiid,  at  Walla  Walla,  Wnsliiiifitoii;  tiiid  at  Kurt  Klamatli  and  ('aMi|»  llanii'V, 
Ori'pm.  At  tiif  latter  place  these  liirds  nested  mostly  in  innipers,  and  tlieir 
ejrjis  Were  coinpai'utively  easily  olttaiiieil.  I  liave  taken  I'resli  <'j>jis,  a  set  of 
ei^lit,  here  (ai  May  17,  and  aiiotlier  of  seven  as  late  as  .Inne  'J'.l,  slaiwin^  the 
iiestiiifi'  season  to  lie  stanewlmt  \arialile.  'riie  junipers  which  are  selected  lor 
nestin;;-  sites  were  invariably  decayed  iusiih-,  and  after  the  Itirds  had  chisi'Icfl 
throufi'li  the  live  wood,  which  was  usually  only  frotn  I  to  "J  inches  thick,  the 
remainder  of  the  w<iik  was  com|)aratively  easy ;  the  same  site,  if  not  disturla'd, 
was  occu|iied  tor  several  seasons,  and  in  such  the  inner  ca\ity  was  much  deeper. 
Home  beiiiy'  fully  iJO  inches  deep  and  generally  aliout  4  inches  wiile  at  the 
bottom.  The  entrance  hole  varies  from  2  to  2^  inches  in  diameter,  and  wlu 
this  is  mailo  l)y  the  birds  it  is  always  perfectly  circular;  but  occasionally  a  ]mir 
will  take  advantaye  of  an  old  knot  hole,  if  it  and  the  cavity  it  leads  to  aie  not 
too  larye.  The  presence  of  fresh  chi|)S  found  at  the  bottom  of  the  tree  enaitled 
me  to  readily  tell  if  the  site  wuh  a  newly  made  one,  or  one  of  the  previous 
year,  and  a  rap  a<i:ainst  the  trunk  easily  told  if  it  was  occupied.  On  its 
breeding  grounds  iicwis's  Woodpecker  apjiears  to  be  a  stupid  and  rather 
sluggish  bird;  it  (h»es  not  show  nearly  as  imieli  parental  aft'ectioii  as  most  of  the 
other  members  of  this  family,  and  it  is  much  le.ss  <lemonstrative.  It  is  not  at 
all  shy  at  such  times,  and  will  often  cling  to  some  convenient  lind»  on  the  same 
tree  while  its  eggs  ari^  being  taken,  without  making  the  least  comiilaint.  A 
second  and  smaller  set  is  generally  laid  a  couple  of  weeks  later,  if  tiie  (irst  one 
is  taken,  and  not  infre(|uently  in  the  same  nest,  if  the  entrance  hole  has  been 
left  intact.  Hotli  .sexes  assist  in  incubation,  and  this  lasts  about  two  week.s. 
The  young  leave  the  nest  abimt  three  weeks  after  they  are  hatched,  and  are 
readily  tamed.  I  ke|tt  a  c(Uiple  for  several  day.s,  but  they  had  such  enormous 
aj)petites  that  I  was  glad  to  give  them  their  liberty,  as  they  kept  me  busv 
providing  suital)le  food.  They  were  esjiecially  fond  of  grasshopjiers,  but  also 
ate  raw  meat,  aiul  climbed  everywhere  over  the  rough  walls  of  n>v  house.  A 
ciaisiderable  share  of  the  food  of  these  birds  is  jiicked  nj)  otl'  the  ground,  and 
they  appear  to  be  much  more  at  home  there  than  Woodpeckers  generally  are. 
The  young  are  fed  on  insects,  ami  I  believe  also  on  berries;  I  have  seen  one 
of  the.se  birds  alight  in  a  wild  strawberry  patch,  pick  up  something,  evidently 
a  strawberry,  tly  to  a  tree  close  by  in  which  the  nest  was  situated,  and  give  it 
to  <ine  of  the  young  which  was  clinging  to  the  side  of  the  tree  dose  to  the 
nesting  site. 

From  live  to  nine  eggs  are  laid  to  a  set;  those  of  ..iix  or  seven  are  the  mo.st 
common,  but  .sets  of  eight  are  not  very  rare;  I  found  several  of  that  number, 
and  a  single  set  of  nine. 

The  eggs  of  Lewis's  Woodpecker  vary  greatly  in  shape  and  also  in  size. 
They  are  mostly  (tvate  or  .short  ovate  in  shape,  but  an  occasional  set  is  decidedlv 
rounded  ovate,  wliile  others  are  elliptical  ovate;  the  shell  is  close  graineil  and,  in 


liKWIH'H  W4)()I>l'K("Ki;i{. 


121 


most  cnscs,  (lull,  o|)i)f|iii'  wliitf,  witliout  iiiiy  ^^lllsH  wlmtfvcr.  Somo  wts,  liowcvcr, 
iirr  iiiciilcnitily  ;;liisMy,  liiit  scarcfly  iim  iiiiit'h  sd  us  tlic  lifftfr-kiKiwii  •••^yxot'  ♦lii' 
l>'ci|-|ica<lt(l  WiMitljicckiT,  iiixl  iioiir  ari'  iis  liistnuis  iih  the  c^f^is  ot'  the  Kliikcr. 

Tlif  avcni^if  mcasiinMiii'iit  of  one  Iniiiilri'il  aiul  scvfiity-oiu'  >*|M'riin('iis  in  tin- 
I'niti'il  States  Niitiimal  Museum  collrctiim  is  •_•(:. I'.'J  l)y  L'd.'JI!  niillimclics,  or  al»niif 
l.d.'l  l)\'  (I. MO  inclics.  Tlic  lar^it'st  vim  "'  ''"'  scries  iiicasiin's  •_".•. KT  liy  ■JL'.'t'i 
milliiiu'trts.  cir  1.1s  hy  O.HH  iiiclicM;  tlio  siiiallcst,  "J.'J.HH  l»y  1(1. .'il  iiiilliiiutrcs,  or 
(i.!i|  liy  (l.fl.Miicli;  and  a  runt  (•;;•;.'.  IM. SO  liy  l">.-_»4  Miiilinii'trcs,  or  0.7  1  liy  0.(;o  in<li. 

liic  type  s|M'ciinfn,  No.  lH.'Jd.'i  (not  liyiirfd).  MciHlirc  I'nllectim:.  trnm  a 
Kct  lit'  niiif  v'!:<i:<*<  was  taken  l»y  tlie  writer  near  ('ain|)  Harney,  <  )rej;nn,  im  .May 
24,  1S77;  incnlMitiun  liail  (•(•innu-nced  in  seven  ot"  these  e;;)is  and  two  wen* 
t'l'fsli;  tlie  male  was  cmiirlit  in  thu  nost. 


43.     Melanerpes  carolinus  (Linn-kus). 


■I 


KKn-iiKi,i,ii;ii  WKoiu'i'.cKr.H. 

I'iriiK  vitroHitttit  LiNN.Kr.s,  Hystciriii  Niituni',  cd.  10,  I,  17.">H.  U.'t. 

MiUtinriiiH  ciirolitiUH   KiuuWAY,  Annals  Lyconni   Natural   History,  New  York,  X,  .Ian., 
1»"4,  378. 

(1!  !>i,  c  ;mmi,  U  .■»7i',  C  4.-)»I,  I'  mi) 

(iKDiiUAiMMCAi.  KA.MiK:  Kii.stem  ITultcd  Btatfs;  f'nan  I'liirida  ami  the  (lalt  roa.st, 
north  to  sonthciii  New  York,  I'enn.sylvania,  <  Miio,  soathein  Michifraii,  soiilhiMii  Wi.sronsin, 
Hontheastern  Hoath  Dakota,  ami  southern  (tntaiio,  in  the  Dominion  of  < 'amiila :  we.st  to 
Nehra.ska,  Kansas,  the  Imlian  Territory,  ami  thi'oii};h  al>oat  the  eastern  half  of  Texas. 
Itare  or  casual  i n  eastta-n  New  York,  ('onnuctiiait,  ami  laatcrn  MasHaehnsetts, 

'riie  northern  limits  of  the  hreodin;.''  raiiji'e  of  the  Hed-liellied  Wnodjieeker, 
also  known  as  the  "("arolina"  and  "( 'heekereij"  Woodia-eker,  "Zehra  Miril," 
"Woodelniek,"  and  in  Florida  its  "Oran^i'e  Sapsneker"  and  "Sham-shack,"  are 
not  well  deliiied  as  yet.  It  is  (|Ue.stionabl(i  if  it  hreeds  in  New  York,  aIthoii>;li 
Hpeeimens  have  been  taken  in  ditVerent  localities  in  this  State  both  in  fall  and 
winter.  It  is  known  to  breed  re^idarly  in  southwestern  I'ennsybania,  in  W'ash- 
in;^ton  and  Westmoreland  counties,  where  it  is  a  resident,  and  in  a  number  of 
instances  iJed-bellied  Woodpeckers  have  been  taken  inifh  fartiier  nnrtli  in  this 
State,  niaitily  in  winter.  From  southwestern  I'einisylvaiiia  westward  it  becomes 
both  more  common  audit  tnore  re;;'tilar  summer  resident  throituhont  its  raiiji'e  as 
alrc'iiily  indiciitod.  In  Nebniskii  it  ajjpears  to  be  rare  north  of  the  Platte  I»i\er, 
and  it  is  also  reporteil  as  a  rare  summer  visitor  in  sotitheastern  South  Dakota  by 
l)r.  (i.  S.  .Vji'orsborji',  wlieri-  he  savs  it  probablv  breeds.  Stranji'e  to  say,  it  has 
not  beeti  reporttul  yet  tnttn  any  place  in  Minnesota;  btit  it  will  undoubtedly 
be   found  in  some  of    the    southern    counties    in    this    Stiite, 


Altl 


10tt"ll 


th 


western  limits  of  the  ri 


)f  tl 


in;;e  ot  tnts  species  are  jiciierally  ji'veii  as  reaclnn^;' 


eiistern  slopes  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  I  can  not  lind  any  positive  and  reliable 
reconls  of  it.s  occurrence  west  of  the  States  of  Nebraska  and  Kansas,  and  in 
these  it  seems  to  be  rare  in  the  western  parts.     It  is  fairly  common  and  breeds 


v 


^■ 


•'I 


'    '     T 


ii 


; 


1-       --Irt 


•llli: 


;||ii 


122 


LIFE  UISTOKIES  OF  NORTH  AMEUICAN  B1KD8. 


-A 


4 


%)}' 


■  J 


i 


I!mI 


in  the  Indian  Territory  and  the  eastern  part  (>!'  Texas.  It  is  a  constant  resident 
soutli  of  about  latitude  39°,  and  not  a  few  winter  even  at  tiie  nortlieni  limits 
of  its  range.  It  is  a  coinraon  uud  well-known  resident  in  suitable  localities 
throufjliout  all  the  Southern  and  Middle  States  witiiin  ils  habitat.  I  presume, 
like  tlie  Red-headed  Woodpecker,  they  are  more  or  less  irregular  in  their  move- 
ments at  this  season,  dejjending  mainly  on  an  abundant  winter  food  supply. 
This  handsome  Woodpecker  is  not  at  all  uncommon  here  in  the  adjoining  coun- 
ties of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  and  is  also  met  with  in  the  District  of  Columbia. 
Here  it  is  a  resident,  and  prefers  tiie  more  heavily  tind)ered  bottom  lands  and 
swi  nipy  woods  to  the  hilly  and  drier  forests.  Throughout  tiie  northern  jjortions 
of  its  range  it  pn^fers  deciduous  or  mixed  forests  to  conifenuis,  but  in  the  south 
it  is  apparently  as  common  in  the  flat,  low  pine  woods  as  in  the  oak  haunnocks. 
Newly  cleared  lands  in  which  numbers  of  girdled  trees  still  remain  standing 
are  favorite  resorts  for  this  as  well  as  other  species.  The  l{ed-l)ellied,  like  the 
majority  of  our  Woodpeckers,  is  a  rather  noisy  bird.  Its  ordinary  call  note 
resembles  the  "tchurr,  tchurr"  of  the  Red-headed  very  closely;  another  soiuuls 
more  like  "chawli,  chawh,"  and  this  is  occasionally  varied  with  a  disagreeable 
creaking  note,  while  during  the  mating  season  peculiar,  low,  mournful  cooing 
sounds  are  sometimes  uttered,  which  somewhat  resemble  those  of  the  Mourning 
Dove.  Its  food  consists  of  about  etpial  proportions  of  animal  and  vegetable 
matter,  and  it  feeds  conssiderably  on  the  grounil.  Insects,  like  beetles,  ants, 
grasshoppers,  different  species  of  flies,  and  larv;e  are  eaten  by  them,  as  well  as 
acorns,  beechnuts,  ])ine  seeds,  juniper  berries,  wild  grapes,  blackberries,  straw- 
berries, pokeberries,  palmetto  and  soiu'-gum  berries,  cherries,  and  a])ples.  In  the 
South  it  has  ac(piired  a  liking  tor  the  sweet  juice  of  oranges  and  feeds  to  some 
extent  on  them;  but  as  it  always  returns  to  the  same  one,  until  this  ceasi's  to 
yield  any  mi>re  juice,  the  damage  done  in  this  is  but  slight.  It  has  also  been 
ol)serv«'d  drinking  the  sweet  saj)  from  the  trouglis  in  sugar  camps.  The  injurx" 
it  commits  by  the  little  fruit  it  eats  during  the  season  is  fully  attoned  for  by  the 
numerttus  insects  and  their  larvic  which  it  destroys  at  the  .same  time,  and  I 
therefore  consider  this  handsome  Woodpecker  fully  worthy  of  protection.  It  is 
generally  a  rather  shy  and  retiring  bird  throughout  the  greater  part  of  its  range; 
but  in  afew  localities  it  is  (piite  the  reverse,  and,  according  to  Prof  D.  K.  Lantz, 
has  been  known  to  e.xcavate  Its  nesting  sites  in  the  cornices  of  buildings  in 
Manhattan,  Kan.sas.  Here,  as  well  as  in  some  other  of  our  jirairie  States,  it 
nests  also  in  telegra])h  j)oles. 

Birils  that  migrate  from  the  northern  portions  of  their  rangi'  usually  arrive 
on  their  breeding  grounds  rather  early,  sometimes  by  March  'JO,  and  shortly 
afterwards  preparations  for  nesting  are  commenced.  A  suitable  sit(f  is  readily 
found  in  the  decayed  top  of  some  tree,  oi'  in  an  old  stump,  ni'ar  a  stream  along 
the  edges  of  a  pasture,  or  close  to  some  road,  and  less  often  farther  in  the  center 
of  a  forest.  Deciduous  trees,  especially  tlu'  softer  woo<letl  ones,  such  as  elms, 
basswood,  maple,  chestnut,  poi)Iar,  willow,  and  sycamore,  are  ])refcrr"d  to  the 
harder  kinds,  such  as  ash,  hickory,  oak,  etc.     In  northern  l''h)rida  tlle^■  nest  fre- 


THK  UED-BBLLIEI)  WOODPECKER. 


123 


-'i 


qm-ntlv  in  pinos.  8ev(!ral  excavations  are  often  found  in  the  same  iroo  in  wliielv 
the  nest  is  located,  and  occasionally  tlie  same  site,  with  slij^ht  ntpairs,  is  used  lor 
more  than  one  season.  Mr.  E.  A.  Mclllienny  tells  me  <hat  this  species  is  (piite 
conunon  near  Alton,  Illinois,  where  ho  saw  an  enormous  cottonwood  tree,  stand- 
iui;'  near  the  banks  of  Wood  River,  occupied  by  several  pairs  of  these  birds,  tjie 
tree  l)eing  fairly  i-iddled  witb  their  holes. 

Mr.  1).  li.  Burrows,  of  Lacon,  Marshall  County,  Illinois,  has  kindly  sent 
inc  th(»  followiii;^  notes  on  this  species,  as  oitscrved  by  him: 

"Tile  Ited-bellieil  Woodpecker  is  a  fairly  conunon  sjjccies  in  this  section, 
and  is  found  in  the  river  bottoms,  in  the  bluffs,  or  in  the  small  timber  tracts 
borderiu};'  the  prairies.  I  also  met  with  this  species  frequently  in  southern 
Arkansas,  and  found  it  to  be  the  most  conunon  Woodpecker  in  north  central 
Texas,  and  there  it  fre(iuently  makes  its  nest  in  tele;^raj)h  poles.  During  the 
nesting  season  I  have  found  the  birds  to  be  (piite  noisy  al)out  the  nest,  and  in 
several  instances  hav((  discovere<l  the  site,  wiiile  buildiufi-,  l)y  tlu^  nois\-  call  of 
the  bird;  a  search  would  reveal  the  femahf  clinging  to  the  tree  just  beneath  the 
opening.  Sometimes  1  have  observed  her  standing  motionless  for  (|uite  a  while, 
as  though  resting  from  her  labors.  Tiiis  bird  is  a  good  nest  builder,  and  with 
its  sharp  bill  is  able  to  excavate  cavities  in  living  trees.  1  have  never  found  a 
nest  in  a  tree  that  was  wholly  <lead.  Sometimes  the  dead  extremitv  •)f  an 
upright  1)ranch  of  a  living  tree  is  used,  and  again  1  ha\(i  found  the  nest  in  the 
trunk  of  a  livin;  tree;  in  two  instances  I  have  found  secontl-growth,  lixing 
black  oaks  used,  ti  nest  cavity  being  about  halfway  up,  whei-e  the  IkxIv  of  the 
tree  was  not  more  than  7  inches  in  diameter.  Tlie  l)irils  do  not  seem  to  be 
))articidar  as  to  tlus  kind  of  tree  used,  as  I  have  found  them  in  many  different 
species.  Th((  nest  ranges  from  lo  to  fiO  feet  from  the  ground.  Wlieu  it  is 
reached,  the  birds  tly  al)ont  lUU'asily,  uttering  their  oft-repeated  "chii-clia-cha," 
and  1  have  had  the  female  alight  on  the  same  Ijranch  that  1  was  on  and  but  a 
few  feet  distant. 

"In  tiiis  part  of  Illinois  tin-  nesting  season  begins  in  April.  1  have  taken 
fresh  eggs  as  early  as  May  2  and  as  late  as  .lunt;  (!,  and  liav(f  found  young  in 
the  nest  as  early  as  the  latter  part  of  April,  so  that  in  soint?  instances  eggs  are 
ile])osited  (piitt;  early.  I  havi'  never  found  uunv  than  four  eggs  to  llie  clutch  in 
tiiis  locality.  In  central  Texas  I  took  tlu!  first  full  set  of  five  eggs  on  April  ■_'.'{, 
an<l  believe  they  do  not  begin  to  nest  much  earlier  in  their  southern  rang(^  than 
they  do  here.  The  eggs  taken  from  this  locality  average  much  larger  than  my 
Texas  specimens,  and  five  <'ggs  to  the  clutch  are  not  uncoinmon  farther  south." 

Moth  sexes  assist  in  excavating  tim  nesting  site,  as  well  as  in  inciiliatioii, 
which  lasts  about  fourteen  days.  The  sites  selected  are  usually  from  a  to  70 
feet  from  the  ground,  and  resemlile  those  of  our  other  Woodpeckers  in  every 
respect,  averaging  aiioiit  I'J  inches  in  (hsptii.  It  takes  from  seven  to  ten  days 
to  (fxcavate  a  nest,  and  frequently  the  birds  rest  for  a  week  afterwards  bi'fore 
beginning  to  h  •,  ;  an  vtffi;  is  deposited  daily,  and  from  three  to  five  are  usually 
laid  to  a  set,  rurely  more.    (.Hiinate  seems  to  ali'ect  the  time  of  tlieir  nesting  very 


iii'i 


>h 


ill 


W 


1 

"M 

1 : 

•A  i 

I 

■11 


1-  :; 


124 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMEKKJAN  BIRDS. 


little,  as  they  appear  to  lay  quite  as  early  in  the  northern  parts  of  tlioir  range  as 
in  the  more  southern.  Full  sets  of  fresh  eggs  may  l)e  looked  for  tlus  last  week  in 
April  and  during  the  first  half  of  May.  Generally  only  one  bi-ood  is  raised  in  a 
season.  Jiotii  })arents  are  devoted  to  their  eggs  and  young,  and  will  frequently 
allow  themselves  to  be  cajitured  rather  than  forsake  their  treasures.  The  eggs 
are  wliite,  mostly  ovate  in  shape;  the  shell  is  fine  grained  and  rather  dull  looking, 
with  little  or  no  gloss,  resembling  in  this  respect  the  eggs  of  Lewis's  Woodpecker 
more  than  those  of  the  Ked-headed  species. 

The  average  measurement  of  twenty-four  specitnens  in  the  United  States 
National  Museum  collection  (the  majority  of  these  coining  from  Florida)  is  25.15 
by  18.54  millimetres,  or  ().!(!)  by  0.73  inch.  The  largest  egg  measures  2(). 6 7  by 
l!l.3()  millimetres,  or  1.05  by  0.76  inches;  the  smallest,  23.11  by  Hi.ld  milli- 
metres, or  0.91  by  0.66  inch. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  24727  (not  figured),  Ralph  collection,  from  a  set 
tit'  f(nu'  0'^<^>i,  was  taken  by  Dr.  William  L.  Ralph,  near  Sau  Mateo,  Florida,  on 
May  18,  1885. 


44.    Melanerpes  aurifrons  (Waglek). 

GOLUEN-FUONTEU  WO(  )D1»ECKEI{. 

Picus  auri/roiiH  Waoler,  Isis,  1829,  512. 

Melanerpes  auri/ruiu  Kidgwav,  Proceedings  IJ.  8.  National  Mnseuni,  VIII,  1885,  355. 

(B  92,  C  307,  R  373,  C  451,  U  410.) 

Geographical  range:  Ecostern  Mexico;  south  to  the  City  of  Moxico;  west  to 
Jalisco;  north  into  the  southern  portions  of  central  Te.\ii.s  to  about  hitituile  35°  10'  (Young 
County).    Ai)j)arently  not  found  in  western  Texas  west  of  longitude  101°. 

The  breeding  range  of  the  Golden  or  Yellow-fronted  Woodpecker  is 
coextensive  with  its  geographical  distribution  in  the  United  States,  and  it  is 
probably  a  constant  resident  wherever  found.  Tiie  northern  limits  of  its  range 
have  been  considerably  extended  during  the  past  few  years,  the  most  northern 
point  where  it  has  been  found,  as  far  as  known  at  ))resent,  being  Belknap,  Young 
County,  Texas,  where  Mr.  G.  Ragsdale  observed  this  species  in  the  fall  of  1878, 
and  I  would  not  be  surpri,>'ed  to  find  it  still  farther  extended  into  the  extreme 
southwestern  parts  of  the  Indian  Territory  and  Oklahoma.  While  it  appears 
to  be  pretty  generally  distributed  througliont  southern  Texas,  it  is  less  abnndant 
in  the  central  districts  of  the  State,  and  throughout  the  more  western  jtarts  it 
a])pears  not  to  be  found  at  all.  In  .some  of  the  eastern  portions  of  its  range  in 
Texas  it  overlaps  that  of  the  i)rece(ling  species,  nnd  its  general  habits  are  very 
similar  to  those  of  the  former.  It  is  e<inally  at  home  in  the  more  or  less  stunted 
mesqnite,  iuiisache  {Acacia  fa nu'siaua),  and  post-oak  thickets  of  the  drier  plains, 
as  in  the  heavier  and  more  luxuriant  forests  of  the  river  bottoms. 

Mr.  I).  H.  Burrows  has  kindly  furnished  me  with  the  following  notes  on 
the  habits  of  this  species,  as  observed  by  him  near  Uoiua,  Starr  t-ounty,  Texas, 


THE  GOLDEN-FRONTED  WOODPECKER. 


125 


on  the  lower  Uio  Grande:  "The  Golden-fronted  Woodpecker  is  a  common 
resident  species  in  this  hx'ality,  and  nuich  more  abundant  than  Bairds'  Wood- 
pecker, tho  only  other  variety  that  I  have  fmnid  here.  They  may  ])o  found 
wherever  there  is  u  growth  of  trees  sufficiently  larjife  to  afford  nestinj?  j)lace.s  hut 
are  most  numerous  in  the  river  bottoms  where  there  is  a  heavy  growth  of  old 
mescpiito  tind)er.  Diu'ing  the  fall  and  winter  they  may  be  found  traveling  about 
from  place  to  place  in.pairs,  and  are  easily  located  by  the  call  note,  which  some- 
wliat  resembles  that  of  the  Ked-bellied  Woodpecker,  the  habits  of  the  two  birds 
being  in  many  respects  (piite  similar.  In  tlie  spring,  when  nesting,  they  become 
verv  noisy,  and  when  approached,  utter  their  alarm  note  witli  great  vigor.  I 
have  never  known  tliis  species  to  drum  on  a  dead  liml),  as  most  of  tho  other 
Woo(li)e«'kers  do.  When  searching  for  food  they  may  be  seen  very  diligently 
at  work  near  the  base  of  old  trees,  among  tho  thick  bushes,  or  even  ou  the 
ground.  The  nest  is  by  preference  made  in  the  lives  trunks  of  large  trees, 
usually  tho  mescpiite,  but  sometimes,  in  a  dead  stump  or  limb,  the  same  cavity 
l)eing  usi'd  year  after  year,  and  it  is  rpiite  a  rare  thing  to  see  a  fre.sli  excavation. 
Tlie  nesting  season  begins  in  Aj)ril,  and  most  of  the  nests  contain  fre.sh  eggs  by 
^lay  10.  1  took  a  set  of  six  eggs  from  a  cavity  in  a  live  mescjuite  tree,  tho 
opening  being  but  2  feet  !)  inches  from  the  ground,  but  usually  they  are  placed 
from  S  to  20  feet  up.  Althongli  the  birds  are  not  notably  sliy,  yet  it  is  my 
experience  that  tliey  kMve  tho  ne.st  whon  approached,  and  it  is  a  hard  matter 
to  find  the  bird  in  the  excavation.  If  the  nest  is  molested,  the  birds  return  and 
vigoi'ously  protest." 

Mr.  IT.  P.  Attwater  writes  me:  "The  nearest  point  where  these  birds  nest 
in  the  vicinity  of  Rockport,  on  the  Gulf  coast,  is  in  the  mesquite  region,  from 
If)  to  20  miles  north  of  tliis  place.  Here  their  favorite  nesting  sites  are  in 
telegraph  poles,  and  there  are  few  that  are  without  Woodjjecker  holes,  as  they 
ap])ear  to  make  new  ones  every  year.  Near  San  Antonio,  Texas,  where  the 
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker  is  a  common  resident,  it  nests  in  all  kinds  of  tall 
live  timber,  pecan,  oak,  and  large  mesipiite  trees  being  preferred,  but  telegraj)li 
poles  furnished  favorite  sites  here  al.so.  A  line  running  out  of  San  Antonio 
to  a,  raiu'li  nine  miles  distant  was  almost  destroyed  l>y  these  birds;  they  came 
from  all  sides,  from  far  and  near,  and  made  fresh  holes  every  year,  sometimes 
as  many  as  five  or  six  in  a  single  })ole.  Here  it  also  nests  occasionally  in 
artificial  nesting  sites,  like  bird  boxes,  etc.,  in  j-ards  and  gardens." 

I  have  read  the  following  statement  in  a  newspaper,  said  to  have  been  made 
by  a  prominent  olhcial  of  one  of  the  transcontinental  telegraj)h  lines,  of  which 
I  (piote  oidy  a  portion: 

"Wood))eckers  are  attracted  to  telegraph  poles  by  tho  humming  noi.se  of 
the  wires,  caused  1)y  the  hitter's  vibration  in  the  wind,  they  believing  that  the 
noise  is  made  by  insects  boring  in  the  poles,  and  these  lairds  accordingly  lost 
much  time  ami  energy  in  knocking  against  the  poles  with  their  bills  in  order  to 
drive  the  supposed  insects  to  the  surface,  where  the  latter  would  be  readily 
captured  if  they  were  only  there  to  come  out." 


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126 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


I  (l<i  not  holievo  for  an  instant  that  tliese  birds  are  qiiito  as  readily  deceived 
as  this.  The  real  cause  of  tlieir  ])redilection  for  telefjrapli  ])oles,  in  my  opinion, 
is  tliis:  These  poh's  are  in  many  instances  taUer  than  tiie  prevaihnjf  timber 
found  in  tiie  vicinity,  and  afford  a  mucli  better  outlook  over  the  surroundiu};' 
country.  All  Woodpeckers  are  fond  of  clinirin}''  to  the  highest  dry  limbs  they 
can  find  in  the  vicinity  of  their  nesting  sites;  hence  their  j)reference  for  tele- 
<;ra})h  ))oles  in  prairie  country  or  in  mesquite  and  jmst-oak  scrub,  which  rarelv 
attain  any  f>reat. height  in  the  dry  plains  and  hills  where  they  are  usuallv  ftmnd. 
In  such  sections.the  telegraph  poles  furnish  not  alone  a  better  outlook,  but  also 
convenient,  and  secure  nesting  sites,  and  they  are  not  slow  to  avail  themselves 
of  such  advantages. 

Their  food  consists  of  insects  of  various  kinds,  such  as  beetles,  ants,  grass- 
ho])pers,  also  larva',  acorns,  Indian  corn,  and  different  kinds  of  wild  berries  ai\d 
fruit.  Consiilcrcd  from  an  economic  jioint  of  view,  this  Woodpecker  certainlj' 
does  more  good  than  harm,  and  the  only  thing  that  can  be  said  again.st  it  is 
that  in  certain  localities  where  it  is  common  it  may  make  itself  more  or  less  of 
a  nuisance  by  iJijuring  telegraph  jjoles. 

NidiHcation  conunences  sometimes  in  the  latter  part  of  ]\rarch,  but  usually 
not  nmcli  before  the  miihlle  of  April;  both  sexes  assist  in  this  labor,  and  it  takes 
from  six  to  ten  days  to  excavate  a  proper  nesting  site;  both  live  and  dead  trees 
are  used  for  this  purpose,  a.s  well  as  telegraph  poles  and  fence  posts;  the  holes 
are  rarely  over  12  inches  dee]),  and  are  situated  at  no  great  distances  from  the 
ground,  mosth'  from  (i  to  25  feet  up.  From  four  to  seven  eggs  are  laid  to  a 
set,  usually  hvi^  or  six;  these  are  ])ure  white;  the  shell  is  dose  grained,  dull 
looking,  with  I'ttle  or  no  gloss,  and  varying  in  shape  from  ovate  to  short  and 
rounded  ovate. 

Incubation  lasts  about  fourteen  d.ays,  and  both  sexes  share  this  duty.  The 
earliest  breeding  record  1  have  is  April  7,  IS84,  on  which  date  the  late  Capt. 
1$.  F.  (ioss  took  a  set  of  five  eggs,  near  C'orjms  Chri.sti,  Texas,  which  is  now  in 
the  rnite(l  States  National  Museum  collectiim.  It  is  probable  that  two  broods 
are  occasionally  raised  in  a  season,  as  there  are  sets  of  eggs  in  the  collection  taken 
in  .June,  antl  two  of  these  in  the  latter  part  of  this  mcmth. 

The  average  nieasiu'ement  of  seventy-three  eggs  in  the  United  States 
National  ^luseuui  collection  is  2').Ho  by  lO.oO  millimetres,  or  about  1.02  by  (1.77 
inches.  The  largest  egg  of  the  series  measures  27.94  by  10.5()  millimetres,  dr 
1.10  by  0.77  inches;  the  smallest,  22.8f)  by  17.78  millimetres,  or  O.flO  by  0.70 
inch. 

The  type  sjjecimen.  No.  20902  (not  figured),  from  a  set  of  four  eggs,  was 
taken  by  Dr.  .James  C  ^lerrill,  United  States  Army,  near  Fort  Ihown,  Texas, 
on  Ai)ri"l  28,  1877. 


.    1 
■ 


THE  GILA  WOODPECKER. 


127 


45.     Melanerpes  uropygialis  (Baird). 

GILA  WOODPECKER. 

Centnrux  nropygiaUn  Haibd,  Proceedings  Academy  Natural  Sciences,  Philadelphia,  June, 

1854,  VM. 
Metanirpes  uropynialis  KiixiWAY,  Proceedings  U.  S.  National  Mu.seuni,  VIII,  1885,  ;i55. 

(H  !i;$,  c  ;{o«,  u  .{74,  c  452,  u  411.) 

GEOciUAPinoAi.  iiAN(iK:   Southeastern  Californift,  southern  Arizona,  sonthwestern 
New  Mexico,  Lower  California;  south  to  Jalisco  and  Aguas  Califentes,  Me.xico. 

Tlio  Gila  W()odi)ecki'r  is  a  connnou  resilient  in  .>*uitable  localities  thronghout 
tlie  fj^reater  part  ot"  .soutliern  Arizona,  and  is  most  connnon  at  altitndes  of  about 
•J.fjOO,  but  it  is  met  with  here  up  to  4,500  feet.  Althouj'h  it  has  l)een  rei)orted 
as  having  been  taken  in  several  localities  in  New  Me.\ico,  for  instance,  by 
Lieutenant  Whipple  on  Hill  William's  Fork,  on  February  Ki,  1H54,  this  is 
ri'allv  in  western  Arizona;  a  couple  of  more  recent  records,  from  Pueblo  Viej^o, 
New  Mexico,  September  l!l  and  27,  1873,  by  Dr.  C.  G.  Newberry,  I  believe 
will  also  have  to  be  changed  to  Arizona,  but  I  have  been  unable  to  find  this 
place  on  any  of  the  later  mai)s.  The  only  locality  in  New  Mexico  where  the 
(iila  Woodpecker  seems  to  occur  is  in  the  Guadalupe  Mountains,  in  the  extreme 
southwestern  corner  of  the  Territory,  where  Dr.  Edgar  A.  Mearns,  United  States 
.Vrmy,  found  it  common  along  the  international  boundary  line  in  the  summer 
of  1893,  and  forwarded  several  specimens  ol)tained  in  that  vicinity  to  the 
United  States  National  Museum.  It  reaches  the  northern  limits  of  its  range  in 
the  United  States  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Mohave,  Arizona,  about  latitude  35'^, 
while  in  southeastern  Arizona  I  believe  it  has  not  been  detected  as  yet  north 
of  the  Gila  Hiver,  in  about  latitude  33^.  It  seems  also  to  be  found  throughout 
the  greater  part  of  Lower  (California,  where  both  Messrs.  J.  Xantus  and  L. 
lielding  report  it  as  common  in  the  vicinity  of  Cape  St.  Lucas.  Mr.  Walter  F. 
Bryant  observed  a  few  on  Santa  Margarita  Island,  and  met  with  it  generallv 
idong  the  overland  route,  and  Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony  writes  me:  "1  found  the  (Sila 
Woodpecker  not  unconunon  from  the  southern  slo])i  s  of  the  San  Pedro  Martir 
]\Iountains  neai'ly  or  cjuite  to  the  coast  of  San  Fernando,  Lower  California. 
Its  presence  was  governeil  entirely  by  the  giant  cactus,  and  it  was  only  in  the 
near  vicinity  of  the  larger  growths  of  these  that  they  were  to  be  found."  In 
a  subsequent  comnumication  he  states:  "At  the  time  I  ieit  my  camp  in  the 
dry  desert  region,  about  50  miles  .south  of  San  Quentin,  Lower  California,  on 
.Tune  25,  1894,  young  of  Driinlmtrs  scaliiris  iKcoaaiiiis,  Melanerpes  iiropytfidlis,  and 
Colaptes  iliri/sni(h's  were  all  common  in  families.  The  cacti  ft)uud  here  were 
vastly  larger  than  in  southern  Arizona." 

Helating  to  its  distribution  in  southeastern  Califoniia,  Mr.  F.  Stephens  sends 
me  the  following  notes:  "The  western  limit  of  this  Woodi)ecker  seems  to  be  the 
Colorado  Hiver.  1  expected  to  find  it  in  the  central  part  of  the  Colorado  Desert, 
where  such  species  as  Dri/ohates  scalaris  hairili,  P'ipUo  aherd,  and  Ilarporlii/iielnis 
crissalis  occur,  but  so  far  I  have  failed.     I  found  a  set  of  three  partly  incubated 


I 


M  iM 


I  •' 


■>.f 


■^;"ij- 


: 


128 


LIFK  niSTOBIES  OF  NORTH  AMEBICAN  BIRDS. 


eii'fC^  ill  ii  tVcslily  cxcavatod  liolu  in  ii  growinj^  willow  on  Miiy  4,  1S8(5,  opposito 
Yuiiiii,  on  the  Ciilit'orniii  sido  of  the  Oolonulo  Uiver." 

I  firist  met  with  the  Gila  Woodpecker  dunn<y  the  winter  of  1871-72  in 
the  vicinity  of  iny  camp  on  the  Santa  (Jruz  River,  a  few  miles  south  of  Tucson, 
and  siibsecjucntly  found  it  to  bo  a  common  breeder  at  my  permanent  cam[)  on 
Rillito  Creek,  some  seven  miles  fromTncon.  Its  general  habits  resemble  those 
of  the  ("alifornian  Woodpecker  in  many  respects.  Like  it,  it  is  a  rather  noisy 
bird;  its  ordinary  call  note,  soundin<>-  like  "dchiirr,  dchiirr,"  can  lie  heard  in  all 
directions  in  the  spring;  when  flying  from  one  point  to  another  it  usually  utters 
a  sharj),  shrill  "huit"  two  or  three  times,  resemliling  the  comiiion  call  note  of 
the  I'hainopepla,  and  which  may  readily  be  mistaken  for  it.  It  is  also  more 
or  less  addicteil  to  drumming  on  the  dead  tops  of  Cottonwood,  sycamore,  and 
mescjuite  trees.  Its  flight,  like  that  of  most  Woodpeckers,  is  undulating,  rather 
swift,  and,  on  the  whole,  I  consider  it  a.  more  or  less  suspicious  and  shy  l)ird. 
In  southern  Arizona  at  least,  it  seems  to  be  equally  jiartial  to  the  well-tiuibered 
bottom  lands  and  mountain  canyons  as  w(;ll  as  to  the  giant  cactus  groves  in  the 
more  arid  foothill  regions. 

Its  food  consists  of  insects  of  various  kinds,  such  as  ants,  beetles,  grass- 
hoppers, and  larva>,  and  in  season  largely  on  the  sweet,  tig-like  fruit  of  the 
sahuaras,  the  giant  cactus,  and  also,  to  a  considerable  extent,  on  the  viscous 
berries  of  a  species  of  mistletoe  which  is  (,'ommonly  found  on  most  of  the  larger 
cottonwoods,  oaks,  and  nies(iuite  trees  in  these  regions.  Pliese  sticky,  whitish- 
looking  berries  are  a  favorite  food  of  many  Arizona  birds.  Whih;  tiie  majority 
of  the  (Jila  Woodjjcckers  in  southern  Arizona  nest  probably  in  sahuaras,  quite 
a  number  breed  also  in  tlie  larger  cottonwoods,  sycamores,  and  mesipiite  trees, 
gi-nerally,  however,  either  in  inaccessible  situations  in  dead  limbs  which  can 
nor  be  trusti'd,  or  in  the  live  mescjuite  trees,  in  which  the  entrance  can  only  l)o 
enlarged  with  a,  great  deal  of  labor.  I  know  no  native  tree  whose  wood  is 
hanh-r  than  this. 

According  to  my  observations,  nidification  in  southern  Arizona  begins  about 
the  latter  jjart  of  April,  and  full  sets  of  fresh  eggs  may  be  looked  for  during 
the  last  two  weeks  in  ^Eay.  I  found  my  first  set  of  four  eggs  on  Hillito  Creek, 
on  ]\Iay  2i5,  1872.  The  nesting  site  was  excavated  in  a  limb  of  a  large  cotton- 
wood  tree,  on  the  under  side,  and  about  20  feet  from  the  ground.  The  cavity 
was  18  inches  deep  and  4  inches  wide  at  the  bottom;  the  entrance  liohi  was 
perfectly  circular  and  onl\-  2  inches  in  diameter.  The  limb  was  partly  dead, 
and  the  nesting  site  Mas  located  in  this,  a  few  chijjs  being  left  in  the  bottom 
of  the  hole,  on  which  the  eggs  were  dcjiosited.  Both  birds  were  on  hand  and 
very  uneasy  while  I  was  rifling  the  nest,  uttering  notes  of  i)rotest  from  a  liinl) 
overhead.  As  .><oon  as  I  descended  the  tree  they  examined  their  despoiled 
home  in  turn,  and  were  evidently  much  surprised  fo  find  their  eggs  gone.  On 
]\Iay  28,  1872,  1  found  a  second  nest,  also  containing  four  eggs,  in  a  sahuara, 
about  20  feet  from  the  ground.  It  caused  me  fully  two  hours  of  hard  work, 
with  two  men  assisting  me,  to  get  these,  by  planting  a  pole  alongside  anil  about 


THE  filLA  WOODl'KCKKU. 


129 


ji  foot  from  tlic  cncttis,  niid  cliinbiiif,''  u})  this.  InculKitioii  was  nhout  oiu'-tourth 
iidviiiici'il;  tlic  t'ciiiiilc  WHS  at  lioiiic,  l)ut  How  out  as  mooii  as  tlic  ractiis  was 
struck  with  a  stick.  The  inner  cavity  was  (inly  i\  inches  (h-ep  anil  (juite  roomy; 
the  juices  of  the  cactus  t'ornied  a  har<l  incrustation,  and  tlio  v^iXH  laid  on  the  hare, 
hard  tloor.  On  .May  30  I  took  another  nest,  also  in  a  cactu.s,  containing-  tour 
niuch-incuhated  e^j;s.  'I'iiis  time  1  tried  choppinj"-,  and  had  ropes  thrown  around 
tiu^  top  of  tlu!  cactus  to  steady  it  and  let  it  conu^  down  slowly,  hut  this  plan 
(lid  not  work  well,  and  two  of  the  o^'<;s  were  broken. 

Fidly  three-fourths  of  the.se  hinls  nest  in  cacti  here,  while  the  remainder, 
nesting'  in  trees,  are  about  e(puilly  dillicull  to  j^ct  at.  Mo.st  of  their  nestin<^ 
sites  ail'  used  for  several  years  in  succession;  in  fact,  I  doultt  verv  imich 
if  a  freshly  I'xcavatinl  hoht  in  a  f^-iant  cai'tiis  is  fit  to  nest  in  the  same  season. 
Uoth  sexes  a.ssi.st  in  e.xcavatinj^  the  nestinj^  site,  and  inculiation  lasts  about 
two  weeks. 

The  number  of  e}.rfjs  to  a  set  varies  from  throo  to  (ixc,  sets  of  four  beinj; 
most  coininoii.  Like  those  of  all  Woodpijckers,  they  are  pure  white  in  c(dor. 
'I'lie  shell  is  line  ^raitioil  and  not  very  j^lossy — not  nearly  as  nuu'h  so  as  the 
e<j:<;s  of  the  Ked-headed  Woodpecker;  they  resemble  moiH!  the  e;ifis  of  the  other 
species  of  this  (feiuis  in  this  re.sjiect,  and  in  shape  they  vary  from  ovate  to 
elliptical  ovate. 

'I'he  avera<;e  nu'asuremeiit  of  twelves  i'<x<!;s  in  the  I'liited  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  •J4.,'58  by  IS.O'J  millimetres,  or  about  O.Od  iiy  0.71  iiu-h. 
The  larji'est  ei>-j>'  measures  I'T.-b'!  by  IS. SO  millimetres,  or  l.OS  liy  (1.74  inches; 
the  smallest,  L>-i.S(;  hy  17.-J7  millimetres,  or  ().!)()  by  0.6S  inch. 

The  typo  specimen,  No.  lfl41S  (not  ti<;'urod),  IJendire  collection,  from  a  set 
of  four  e^'^s,  was  taken  by  the  writer  on  Uillito  (Jreuk,  near  Tucson,  Arizona, 
on  May 


23,  IS 72. 


46.     Colaptes  auratus  (!.inn.i:ijs). 

i'i.icKi;i(. 

Ciiciilita  aiiriilim  Li.NN.KfH,  Systcnia  Natiinv,  ed.  1(»,  I,  IToS,  111'. 
Coliipkii  auratii!^  Vigors,  Zdolofiica!  .loin'nal,  111,  1,SL'7,  141. 

(I!  ',»7,  (!  311-',  It  .378,  (1  457,  I-  412.) 

(ii'oriiiArmrAL  uanok:  lOastcin  Nmtli  Anu'rica;  tVoni  Moiida  and  tlic  Gulf  coast 
iiortli  tlirod^'li  tlio  iiiaritiiiic  iiroviiictis  of  Canada  to  Newtoinidlaiid  and  .soatlicrn  Labiadur, 
and  till!  slioros  of  Hudson  Hay,  to  about  latitude  .W^;  thence  in  a  nortliwcstcrly  dirccliiin 
to  Alaska,  to  about  latitude  (>S^;  west  tlii()U};li  about  tlie  pastern  half  of  Texas,  the  greater 
jiart  of  the  Indian  Territory,  Kansas,  the  eastern  half  of  Nebraska,  South  and  North 
Dakota,  and  the  provinees  of  Asi^iniboia  and  .Saskatchewan,  Doiiiiniou  of  Canada,  to 
northern  Ibitish  Columbia.     Casual  in  California;  ueeidental  in  (ireeiilaiid  and  lOurope. 

'I'he  hreediiifi'  rani^e  of  the  Flicker,  also  connnonly  known  as  "Golden- 
winf>('d  Woodpecker,''  "Yellow-shafted  Flicker,"  " Yellow-haimner,"  and  less 
often  as  "  llioh-hole"  or  "Iliyh-holder,"  "Clape,"  "Wake-up,"  besides  u  niunber 

Itib'Jti— No.  3 U 


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130 


hlFK  UISTOlUEa  OF  ^•OUTlI  AMERICAN  DlJtDa. 


1» 


4 


»r. 


I   ■;*  if 

.riff 

i 


if  (.tl 


icr  more  o 


r  less  local  names,  is  nearly  coextensive  wi 


ith  its 


ireojrra 


pliicivl 


ilistrilmtion.  In  the  more  northern  portions  of  its  ran;^c  it  is  a  rej^iihir  mij^Tant, 
while  it  is  usually  a  rijsident  south  of  latitude  38^,  ami  winters  in  consi(leral)l(! 
ninnl)ers  farther  north,  straj^'j^'lers  remaining;'  even  in  Maine  ami  New  Urunswick. 
In  the  Southern  States  it  is  nuurh  more  ahundant  in  winter  than  in  sunnner;  still 
a  innnher  of  these  birds  breed  in  southern  Florida,  while  it  appears  to  b(!  a 
rather  rare  i)reeder  in  the  immediate  vicinitx'  of  the  (!ulf  coast,  in  Louisiana 


md  eastern  Texas. 


It 


IS  a  very  common 


bird 


m  sui 


tablt 


ocalities  thronji'hout 


the  eastern  United  States  and  the  more  southein  parts  of  the  Dominion  of 
Canada,  bein;^'  <;'enerally  found  below  altitudes  of  4,00(1  feet,  and  few  species 
are  more  <^enerally  and  l)etter  known  than  tlu^  Flicker.  Its  breedinji'  ran>j'e  also 
is  more  extensive  than  that  of  any  other  meini)er  of  this  family  found  on  tlu; 
North  American  continent,  ranj^iuff  from  about  latitude  '2H^  in  Florida  to  Fort 
Anderson,  Mritish  North  America,  in  latitude  (JS^  .'Jo'  N.,  and  probaltly  still 
farther  north.  Here  3lr.  H.  MacFarlane  rejiorts  it  as  "by  no  means  scarce  in 
the  valley  of  the  Anderson;  but,  as  it,>  e<jjfs  were  not  in  demand,  very  few 
indeed  were  <rathered  for  tran.smis.sion  to  Washinjifon,  I).  C."  ' 

It  i)rol)altly  breeds  thronyhout  Alaska;  l)oth  Messrs..!.  Lockhart  and  Robert 
Kennicott  forwarded  .skins  and  iig<i:>i  from  Fort  Yukon,  which  are  now  in  the 
I'nited  States  National  Museum  collection,  and  it  has  been  taken  within  a  few 
miles  of  the  coast  in  Herin;^'  Strait.  One  of  the  most  western  breedinjr  records 
known  to  me  is  that  furnished  l)y  Mr.  K.  MacFarlani ,  from  Fort  St.  .James,  Stew- 
art's Lake,  Hritish  Columljia,  who  found  the  Flicki-r  not  uuconunt>n  there,  both 
skins  and  efj'fi's,  taken  in  the  sunnner  of  18!(0,  havinjjj-  becii  forwarded  by  him 
to  the  Fnited  States  National  Mu.seum.  In  Labrailor  it  is  rare,  and  I  doubt 
if  it  breeds  there  to  any  extent,  exce})tinj^-  perhaps  in  the  extreme  southern 
portions.  Alony  the  western  borders  of  its  ran;4'e  in  the  Fnited  States  it  inter- 
jirades  with  ('(ildjttis  rafcr,  and  <piite  an  extensive  transit  on  ziuu!  exists  hei'e, 


nu 


hid 


mg   westeri.   Texas,   the   eastern   slopes    i 


tf   the    1\(  ck\'   ^lountains 


am 


adjacent  ranj^'es,  in  which  typical  specimens  of  both  s[)ecies  are  fomid,  a 


s  we 


as 


manv  intermediates  which  show  the  chief  characteristics  of  one  or  tlu!  other 


si)ecies  more  or  less  ( 


li.stincth 


The  same  conditions  exi^t  to  a  somewhat  less 
dej;ree  on  tlie  I'aciHc  ("oast,  in  (California,  ()re<;'on,  Washiiifffon,  and  Mrili.sh 
(V)lund>ia,  where  Cohiptis  aiirtttiis  from  Ala.ska  interfyrad'-s  witii  Cohiiifi:^  ctifcr 
from  th"  interior,  and  j)robably  also  with  the  darker  n(a■th^^est  coast  form,  known 
as  Cdldjitcs  rdfi'r  sdliodtioi:  For  more  di-tailed  information  on  this  snliject  I 
refer  the  reader  to  Dr.  .1.  A.  Allen's  interestiuj^'  j)aper." 

The    Flicker   is    one   of  the    mos 
aiiparentlv  alwa\s  on   o-ood  terms  wi 


t    .sociable   of  our  \Voodpeckers,  and 


api) 
usu 


th   its 


nei 


jihb 


Mirds  which 


nu;irat(( 


dly  return  to  their  summer  homes  early  in  April,    ind  occasionally  e\cn 
in  March,  and  one  will  not  have  far  to  jio  then  without    iicarin;;-  some  of  its 


I  I'mcci'iliiiK"  !'•  *^'  Ntttioiiiil  MiiHt'iim,  1S!I1,  vol.  II,  ji. 4;i8. 
Tlic  Xcirtli  Ami'lican   SpiicleH  of  tlic^  (i<Miiis  Col.iptvs,  (•oiihIiIimimI  nitli  Hiiccinl  icrcronce 


iIk 


elH- 


tii>nslii|is  of  I'tihiptiH  luiiiiliis  and   CohtpleM  ni/cr,  pulilislictl  lij  tUi'  Aincrlcau  .Miis<'iiiii  nl  N'atiinil   lliiitory, 
Hiill«lin,  Vol.  IV,  ISU2,  pp.  :il-44. 


TIIK  FLICKKR. 


131 


mil 


nv  ami  nitlicr  incloilioiis  ciills.     'I'lic  iiiiih's  usiidlly  iH'cccdc  tlic  f'cmalfH  a  W 


(lavs,  ami  as  sonii  as  tlic  latter  arrive  one  can  licar  tlicir  wcll-kiiDWii  voices  in 
all  ilirectioiis.  (dient'  tlieir  ('(imiiioiiest  calls  at  tliis  season  of  tlie  year  is  a  clear 
'•wliick-ah,  wiru'k-ali;"  anotlier  sounds  lik(!  "(|uit-u,  (|Mit-M,"  a  nuinhei-  of  times 
repeateil;  "tcliuck-ii|i,  tcliuck-u]),"  i-'  anotlier  familiar  soimd  utterofl  l)y  tliein; 
a  far-reacliin^'  ''cla])e,  clape"  is  also  fre(|Uently  uttered,  wliile  a  ([uickly  <;'iven 


I'olhii"'  oi' 


rattlin"'  "tliee-lie-lie-lie-lie"  and   a  lov 


iick-ciick-i-iick"  seem  to  b 


the  notes  of  endearment.     Another  call  when  courting-  its   mate   sounds   like 


'ou 


it-ouit"  and  ends  with  a  soft  "puir,  puir,"  or  a  cooii 


lii' 


vu-cah,  AU-cah 


Low,  chncklin;;'  sounds  are  also  fretjuently  uttei-ed  dnrin;;'  their  lo\i'  making 


ano 


iher  couuuon  call  note  s(unids  like  "zee-ah,  zee-ah,"  and  diniu"-  the  summer 


a  clear  "pi-ack,  pi-ack,"  oi-  "pioli,"  is  also  freipu-ntly  heard;   in  fact,  no  other  of 
oin'  Woodpeckers  utters  such  a  variety  of  sounds. 

The  Flicker  is  especially  demonstrative  dnriiif^'  tli(^  matinji'  season,  and  is 
ail  ardent  wooer.  It  is  an  e.\ceedin<i'ly  intere.Htinjr  atid  amnsinji'  sij^lit  to  see  a 
couple  of  males   ])ayiii}^   tlieir  addr<'sses   to  a  coy  and   coipiettish  female;  the 


apparent  siiyness  ot  the  suitors  as  they  sidle  up  to  her  and  as  (piickly  retreat 
aji'aiii,  the  sly  j^'lanees  {fiven  as  one  peeps  from  liehind  a  limii  watchinj;-  tlui 
other — playinj;'  Ito-peep — seem  very  human,  and  T  have  seen  \\-\v  more  aiiiiis- 
iiiU'  performances  than  tlu^  courtship  of  a   pair  of  these   l>irds.      The  defeated 


suitor  takes  ins  rejection  (pnte  pliiloso[)hically,  and  retreats  in 


a  diti'iiilied  man- 


ner, i)resuiiial)l\-  to  make  another  trial  elsewlien 


I   1 


lave  never  \ct  seen  a  uaii 


of  males  li;^ht  over  a  coveted  female.  F(^w  liirds  deserve  our  ^ood  \\'\]\  more 
than  the  handsonu?  (lolden-wiii<i'ed  Woodjiecker,  ami  it  is  well  entitled  to  all  of 
the  consideration  ^iciierally  shown  it.  Looked  at  from  an  economic  |)oint  of  view, 
it  is  ail  e.Kceediiij^ly  useful  bird,  destroyiii}^'  many  iio.xioiis  insects  and  their  larva', 


a  iii-ea 


t  iiiaiu'  of  which  are  yleaned  from  tl 


le  "'roll 


ml,  as  it  is  far  more  terrestrial 


ill  its  lialiits  than  au\'  other  memlier  of  this  family.  Its  lieak  is  t'reipieiitlv  co\- 
erc(l  with  soil  from  diji';i'iii<^'  in  pastures  after  ji'riilis  and  earthworms,  and  also 
in  ant-hills  after  these  insects  or  their  lar\ii',  of  which  it  is  especially  fond;  it 
also  feeds  on  hairless  caterpillars.      Ditl'ereiit  kinds  of  berries  and  fruit,  such  as 


clierrie! 


link's,  iiersiiiiiiions,  s 


trawl 


111 


< logwood,  w 


hortU 


1" 


lerries,  muliierries 


isniiei'ries,  wi 


Id 


"•raiies, 


)oke,  ami  .soiir-ji'iim  iierries,  ami  occasiona 


11 V 


"•reeii  corn,  arc; 


■ateii  lt\'  it.      The  ilaii 


lau'e  I 


t  does  to  cultivated  fruits  is  \v\-y  tritliu"-,  and 


this  liird  deserxcs  the  fullest  ]irotection. 

In  the  northern  jiortions  of  its  ran^c  niditicatioii  lie^-iiis  ahoiit  a  couple  of 
weeks  after  the  birds  arri\e  from  the  South,  and  a  siiitaiile  place  is  then  selected 
foraiiestiiij;'  site.  It  prefers  oiieii  country,  iutersfiersed  here  and  there  with  j^'roves 
and  orclijirds,  to  the  deeper  forests  to  nest  in.  It  is  easily  [ileased  in  this  respect — 
any  old  stump,  a    partly  decayed  limb  of  a  tree,  near  the  outskirts  of  a  forest, 


doiii;'  the  banks  of  a   creek,  beside   a  couiitrv  road,  or  in  an  old  orchard,  wi 


ill 


aiisw 


er  the  purpose.      A  fresh  cavit\' 


IS  usu 


dl 


\'  excuv 


ated 


su 


itabh'  trees  or  stumps  are  not  readily  uvailable  the  same  may  be  occiipi* 


e\('r\'  \'ear 
b 


liiit 


wheiH! 


for  s(.'\eral 


seasons   in   succession.      In   the  vicinity  of  Washiimton,    District  of 


"■.  fi 


m 


'■\H 


1  !  . 


I,   ■ 


I 

f 


'•?! 


li 


132 


LIFE  UISTOKIKS  OF  NOUTII  AMFIMCAN   l!IIJI>H. 


Cnliiiiiliiii,  llicsc  liinls  nest  in  llu'  oak,  tisli,  clicstnut,  cliii,  iiiiiiilc,  ptiplar,  willow 
iiiid  s\ cimiorc;  spruce  iiiiil  bircliOH  iiri*  also  used,  hut,  on  tlic  wliolo,  sot'l-wood  trees 
seem  to  \iv  pret'erred  to  liard  ones.  In  tlie  Soutliern  States  it  lireeds  tre(|iiently 
in  pines,  and  in  the  itrairie  States  it  occasionally  selects  stfanj^c  nestin^i'  sites. 
Here  it  has  Imumi  known  to  chisel  throujih  the  weather-iioanlin^'  of  dwcllin;;' 
houses,  l)arns,  and  other  outhiiildinjts,  and  to  nest  in  the  hollow  space  hetweeii 
this  and  the  crosslieanis;   its  nests  have  also  lieen  found  in  "ateiiosts  where  liotli 


1»'"1 


lie  and  s 


tocl' 


l<  pass  cons 


tanth 


ni  ( 


hurcli  to\vei> 


ani 


1  in  liurniws  of  Kintilishers 


and  IJank  Swallows  in  the  perpctndicular  l)anksof  strea 


Dr.  (i.  S..\i 


ersl)or"', 


of  \'erniillion.  South  Dakota,  records  lindinj;'  a  nest  of  a  l'"licker  in  an  old 
huh,  al)out  -  feet  from  the  "round,  and  hi(Mi'n  l»\-  a  rank  "I'owth  of  weec 


wajion 
s;   hut 


tlu!  most  peculiar  nestiujj'  site  1  havo  ever  heard  of  is  one  descriiied  to  me  hy 
^Ir.  William  A.  Mryant,  of  New  Sharon,  Iowa,  under  date  of  Decendier  7,  1S!)2. 
lie  writest  "()n  a  small  hill,  a  nuarter  of  a  mile  distant  from  m\'  home,  >;tood  a 


liavstack  whicli 


had  l> 


]\\<j 


tl 


n  j)laced  there  two  years  )>re\iouslv 


he  owner,  (hn 


le  w 


inter  of  lSSll-'!»0,  had  cut  the  stack  throuuh  the  mid 


lUe  and  nau 


led 


away  one    portion,  leaviiig  the  other  standinj^'  with  the  end  smoothly  frinnned_ 
The  following-  spring'  I  noticed  a  pair  of  Yellow-shafted  Flickers  al)out  the  stack 


showiu"'  siyiis  of  wantiny  to  make  it  a  fi.xed  haititat 


ion. 


Oi 


le   nmrniiiii'  a   tew 


was  (•iniyinj'' 


to  tl 


le 


da\  s  latej"  1  was  anui.sed  at  the  eiiorts  of  on<'  of  the  ])air.  It 
pei'iiendicular  end  of  the  stack  and  tln'owiufi'  out  chipped  hay  at  a  rate  to  defy 
competition.  This  work  continued  for  nearly  a  week,  and  in  tliat  time  tiie  pair 
had  exca\ated  a  ca\ity  "JO  inches  in  depth.  The  entrance  was  located  S.^,  i'eet 
ai»ove  ;.;round,  and  was  '2.\  inches  in  diametei-  and  duji'  hack  into  the  stack  for  (J 
inches,  where  it  turned  sharjily  downward  and  was  slij^htly  enlarjicd  at  the 
hottom.  On  .Mav  "iS  I  took  a  handsome  set  of  .seven  eji'ji's  from  the  nest,  the 
(.MM-s  Kiuii'  on  a  l)ed  of  chip})ed  hay.  The  birds  lingered  about  tlie  stack  and 
lt\-  .lime  14  had  deposited  another  set  of  e^ys.      Tlie\-  remained  in  the  \icinit\- 


un 


til  autumn.      I  >urini>-  that  winter  the  balanct'  of  the  stacl 


K  was  remo\e( 


1.     Tl 


lev 


returni'd  tlu^   followiufr  sprinj;,  and,  after  a   brief  s( 


ijourn,  dejiar 


rted    f< 


parts 


UUK 


nown      I  nevi-r  could  (piite  understand  the  philosophy  of  their  ]»eculiar  choice 


.f  til 


is  site,  as  woodland  is  abunilant  her(^     A  well-timbered  creek  liott( 


an  was 


le.-.s  than  half  a  mile  di.stant,  while  larj^e  orchards  and  j^rovi-s  sin-round  the  place 


on  e\'er\'  hand 


I'Mickers  nest  occasionallv  ni  nann'a.  cavities  and  at  distances  from   tl 


10 


•irouud  varyiui:'  from  2\  to  (10  feet,  but  mostly  between  lo  and  "Jn  feet.  Old 
rotten  stumps,  and  dead  or  partly  decayed  trees  are  jtreferred  to  li\c  ones.  The 
entrance  hole  is  usually  '2\  inches  in  diameter,  and  the  inner  cavity  varies  from  H 
to  iiO  inches  in  depth.  It  is  gradually  enlarji'ed  toward  the  bottom,  ami  a  layer 
of  iine  chi])s,  on  which  the  eji'ji's  ar(*  de])osited,  is  .allowed  to  r.'main 


Its 


;ht, 


dtl 


iltncumn  annarentiv 


tb 


jiecKe 


borious,  is  stron<;'  and  swift,  and.  like  that  of  all  Wood- 
undulatiny  or  wave-like.      It  friMjuently  perches  on  a   limb  instead  of 


cliiiiiiiii!'  to  it,  as  do  others  of  the  trib 


In    the   siiriii'i-  of    tl 


('  A'car  1 


t  als 


indulges  in  drumming',  but  not  to  the  same  extent  as  the  majority  of  tliis  family. 


THK  FLKIKKK. 


18: 


^Ir.  MiUily  Miinly,  of  llrowcr,  Miiiiie,  writes  mo:  "I  onco  fniiiitl  one  nslccp 
nil  till'  (iiitsidc  nl'  ;i  tree,  lute  ill  tlif  cvciiinj;'.  [  was  triivcliiin'  liy  iiiDoiili^lit,  ami 
JxiiiiwiiiL:' til"  exact  iucatiou  nl'  tlic  iii'st  in  a  small  poplar,  (jcciilcil  to  \isit  it.  1 
walkcil  close  under  tiie  liinl,  without  appan-ntly  wakin;:'  liiin,  anil  tlieii  struck  the 
tree  a  lilow  with  a  cliili,  which  1  t'elt  sure  would  stun  liiiii,  hut  he  tiew  olV  all 
liiilit.  There  was  no  Itird  inside  (4'  the  hole,  so  he  slept  outside,  clin^i'inji'  to  the 
tree,  t'roni  choice.  'Phis  proves  that  they  can  and  do  sleep  in  this  wav.  In  hliie- 
herr\-  time  they  coii^reji'ate  in  (locks — I  linv(!  .se«n  at  least  thirty  at  once — and  at 
siicli  times  their  entrails  are  dyed  hlue  from  the  fruit  eaten.  I  have  fed  the 
vounji'  with  strawlierries  when  they  were  .still  in  their  nest,  l)eiiijj-ohlincd  to  put 
the  lirst  into  their  liills:  liiit  after  that  they  ate  them  <rreedily,  and  would  scratch 
up  to  the  liole  and  look  out  when  they  heard  me  comin;f,  actiii;;'  just  as  if  it  was 
the  old  liird  which  was  feedin^j  them." 

Niditicatioii  in  the  southern  portions  of  its  rauffo  l)ef>'iiis  ordinarily  in  the 
last  half  of  Aral  li  and  in  the  north  from  four  to  fully  six  weeks  later.  iJotli 
sexes  assist  in  1  construction  of  the  ii(^stiu<i'  site  as  well  as  in  inculiation,  and 
the  male  usually  does  his  full  .share  of  work  at  hotli.  According'  to  Dr.  William 
L.  h'alph's  ohservatioiis  in  Florida,  the  male  usually  sits  on  the  e<>'{;s  durin^i'  the 
ni^iit.  In  the  South  fresh  sets  of  eji^s  may  he  looked  for  diiriii<i-  the  lirst  week  in 
.\prii;  in  the  vicinity  of  Washington,  District  of  ("oliimhia,  diirinji-  the  lirst  half 
of  .May,  and  in  the  more  northern  jiarts  of  its  raiii^e,  in  Alaska  and  the  North- 
west Territory,  about  the  lirst  ten  days  in  .June. 

Flickers  lireedinj:'  in  Florida  ai'e  <reiu'rally  somewhat  darker  colored  and 
smaller  than  those  from  the  more  northern  States,  and  this  latter  diU'ereiice  is 
especially  noticeaiile  in  the  e^i'ji's.  From  live  to  nine  e^^jis  are  usuall\-  laid  to 
a  set,  mostly  six  or  seven:  hut  considerahly  lar<i'er  ones  are  sometimes  found, 
])nssilily  the  product  of  two  females  layiiifi'  in  the  sani(»  nest:  hut  the  feciindit\' 
of  this  Wo(iilpe(dier  is  known  to  he  very  <>Teat.  I'rof  M.  W.  Fvermann  took 
not  less  than  tliirty-se\-en  ejiiis  from  a  jiair  of  these  birds  (out  of  the  same 
iiest)  Itetweeii  May  4  and  .'iiiie  -22,  ISH;");  and  a  still  more  remarkable  instance 
is  recorded  in  tiie  "Yoiinii'  ( hdojiist"  (Vol.  l,June,  1SH4,  p.  2(i),  by  Mr.  Chiirles 
L.  I'hilliiis,  of  Taunton,  Massachusetts,  who  found  two  e<i-j;'s  of  this  bird  in  a 
cavitv  of  a  larji'e  willow  on    May  (J,  ISSiJ,  of  which   he  took  <tiie,  leaviiit;'  the 

oil 


itlier  as  a  nest  c: 


and  he  continued  to  do  this  day  after  day  until  the  poor 


iii'ii  iiaii 


aid  se\-eiit\'-oiie  eu'^'s  in  sevei 


itv-tl 


iree  iiavs 


.Mr.  Steward  O: 


<;illi\-.  o 


Stateii  I.sland,  New  York,  also  reports,  in  "Forest  and  Stream"  of  .Iiiiie  •_',">,  ISSf) 
(]).  4"_'7),  iiiidin^'  a  brood  of  not  less  than  nineteen  youiij;'  I'Mickers  in  one  nest, 
all  alive  and  apparently  in  jiooil  condition.      It  seems  almost  imjiossible  for 

number  of  eij:i>'s,  but  the  fact  that  tli 


a 


<iii' 


le  bird   to  cover  and  hatch  such  a 


yoiiiiu- were  apparently  well  fed  and  in  fjood  condition  is  still  more  remarkable, 
and  tlie  ]iareiits  must  certainU' have  ha<l  a  busytiuu;  to  nrovide  for  such  a  larpe 
faiiiih . 


Tl 


le  ('"■"'S  o 


f  till'  I'Micker  are  ylossv  white  in  col 


or,  am 


1  wl 


leii   fresh  a 


I'l 


lear 


as   if  enameled;   the  shell  is  very  close  jiTained  and  exceedinj^ly  lustrous,  as  if 
polished,  resembling.;'  the  e<?};s  of  the  Ivory-billed  and  IMIeated  Woodpeckers  in 


■"■?• 


# 


■f 


1i 


ll 

•4 

i'l. 


l: 


Hi 

•Is 


1 

I 

■I 


a 


I 


I ' 


i 


134 


l,iri;  IIISTOIMKH  OI'  NOUTll  AMKIJK'AN  IUIM»8. 


.,,,,; 


this  rc.H|»c('t.  'I'licy  iirc  ijiiitr  Viii'iiildf  in  Hlinpc;  the  iiiMJority  iiif  nviitc,  (iIIhth 
short  iiiul  t'llipticiil  Kviitc,  iiinl  ii  tew  M|i|)r(iiich  siilt|i\  rilurm,  wliilc  soiih'  iiic 
iit'iirly  jHTt'cct  u\als.  An  c^jj'  is  rlcpositt'il  thiily  until  tlic  set  is  cuiniih'tiHl,  jiiiil 
iii(Mil»iiti(m  lusts  iiliiiiit  lit"tccM  iliiys;  this  onliuiirily  ilncs  nut  licjiiii  until  the  set 
n\v  iMiil  tlicn  Nonn;;'  hinls  :niit  *'<^<is  in  diU'iTciil  stiii^cs  of 
iitlvnnccnicnt   m'c   Imind  in  tlic  sinnc  nest.     The  \oini"  mit  iililc  to  Icnvc  their 


is  coniiilcti'il,  lint  n 


nest  in  fiiidnl  sixteen  ihiys;  they  ci'iiwl  iiliont  on  the  limits  of  the  tree  lor  ii  coniile 
of  iliiys  hel'ore  they  veiitni'e  to  lly,  ;i\u\  return  to  the  nest  iit  ni;iht.  'I'he  imrents 
arc  riithcr  Huspicioiis  ahout  the  nestinji'  site,  and  emleavor  to  keep  out  of  sijiht 
as  much  as  jiossihle,  even  whiTe  not  natlested;  they  are  devoted  in  the  eare  of 
their  younji',  and  will  fn'ipiently  allow  themselves  to  lie  caiitin'ed  on  the  nest. 
in  the  moi'e  northern  portions  of  their  ranji'e  onl\  a  sin-^le  lirood  is  raiscil  in  a 
season:   in  the  south  possi 


il.lv  t 


wo. 


'PI 


le  return  nn"ration 


to  tl 


en-  wu 


iter  I 


itanes 


usually  lte;iins  ahout  the  latter  part  of  Septendier,  and  is  occasionally  |irotracte(l 
from  four  to  six  weeks  later  in  favorable  localities. 

The  avera<>'e  measurement  of  one  hundred  and  ninety-six  e;;;.;s  of  this  specicH 
ill  the  Tnited  States  National  .Mu.seum  collection,  mostly  from  the  more  northern 
]tortions  of  its  ran;i-e,  is  'J?.!!!!  i)V  '2\JiO  millimetres,  or  aliout  i.lO  hy  O.M  inches. 


The  lar;;'est  e; 
l»y  O.'.M)  inche^ 
Threi^   sets  of 


if  the   series   measures   ,'{(). 4H  1»\-    ■J'J.SI!  millimetres,   or    l.'iO 


nallest,  'i-I.C  I  iiv  •_'(l.8;{  millimetre: 


or 


(t.'.lT  liv  (t.s-_>  inch. 


■s — two  of  live  and  one  of  six — taken   in    I'utnam   County, 
Florida,  liy  l>r.  William  K.  ixaljih,  averajic  only  •_*").Hl>  liy  •_M)..'"i-_'  millinietres,  oi 


uti's  m 


easures  2(i.  (•_>  li\  21..'U 


aliout  l.d'J  liy  O.Sl  inches.     The  larj^cst  tif  these  e 

millimetres,  or  1.04  l)y  (».H4  inches:  the  smallest,  iM-S!)  liy  1H.(»;{  millimetres,  or 

0.!IS  liy  0.71  inch,  which  is  ()uite  a  perceptilile  diU'erence  in  size. 

The  type  s|iccimen.  No.  24(112  (not  li^iin-ed),  fi-om  a  set  of  ten  ej:;,''s,  was 
taken  on  dune  S,  1891,  l»y  J[r.  R.  MacKarlane,  near  ("undierland  IIou.se,  Sas- 
katche^^an,  Dominion  of  Canada. 


47.     Colaptes  cafer  ((Jmklin). 

i(i;i  )-sn  AiTi:  1 1  i'mckeu. 

I'iriis  cn/ir  (iMi'.LiN,  Systcnia  Natina',  I,  I'SS,  4.'il. 

CW((;)/r.v  (((/ir  STE.rNK(ii';i!,  Standaiil  Natanii  History,  IV,  1.S8.'),  42S 

(I!  Its.  o  ;{i4,  K  :\:sh.  (•  i.v.i.  r  11;!,) 

(ir.oGKAi'iiiCAL  RANOK:  Western  Noitli  Aaicrlca;  fnini  the  Istlninis  of  'JVlianii- 
tepee,  nertli  avcu'  the  talilelanils  of  Mexico,  through  western  Texas,  New  .Mexico,  Ari/.oiia, 
Calit'ornia,  OieK'on,  the  eastern  (lortions  of  ^^■ashin^r^on,  to  .soathern  l!ritlsli  ('(ilaiiilila  (east 
of  the  Cascaile  .Mianitains  only)  and  southern  .Vlberta;  east,  reyalaily  to  the  easle-ii  slopes 
of  the  it'oeky  Mianitalns,  through  Coloiailo,  Wyoming,  Montana,  and  western  Assinilioia  la 
th(^  Dominion  of  Canada,  and  s|ioradii'ally  to  Kansas,  Xeluaska,  North  ami  Soalli  Dakota; 
west,  in  Washington,  only  to  the  Cascade  .Mountains;  .south,  ill  iiortbeni  Lower  Califuriiia, 
in  the  San  Pedro  Maitir  Mountains,  to  aliout  latitude  itf'. 


The  Ked-shafted  l''licker,  in  which  the  under  surface  of  the  (piills  and  tail 
feathers  arc?  dee|i  oran<i;e  vermilion,  instead  of  yellow  as  in  the  iireccdinj;-  s|ie- 
cies,  replaces  the  latter  throughout  the  western   United  States  and  along  the 


Tin;  iM;i»siiArn;i>  imckkh. 


185 


sDiitliw  I'stri'ii  liiinlrr  III'  llh'  I  )iiiiiiiiiiiii  III'  (  'iiiiikIii,  i'iihI  uf  tlu'  ( 'a^r.Hli-  NfoiiiitiiiiiH. 
It  in  II  nsiilmt  tliiiiii;;liiiiit  llif  ;;rciiti'r  |i)irt  uf  its  riiii;ii',  r\n'|itlM;i  ill''  iih'ii' 
iiiii'tlirni  |iiiiliiiiis,  \viiiliTiii;i-  n-jiiliii'ly  in  tlic  vicinity  »\  Km't  Wiiijji  Wiilhi,  Wiisli- 
iii<:'tiiii,  ill  liititmii'  III  ,  mill  it  i^  |ii'i'tty  irriK'rally  ilistrilMitcil,  liciii;>-  ns  imiu'Ii  jit 
Inline  in  tlii>  lii;>')i('i'  innmitiiin  ran^rcs  n|i  tn  altitmii  s  of  aiiniit  lii.iiuii  fri't,  as  in 
till-  InwiT  iiml  iiiiii'li  Imttci'  valleys  anion<;'  tlie  tiniiicn-il  iinttuin  lainU.  Ah 
alriiiily  stateil,  fliin  s|»'cii'.H  intcr^ii'iidcs  cxtciiMivcly  with  the  piM-cciliii;;'  mii'  almi^ 
till'  ciistcni  liiii'ilt'i'H  III'  its  ran^^'c,  ami  tyitical  K|i(>ciinrns  arc  imt  iincuMiniiiiily  nut 
wiili  in  western  Kansas,  wcstci'ii  N'l'hi'iiska,  ami  .sniitliwcsteni  Smitli  Daknta;  Imt 
as  fransitiiiii  I'linns,  nr  sn-rallril  "liylifiils,"  pfcdiiininatt'  lai'j^i'ly  lii'ic,  I  iln  not 
iiii'Imli'  tlicsc  si'i-tiiiiis  ill  their  ran;;'e  |ii'ii|ier,  eimsiilei'in;;  them  as  neutral  ^ruiiiiil 
nil  wliii'h  typical  specimens  nt'  linth  sjiecies  are  alioiit  eipiallv  ('iiimmin. 

Its  lireeilin^-  faiiiic  is  nearly  cncxtensiM-  with  its  ;;-eii;>i'ii|iliical  ilisti'iliiitinn. 
It  appears  tn  lie  an  eipially  ciunmiiii  siminier  resilient  <in  the  Mexican  talile-lamU 
as  in  the  western  I'nited  States.  Here,  however,  it  is  tint  met  with  in  simimer 
ill  till'  lower  K'io  (iramle  N'alh-y,  nor  throiiuiiont  the  dry  and  ai'id  portions 
ill  the  Western  pai'ts  of  'Texas  and  similar  reeioiis  in  southern  New  .Mexico 
and  .\riy,ona,  where  it  rarely  lireeds  lielow  altitudes  of  (1,000  feet.  Mr.  \V.  A. 
.\ntlioiiy  met  with  it  in  the  San  I'edro  .Martir  .Mountains,  in  Lower  ( 'alil'ornia,  in 
Slimmer,  at  altitmles  of  from  7,000  to  10,000  feet,  evidently  nestin;:-:  and  near  the 
coast,  in  winter,  as  low  as  ,'5,000  feet.  I  t'oiind  this  handsome  itird  a  coinmon 
summer  resident  nearly  everyw  here  tlii'ou}i'liout  tlie  West,  from  eastern  .Montana, 
west  tliroii;^li  Idaho,  ( )rejiiin,  Washin^iton,  md  Nevada,  to  California,  and  an 
aliimdant  winter  resident  in  the  \icinity  n  Tucson,  -  iiithern  .\ri/.iina,  whei-e 
it  imipiesiioiialily  lireeds  in  the  pine  lielt  in  the   hij^lier  monntains. 

In  its  ^iciieral  lialiits,  food,  call  notes,  etc,  the  Red-shafted  Flicker  resiMiililes 
the  ]ireceilinji'  species  \-er\'  closely,  and  I  have  lieen  iinahle  to  detect  anv  notalile 
dill'ereiices.  It  is  a  trille  lai'iicr  liird  than  the  precedin;.'-,  and  in  certain  sections 
ajipears  to  lie  rather  more  partial  to  exteiisi\'e  forests  than  its  eastern  relatiM'. 
Its  nestiiii;-  haliits  are  also  ipiite  similar,  and  it  adapts  itselt'  I'eadilv  to  the  condi- 
tions foimd  ill  its  snrronndinj^s.  Its  t'a\orite  nesting'  sites  are  old  rotten  stiihs 
or  trees,  such  as  cottonwoods,  willows,  sycamores,  junipers,  oaks,  and  pines. 
It  nests  also  ill  holes  in  banks,  in  the  sides  of  houses,  in  ;j'ate  posts,  etc.  In  the 
more  northern  iiortions  of  its  raiiye  the  nii"'rants  usuallv  return  to  their  lireedini'- 
^i'ronnds  dnrin;^'  the  last  week  in  March  or  the  lieNimiinji'  of  .\|iril.  Xidilication 
lii'Liins  alioiit  the  1st  of  .Mas,  and  lull  sets  of  fresh  cf^'^i's  niav  lie  looked  tor  alioiit 
the  middle  of  that  month.  'The  earliest  set  found  li\-  me,  one  of  ei^^lit  e^i'^s,  was 
on  May  l,  1871,  near  l''ort  La])wai,  Idaho;  tho  latest,  one  of  seven  e^'ji's,  on  .Inne 
n,  1875,  near  Cam])  Harney,  ( )rejion.  In  southern  ( 'alifornia  they  nest  mostly  in 
April,  and  here,  .Mr.  F.  Stephens  writes  me,  "the  Hed-shafted  Flicker  is  a  cnminoii 
resident;  I  find  it  from  sea  level  to  the  n])iier  limits  of  timlier,  anvwhere  where 
trees  occur.  It  often  feeds  on  ants  and  insects  picked  from  the  ^roiiiid."  ( )n() 
liroodoiily  is  usually  raised  in  a  sea.soii;  hut  I  lielieve  an  occasional  pair  of  early 
nestinii'  liirds  raises  two.  .\mon^'  some  peculiar  nesting  sites  ot'  this  species  the 
fi'Mowiny  deserve  mentiuu: 


A' 


:5  1 


■.t  > 


:-;!: 


■1    *• 


4 


.;! 


■M  ^ 


'ill 

■J 


;^l,; 


130  LIFE  ItlSTORlKS  OF  NOliTH  AMKUKIAN  JJlliDS. 

Mr.  Wiiltcr  Iv  Brv).  't  jiivcs  the  t'dllowinrf:  "One  lA'  tlicsc  wiy^  in  ii  Itridj^o 
hulklicjiil,  ;i  few  toot  ahi.vc  the  ('arsdii  Hivor,  Ncvndii.  Tlic  iiitcridr  of  fho 
striicliirc  Wiis  filled  witli  fjravol  iiiid  lar^o  stones,  anmnj;'  wliieli  tlw^  e<;'^s  wero 
ileposited.  Aiiotlier  pair  used  a  tarj^'ct  hutt,  at.  a  nineli-f'n'(iiu'nted  rauj^c,  as  a 
substitute  tor  a  stump.  A  third  nest  was  in  a  sand  hank,  3  foot  from  tlio  tap  and 
10  from  file  creek.  'I'liis  liolo  was  api)arently  s|)eeially  pn-pared,  and  not  oiio 
made  by  a  ;>roinid  .sipiirrel,  sueli  holes  heinj''  sonu^tinu's  ns(>d  liy  these  birds.'" 

Mr.  Oharles  A.  Allen,  of  Xicasio.  California,   found  a   pair  of  Ked-.sliaftod 


Flick 


ers  nes 


tinir  in  a  similar  situation  in  a  cr(>ek  bank,  the  burrow  cont; 


unnia* 


seven  (•"■!■' 


s,  which  he  took.     About  ten  days  later,  happeninji'  to  ]iass  the  sai 


spot,  he  e.xainined  the  hole  ajiiiin  ai.  1  found  it  occujjied  l)y  a  California  Screech 
Owl,  which  in  the  meantime  had  dei)Osited  four  e<;jis.  Some  two  weeks  sul)so- 
(piently  he  examined  it  for  a  third  time,  and  on  this  occasion  the  tenant  proved 
to  be  a  Sparrow  Hawk,  which  was  si-ttinji' on  five  handsonu'  ej>}>s.     Tl 


u're  was  no 


r.estmji'  material  present  on  an\'  occasion,  the  efi'ji's  l\-in;;'  on  some  loose  dirt. 

Near  Fort  La    Aiii,  Idaho,  on  dune  2,  1871,  1  found  a  pair  of  l.,ony-earod 
Owls  and    IJed-shai. -il   Flickers  nestini^'  in  an  old  cottonwood  stump:   the  ( )wls 


occunied  a   iia 


final   <'a\it\-,  and    the    Flickers   had   excavat(^d    tl 


loir  iiestinji'  sito 


directly  over  that  of  the  former,  the  entrance  holes,  althoiifj-h  on  different  sides 
of  the  still),  were  not  over  "J  feet  apart.  The  Ued-shafteil  Flicker's  eyj;'s,  seven 
in  number,  were  on  the  point  of  hatchiiiji',  while  those  of  the  <  )wls  were  about 
half  incubated.  'I'hesc  i)irds  evidently  li\'ed  on  jiood  terms  with  each  other. 
( )ccasionally, after  incubation  has  commenced, additional  eiijis  are  laid  at  difi'ereiit 
intervals  by  tliis  species.  ( >ii  dune  (!,  187"),  near  ( 'amp  Harney. ( )reij()n,  I  found 
birds  nesting'  in  a  rotten  ])iiie  stump,  on  the  southei'ii  slopes  of 


a  |)an'  ( 


if  tl. 


the  Hliie  Mountinns,  the  entrance  hole  )> 
contained 


hree   \duiii>- 


ipp 


.1,1) 


•  .'5  feet  from  the  fiTound.      'Phis  nest 
i)irds,  api)arently  just  hatched,  and  two  ejijis  ;ilreadv 


.liv( 


1" 


rfecth'  fresh  ones,  one  of  tlie.s(>  beini;'  a  runt  ey 


th 


vicinitv  the    Ked-shafted    Flick 


ker  was  very  common,  ami  nesteij  mostly  iii  jum- 
pers, usually  from  ,'i  to  ]2  feet  friin  the  jiroimd;  but  1  lia\(i  also  seen  tluMii 
eiiteriiif;'  hol(\s  in  the  dead  tops  of  larji'e  pines,  fulh"  7(>  feet  aboxc  the  }>Touud. 
Besides  the  usual  insects  and  larva-  u])on  which  this  species  feeds,  1  liax'e  seen  it 
catch  j^rasshopp'  rs,  l)oth  on  the  <>'round  and  on  the  winji',  and  it  is  likewise^  very 
,'oiid  of  wild   strawberries  and  service   l)erries.     ('onsiilered   from   an   economic. 


poiiii  of  view,  the   K'ed-shafted  Flicker 
and,  like  it,  desei\es 


1) 


tl 


IS  as  heneticial  as  the  precedin;;'  species, 


'I'lie  number  of 
)eiu<>'  most  common. 


the  fullest  protection. 


e<i-jis  m  a 


set  AJiries  from  liv(^  to  ten,  sets  of  six 


or  se\eu 


These  are  indistinguishable  from  those  of  the  ]irecedin;. 
species,  exce])tinu'  that  they  a\era;i('  a  trifle  larjicr,  anil  the  same  description  wil 


answer  lor 


both 


'I'l 


ic  avera;i('  measurenuMit  of  one  hundred  and  fiftv-two  ('"'is  in  the  I'nited 


States   National  Museimi  collect 


ion  IS 


2S..'?f  bv  21. (IS  millimeti 


ir  about  1.12 


i»\'  n.,sr»  inches 


The  li 


n'fiest  e"y  of  the  series  measures  iJ2.7<!  by  22.3;')  milli- 


'Diilletiii  Calit'iiriiiu  Aiiuleiiiy  of  iM-irmi's,  II,  Aiigiiitt  '2,  1887,  pp.  151,  l.Vi. 


THE  ItEnsilAlTKI)  KLICKKIJ. 


137 


inotrc's,  or  1.29  1)V  0.88  inclics;  tlio  .sniidlcst,  l'.").! ")  I'v  I'd.;")?  niilliiiictrcs,  or  0.1)9 
l)y  0.81  iiicli;   ;iinl  a  runt,  20.r)T  l»y  lA.Tf)  iiiillinic*r<'s.  or  0.81  hy  (1.(52  ii-.cli. 

'I1u'  tyjK'  sjiccinicii,  No.  lOiWl  (not  (ifiiiri-i,),  iVopi  u  set  of  tni  c^ifis,  wii.s 
taken  by  tlio  writer  near  Fort  Walla  Walla, AVasliin-jto'i,  (in  .Mav  1 1,  1882. 


0 

f 
I 
i 


48.     Colaptes  cafer  saturatior  iJiiMiwAv. 

NOBTIIWKSTKKX  II. I(  Ki:!;. 

Colapfcn  i»(\ri<'<t)iiis stilimitior  KinowAV,  I'l'occcdiiin's  l>i<>l<i<>'ii'al  iSocicty  <>!'  Wii.sliiiijjton,  II, 

A|iri!  1(1,  1H84.  !»0. 
Culii2>ttK  viifer  naturtiliur  KnxiWAV,  MS. 

(!!_,<!  _    1;  _.  (;  _.  1^  41.!rt.) 

(iEOdRAi'ltlOAi.  RAN(iK:  Northwestern  eoust  rofiioiis.  Iioiii  nortlicrii  Caliloniia  imrtli 
to  soatlicrii  Ala.ska  (Sitka). 

The  l)r(HMlinp'  ranfre  of  tlio  Nortinvestem  I'Micker,  a  soniewliat  darker-colored 
ra('(^  than  Coloptes  niffi;  is  confined  to  the  coast  districts  of  Washinjiton,  l>ritisli 
Colninltia,  and  the  southern  parts  of  Alaska  north  to  Sitka,  \\hei-(^  it  occurs  liutii 
ill  the  uplands  and  lowlands.  In  the  corres|)(iiidiii<.;'  reoions  in  western  ( >i';'i;'oii, 
and  ])riil)alily  also  in  northwestern  California,  it  aiiiiears  tti  lie  fouiid  onl\-  on 
tile  snnmiits  of  the  diiferent  iiioiiiitains  )ietW(M'ii  the  ( 'ascades  and  tlie  coast 
diirinji'  the  lireeiliiiu-  season,  where  the  same  moist  climate  jirevails  as  is  found 
in  the  iininediate  \iciiiity  of  the  coast,  while  in  tlii'  drier  lowlands,  such  as  the 
rm|i(|ua,  Koji'iie,  and  Willamette  river  \allevs,  it  is  re]ilace(!  li\-  Cdlujilis  (d/'fi- 
and  hy  intermediates  lietweeii  the  two  forms.  .\  specimen  in  the  collection  of 
the  I'liited  States  1  )e])artmeiit  of  Afiriculture,  taken  near  ( Jleiidale,  in  I  >ouj;l;is 
( "ount\',  Orejidn,  on  . I  tine  1,5,  lSil4,  altlioiij;h  not  ((10  te  t\  |iical,  seems  to  liearoiit 
this  \  iew;  another  from  near  Soda  \ille,  liiim  ( 'oiiiity,  in  the  I'liited  States  X.itional 
Museum  (•oUection,  taken  in  Septemher,  howexcr,  is  a  perfectly  typic.d  Cii/ajilis 
iiij'i'r  sdfiiralK.r.  \s  this  siilispecies  is  known  to  lie  a  common  winter  resident  in 
IJritisli  ("oliimliia,  it  is  (piestionalile  if  the  latter  was  a  iiiii;raiit.  I  first  met  with 
this  dark-colored  race  in  the  I'lij^'ct  Sound  rejiion,  ^\'asllillJi■t^ll,  in  the  latter  part 
of  .Maw  18!l4,  and  found  it  nioilerateh  common  in  the  \ii'init\'  oi'  Seattle,  in 
partly  cleared  tracts  where  there  was  a  ^nod  deal  of' dead  timlier,  ,'ind  also  in  the 
rich  liottom  lands  ol'  the  I'nyallnp  IJixcr.  Mere,  as  the  majority  of  its  iiestiiit;- 
sites  ar((  locate<l  in  rotten  trees,  anil  fre(|uently  ipiite  a  ilistam-e  from  the  ground, 
its  ei;-i^s  ar((  rather  hard  to  obtain. 

Mr.   .lolni    Fannin,  curator  ot'  the    I'roxiiicial    .Museum   at    N'ictoria,  Ihitish 


(!oluinl)ia,  in 


us 


]..ist  of  IJinls"  t'oimd   in  that  I'rosince,  reports  this  siilispecies 


as  ibllows:    "jVliundant  west  of  the  ("ascades;   a  nunilier  winter  in  thi'  ih'iu'hl'or 
hood  of  N'ictoria." 


Accordin^j'    to  ^[r.    10.   W.    Nelson,    it    does  not  ap])ear   t 


o  yd    reyuiariA'  as 


far  north  as  Sitka,  .Maska.  lie  says:  "l)iiriiij;'  Uisclioff's  \  isit  to  Sitka,  at  the 
time  of  the  Wnssian-American  telei;raph  expedition,  nnmhers  of  these  lieaiitifiil 
liinls  were  taken  there,  aiul  some  tif  the  .specimi'iis  are  now  in  the  collection 


I,    I 


w 


If"! 


]3H 


TilFK  IIISTOIIIKS  OF  NORTH  AMEIUCAN  UIItDS. 


;h 


t 


,5 

$ 

'•I 

I 

m 

i 


n 


(if  tlic  Xiitiniiiil  Museum.  Since  then,  liowcvcr,  the  bird  liiis  not.  been  secured 
I'roiu  tliiit  re<iioM.  ISotli  tbrins,  Cnhiiitcs  annitiis  iind  diilitplrs  ivffr  .(i/inatidr. 
undoulttedly  l)reed  in  tliat  sectiitn,  tlu-ir  liiil)itiits  overliippiu};-,  l)Ut  no  internie- 
diiile  exiiniples  liuve  l)(fen  secured  tlnis  tar."' 

Its  jicnend  linbits,  food,  call  notes,  and  niditication,  as  well  as  its  e^ifis.  are 
similar  to  those  of  the  two  |trecedin<i'  si^u-ies,  and  the  sauu'  description  will 
answci'  tor  them.  The  only  al)solut(dy  identified  set  in  the  Ignited  States 
National  Museum  c<illection  is  an  incomplete  (tne  ot"  four,  taken  by  Mi'.  James 
ne]il»urn,  near  Victoria,  British  (!(dumbia,  in  Ufay,  18(i7.  These  measure, 
resi.ectively,  3().!)4  by  21. S4,  30.48  by  'ii'.,'}')  3n.7H  by  '21.0!),  and  30.22  by 
21.34  millimetres;  orY22  by  O.Sfi,  1.20  by  O.SS,  1.21  by  O.sr,,  nnd  l.lit  by  0.84 
ilU'hes. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  1320r>  (not  iigurod),  is  the  lar{.M'st  ciiji-  of  this  set. 

49.     Colaptes  chrysoides  (j\[ALiiEKiiF,). 

(JII.DKI)  I'l,I('Ki:i{. 

(icojticHs  iliriisi>itl(:i  .M  Al.ui'.KlU'^  Itevii'w  ct  jMii;;asin  Zeolofjiciiic,  l\',  ISfti;,  ."i3. 

Voliiplis  rlirjisoitlts  K'l'.icnKMi.VCH,  Ihnulliiich  dor  siu'cicllcn  Oniitliolo'iic.  Scinisoriii',  IS.'it, 


n;i. 


(I!  tlil,  <;  .U.!,  It  ;{7!»,  ('  4r.S.  I'  414. 


<ii'.0(ii!AiMne M,  HAMiK;  liowor < "alifortiia  ami  Saiiora,  ^Icxico;  aorlli,  t'lronj;!!  soutli- 
cni  and  portions  ol'  iiortliwestcrii  Arizona,  to  lutitadc  'A'r'\  Casually  to  sontlicastciii 
Calirornia. 

'i'iie  (iilded  Flicker,  also  known  as  "Cactus"  or  "Cape"  Flicker,  which  has 
the  yellow  shafts  and  (piills  <if  ('.  (Viratiis  ami  the  red  malar  patch  and  ashy 
thi'oat,  as  in  ('.  ni/ir,  is  a  cmnmoii  resident  of  the  <>'iant  cactus  belt  of  southern 
Arizona, 
Californ! 


ailjacc 


It  M 


exican  State  ot  Sonora,  and  snndar  regions  in    Low( 


It 


uas  also   nu't  with  on   the  ( "olorado   |{i\('r,  near   Fort   Mohave, 


iVl'lZoUi 


l)v  Dr.  .1.  (i.  C 


m 


Fel 


iruar\- 


isni, 


th 


biriis 


feed- 


mi>'  on  larva 


ami  insects  anion"'  the  poplar  ti 


'ees,  anil  were  \('i'\'  sh\'  anil  wai'\'. 


It  iindoubtedh'  occurs  also,  occasiona.lK'  at  least,  on  the  California  side  of  thi^ 
Colorado,  but  oids'  as  a  sti'aji'>;ler.      It  Itreeds  throuohoiit  the  rest  of  its  ranoi'. 

^Ir.  I''.  Stephens,  who  has  collected  ipiite  extensively  in  southern  Arizona, 
writes  me:  "So  far  as  m\'  exiierieiice  "'oes,  this  Flicker  is  restricted  to  tli<'  oijint 
cactus  I'eii'ion.     '1 


lie  most  western  jiomt  at  which  1  iiaxc  seen  this  species  was  near 
the  head  waters  uf  \V\'>:  Saiidv  Creek,  in  western  Arizona,  where  the  oijiiit  cactus 


IS     CO 

All 
cactus 


imnoii.      I   have  looked  closel\'  for  this  bird  at  Vimia,  but  failed  to  find  it. 


hut   line  of 


th 


•ts  of  c^os  I  |ia\c  taken  were  found  in  holes  in  the  "iaiit 


Th 


•t  tal 


le  excejitioii  was  a  set  taken  near  I  ucson,  Arizona,  on  A| 


Ai 


Aniii 


1 SS4, 


from  a  dead  cottoinvooi 

.Mr.  .\.  W.  Anthon\-  writes  me 


1  stub,  and  I  shot  the  male  in  the  mouth  of  the  hoh 


The  (Jilded   Flicker 


IS 


itl 


M'l'  common  111 


the  heavy  jji'rowth  of  jiiaiit  cactus,  Ccniis  jirhii/lci,  but  not  aiherse  to  the  candle- 


'  lii']iiil't  ll|iiiil  Natlll:ll  lllHtiiiy  ('iillcrti 


riiiiilr  ill  Alanka,  Nii.  :i,  ISST,  |>.  llil. 


TIIK  (llLIH:i)  KLI(!K1:R. 


139 


wood  forests  wliicli  cover  ii  larj;-*!  ])iirt  of  tlio  pcMiiisulii  iM^twccii  liitittidcs  •JS'^ 
;iiiil  30".  Vouii<>- were  found  by  iiic  in  .Tunc  i;t  Sim  Fcniinidu  iuid  non- Ssni 
(!arlos,  Lower  (!iiliforniii." 

Mr.  J.  Xantus  found  tlus  Gild(t<l  Flicker  very  coininon  in  tlic  vicinit\'  of 
Ciipo  St.  TiUcas,  and  (|uite  a  nunilicr  of  s]iccinicns  now  in  tlic  I'nited  States 
National  Museum  eolleetion  wen^  taken  i)y  iiim  there:  tliese  aAcraj^-e  a  trifli' 
smaller  than  tin;  Arizona  l)irds. 

Mr.  W.  E.  I).  Scott  met  with  this  species  in  tlu*  early  siirin;^-  and  fall  nn  the 
San  Pedro  slope  of  the  Oatalina  Moinitains,  in  southern  Arizona,  as  lii;^h  u|i  as 
."i, ()()()  feet,  and  saw  now  and  then  siuffh^  inili\  idiials  in  the  mesipiite  timlier,  far 
awav  fidui  any  {^'iaut  cactus.' 

I  first  met  with  this  Flicker  in  sonu-  liir^'c  cottonwoods  on  Hillito  ("rec^k, 
near  'PiU'son,  in  the  spriny  of  1872,  and  also  found  a  pair  nesting-  in  a  dead  limb 
of  one  of  these  trees,  but  the  site  was  inaccessible.  1  at  tirst  considered  these 
liirds  rare,  and  not  until  the  nostinjf  season  was  over  did  I  discover  how  al»undaut 
they  wen  in  an  extensive*  fiiant  cactus  jirove  in  Sahuarita  I'ass,  a  few  miles 
northeas'  of  7tiv  camp.  Here  lunnbers  of  them  were  feedin;.';  on  the  sweet,  tiji'- 
like  frr.it  of  this  cactus,  in  company  with  other  species,  and,  as  many  of  th(( 
cacti  h.'d  holes  du}>'  in  their  sides,  this  was  unipiestionably  a  favorite  l)reedin<>' 
])la{'(  for  them.  I  do  not  consider  the  (iilded  Flicker  a  \-ery  shy  l)ird  in  the  late* 
summer  and  fall,  and  I  coulil  have  shot  numl)ers  of  them  at  ditferent  times  had 
1  wanted  to  do  so.  I  paid  but  little  attentii>n  to  this  species  \\  hen  I  fn-st  sa\v 
it,  takiuf;-  it  at  the  tinuf  to  be  the  connnon  eastern  l''licker,  from  the  similarity 
of  its  -ippearance  when  tlyinj;',  and  only  disco\cred  m\'  error  on  shootinji'  one 
on  .Fir.ie  1(1,  1S72.  Its  call  notes,  manner  of  tHj^'ht,  ami  ncneral  lialiits  ai-e  so 
similar  to  thosi;  of  the  common  Flicker  that  one,  j)articidarl\'  a  no\ice,  as  I  was 
til 


len,  nujrht  rea<lMV  make  such  a 


ki 


■itake.      Its  food  consist 


s  manilN 


if  ditferent  kinds  and  tlu'ir  larva',  as  well  as  of  wild  l)ei'ries  and  fruits,  an( 


1\-  of  insects 
(I  it 


ililams  a  <;-oo(l  portion  ot  tlus  on  the  fii-ouiu 


f  th 


th 


|{\'  far  the  "reater 


nund>er  o 


f  tl 


ies(* 


birds 


s   nest  m   the   sahuaras  or 


iiant 


cactus;  and  where  tliese  are  not  foimd  within  reasonable  distances,  this  species  is 
not  apt  to  1)0  met  with,  at  least  not  durinj^'  the  lireedinj^'  season.  This  is  at  its 
height  from  th(*  middle  of  April  to  the  end  of  May,  and,  as  Mr.  F.  Ste[)lunis  has 


tal^ 


en  its  eirii's  in  .luiU',  it  is  possible  that  two  broods  are  occasionalK'  I'aisec 


I  in 


a   season. 


It 


ne'sts  at  \ar\inij'  distances 


fr 


om 


tl 


le   "rouiK 


I  from  S  to    lit  feet. 


^■eiierally  at  heiffhts  of  about   !'>  feet.      1   hiixc  the  indurated  form  of  a   iiestin<jf 
ca\itv  of  this  species  now  before  me,  showiuj;-  ils  exact  shape.      The  hanleiiecl 


re  about  one-fourth  of  an  inch  thick,  and  show  the  inner  contour  o 


<f  th( 


ca\ity  per 


fe.'tl\ 


Th 


le  entrance  is  iiearh'   .">   inches   m   diametc 


iiiside   it   is 


alxuit  7  by  4  inches  wide  and  .").i  inches  deep.  The  sides  and  bottom  of  the 
cavity  are  (piite  smooth,  considering;'  the  nature  of  the  substance  (the  soi't  inner 
lip  of  the  cactus)  out  of  which  it  is  exca\!ite(l.      It  occupied  only  one-half  of  tin 


trunk  of  one  of  tlies(>  "iant  cacti,  ami  the  reiir  of  the  cavifx-  did  not  (iiiite 


•h 


'  TLo  Auk,  Vol.  \,  188G,  p. ««. 


■'^■iM 


,;■  ■  f 


ti:.i 


/'^.4- 


i"' 


:. .  ""'..iii  '• 


>"' 


...  i  A* 


I 


1^ 


ir- 


M  ;  <  ■ , 


Ml 
.Mi 

im  ■ 


m 


i'  I; 


KVfh 


140 


LIFE  riLSTOIUKS  OF  NOItTII  AMERICAN  BITM)S. 


tin'  ccuttT  i)f  tlic  ])liint.  'I'lic  (';4'ns  liiy  on  tli((  liiinltMKMl  tloor,  iiinl  not,  as  usual, 
ou  a  layer  of  cliijis.  1  am  incliucfil  to  lH^li('\ci  tliat  a  freshly  oxcavatiMl  nesting 
sit(f  is  not  lial)italil('  t'orsonic^  weeks,  as  it  nuist  ve(|uire  somc^  tinio  for  tli(i  cxudinj; 
sap  to  lianleii.  Tlie  mold  heforo  nw.  somc^wliat  resombles  a  wasp's  nc^st,  hotli  in 
color  ami  shape,  and  if  susj)oniled  from  the  limb  of  a  tree  niij^'ht  easily  he 
mistaken  for  one.  From  two  to  five  o<fj?s  are  laid  to  a  set,  usually  four,  and  those 
are  indistinguishable  in  sliai)e  and  color  from  those  of  the  rest  of  our  Flickers. 

'Hie  a\('rage  measurement  of  sevtni  eggs  in  the  Iniited  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  "iS.Of!  by  21.03  millimetres,  or  al>out  1.14  by  0.sr>  inches. 
'Phe  largest  i}'/'^  measures  .'5().7S  by  22.10  millimetres,  or  1.21  by  0.S7  inches; 
the  smallest,  26.!)2  by  20.32  millimetres,  or  l.OO  by  O.SO  inches. 

Tile  tyj)e  s])ecimen.  No.  22()3r)  (not  ligured),  from  a  set  of  four  eggs,  was 
taken  by  Mr.  Herbert  Hrown,  near  Tucson,  Arizona,  ou  ]\[.iy  25,  1884,  from  a 
liol(^  in  a  giant  cactus,  1")  feet  from  th(^  ground. 

50.     Colaptes  rufipileus  UMuoway. 

ClIAD.M.ll'K  ll.ICKKIi. 

Ciilajitin  muxivimiix  nilijiilciis  \Uih;\v\\,  liiillctiii  ('.  8.  (icoloiiiciil  aiicl(i('(){;rai)lii('iil  Sinvoy 

of  the  Tcnititrics,  11,  Xo.  L',  April  I,  lS7(i,  1!»1. 
CdIiiIiIix  niliiiUriin  l!in(i\VAV,  linllotiu  Nuttall  Oniitliological  Club,  II,  .luly,  1877,  fid. 

(1!  _.  O  — ,  1!  3.S0,  C  — ,  IT  115.) 

(iKodKAiMiic  \i.  liANdK:  <ina(l!ilii|i('  Island,  Mexico. 

The  (iuadalupe  Flicker  was  discovered  i»y  Dr.  Fdward  Palmer  in  ISTo, 
while  engaged  in  making  natural  history  collections  on  (ruadalupti  Island,  otf 
the  coast  of  Louver  California,  and  nearly  all  of  the  land  binls  obtained  by 
liim  at  the  time  jiroved  to  bi;  insular  forms  and  new  to  science.  Since  then 
Mr.  Walter  iv  iJryant  has  twice  visited  this  renioti^  island,  which  is  situated 
about  200  miles  to  tile  south  and  west  of  San  Diego,  California,  the  northern 
extremity  lying  in  about  latitude  21)^  10'  N.  and  longitude  118^  1 8'  W.  It  is 
ai»out  1.')  miles  in  length,  with  a  maxinunn  width  of  f)  miles,  and  it  is  said  to 
reach  an  altitudi^  of  about  4,500  feet  at  its  highest  ])oint.  There  are  some  ])ines, 
cypress  trees,  and  cal)l)ag(^  palms  found  on  tlui  island.  For  all  tlu^  information 
w<*  possess  about  the  life  histor\-  of  this  insular  Flicker,  whose  habitat  ajipears 
to  be  contineil  to  this  island,  we  are  indebted  to  Afr.  Bryant,  wlio  published  an 
interesting  paper  entitled  "Atlditions  to  the  Ornithology  of  Guadalupe  Island" 
(in  Bulletin  (!,  ( "idifornia  Academy  of  Sciences,  daimary  5,  1887,  pp.  2(!ll  to  318), 
from  which  1  extract  the  foUowin;''  relatiu"-  to  this  littled' 


Known  si)ecies 


"Ctanparatively  s|)eaking,  this  bird  was  not  rare  in  the  ri'stricted  area-  of 
tli((  large  cypress  grove,  but  apart  from  this  locality  less  than  a  dozen  were  seen. 
Three  specimens  were  taken  among  some  ])alms,  within  a  shoi't  dist; 


nice  Irom 


th 


leach,  on  the  eastern  side  of  tin*  island.     Onh'  on 


e  was 


heard 


th 


pines  at  th(^  northern  portion,  and  in  tlu^  vicinity  of  the  large  jiahii  gro\'e  on 
the  northwestern  slope  tlie\'  were  occasionalh'  seen. 


U 


TlIK  (iUADALlJPE  FLICKKK. 


141 


"Of  Jill  the  spccifs  of  tliis  tiiniily  I  liiivi*  (^vcr  met  witli,  mmn  luivc  Immmi  so 
tiiiiic  .mil  uiisiispifioiis  or  loss  tVifiliteiu'il  l»y  tlio  report  of  ii  j;iiii.  In  .Fiiiniiiry 
1  witnessed  ii  pecnliar  liiil)it  not  lii't'oro  noticed,  I  helievc,  in  l)ir(ls  ot'tliis  "^cnns. 
A  piiii-  of  Flit'k((rs  were  perched  t'acinjf  oacli  other  upon  a  ji'niirleil  root  jilxtnt  it 
feet  tVuMi  the  fiToiniil,  tluMT  heads  within  a  foot  of  each  otlier.  Snddenly  tlm 
nude,  who  had  l)een  sittinji'  motionless  heftre  the  female,  lieji'an  a  somewiiat 
<i'rotes(jue  performance,  which  consisteil  in  a  rapid  holiliin^j' of  his  heail.  In  this 
he  was  immodialeh'  followeil  liy  the  female.  'Piiis  spasmodic  liolil)inu'  and 
hciwinii' thev  repeateil  alternately  a  few  times,  when  l...rh  stop])eil  as  snddenly 
as  thev  liad  commeiicod.  After  an  interval  of  a  few  seconds  the  male  lie^an 
Muain,  and  was  joineil  hy  the  female.  Tlie  mnvement  I'esemltled  more  an 
upward  jerk  of  the  head  than  a  how. 

"  .\pproachin^-  on  mv  iiands  and  knees  to  i^'et  a  closer  view,  I  cnidd  hear  a, 
low,  I'hncklin^i'  sonnd  wiiile  these  strange  actions  were  in  ] )ro,iires^.  Wliat  th(^ 
outcome  of  this  love-makin;;' — for  such  I  rej^arded  it — would  have  heen  I  did 
not  ascertain.  The  fear  of  losing-  the  specimen.s — almost  the  lirst  !  had  seen — 
prompted  me  to  tire.  The  first  shot  broujiht  down  the  female.  .\t  the  report 
awav  ilew  the  male,  followed  by  another  male,  which,  unseen  l)y  me,  had  been 
(piite  neai',  on  the  i;round.  They  returned  while  I  was  still  holdinji'  tlie  female, 
and  thus  gave  me  an  opportmiity  of securinj^-  them  both,  Tiieir  e\ident  lack  of 
timidity  jiermitted  me  to  draw  near  enoujih  to  plainly  distinguish  the  character- 
istic liright  reil  cheek  patches.  In  February  1  saw  a  repetition  of  the  action 
al)ove  noted,  the  birds  being  in  a  cypress  tree  above  me.  They  were  ver\- 
tame,  especially  the  female,  who  came  (piite  near  as  I  lay  ujion  tlu  ground, 
wliistling  "(piit-tu,  (piit-tu,"  ami  watching  her  puzzled  actions.  In  ii  half-dead 
cvpress  this  pair  had  partialh'  pecki^I  a  cavity  for  a  nest.  In  addition  to  tlu^ 
familiar  scythe-whetting  notes  they  have  the  peculiar  "wake-up"  call  and  its 
rapid  jtrelude  of  monosyllables.  By  imitating  this  call  1  deco\-ed  a  distant 
female  to  within  short  range,  the  bird  coming  through  the  thickest  of  the 
express  gro\-e,  stoj)ping  at  short  intervals  to  call  and  list(!n  for  a  ri'[)lv. 

"The  food  of  this  spe<'ies  during  a  jiortion  of  the  year  consists  largel\-  of 
smooth-skinned  cater[)illars,  liesides  numerous  beetles  and  ants:  the  latter  are 
always  obtainable  and,  growing  to  a  large  size,  figure  as  an  important  item  of 
their  diet.  'i'he  scarcitx'  of  decayed  trees,  with  the  exception  of  fall(Mi  ones, 
necessitates  either  work  upon  seasoned  wood  or  the  resort  ti>  dead  palm  stumps. 
The  nests  will  therefore  be  found  at  heights  varying  from  .'{  to  1  ">  feet. 

"liy  March  Ifi  the  i)irds  wi're  invariably  found  in  pairs,  ami  m\  wish  to 
secur(?  a  setting  of  eggs  before  departing  seemed  in  a  fairwaxof  being  fulfilled. 
Strolling  among  the  cypress,  on  the  "iTth  of  March,  I  found  tour  ti'ees  upon 
which  the  i)irds  were  at  work  oi'  hail  lieeii  recently,  and  in  siu'h  cases  the  birds 
them.selves  were  always  to  be  found  in  the  innni'diate  vicinit\-.  Passing  a  half- 
d<Nid  hv{',  I  ho.u'd  the  sounding  taps  of  a  Wood[iecker  at  work,  and  as  I  neared 
the  spot  the  slight  noise  which  1  made  as  1  carefully  [)icked  my  wa\-  o\cr  the 
rock-strewn  ground   caused   a    handsome   male   bird  to  suddenl\-  jippear  at  an 


'1  ;■  fi 


ti-'-f,  ■' 


•..'ii 


'  ^ 


■'':^' 


142 


T.IKK  TIISTOIilKS  OV  NOUTH  AMKUIOAX  DIKDS. 


>• '  < 


oiH'iiiufjf  iilMdit  4  feet  lii^ili.  Witli  ii  t'oitt  j^nispiiijr  oitluir  sidcf  of  tlio  ontranco  lio 
{^iizcil  upon  tin-  iiitiiidcr.  I lii viii;^-  comprelu'iKk'd  tlm  Hituation,  ho  Huw to  auothei- 
tree,  Avlicro  lit!  ([iiictly  awiiitcil  my  inspt'ctioii  and  departuro.  'I'lio  liolo  was  tlicn 
down  al)oiit  1.')  inclK's.  I{y  April  7  it  liad  rt'aclifd  u  dcptli  of  about  20  iui-lii's, 
and  contained  six  fresh  c^'i^s,  upon  whicli  tlu*  female  was  then  sittinj^'.  As  no 
description  lias  hitherto  appeared  of  tho  e<>'^s  of  this  spocios  it  may  bo  woll  to 
])resent  here  the  measui'ements  o['  this  set  (Xo.  SO,'},  autlior's  oiiloji'ical  C(dlec- 
tion).  'I'hey  correspond  exactly,  both  in  color  and  ^^ciieral  shape,  with  scores  of 
other  e^i'ji's  of  this  genus,  and  otfer  the  followiuf''  measurements  in  millimetres: 
•J8  l»y  -'2,  I'S  by  2--',  2S  by  •_'•_'.;"),  29  by  •_'■_>,  2!l.r»  l)y  'I*,  '2\)I)  by  22:"  or  about 
1.11  by  (».S7,  \M  hy  ().S7,  1.11  by  O.'h!!,  1.1  I  by  0.S7,  I.IC  by  0.87,  and  l.KJ 
by  0.S7  inches. 

'There  are  no  {'<x<<;a  of  this  species  in  the  I'liited  States  National  Jln.seum 
collection. 


4 


'I 


m .  ■ 

1 . 


I 

I'll! 
-If- 


.  .1  ''^* 


m 


Family  (!AIM{IMlTI/!IT)yl<:.     fJoATsircKKUs,  inc. 
51,     Antrostomus  carolinensis  ((Jmf.i.in). 

CHUCK-WII.L'.S  WIDOW. 

VaprimiihiiiK  riu-nliiiviiKis  (isiKLiN,  Systeimi  Natui'ic,  I,  ii,  I78.S,  10l!8. 
AHtroslomiis  ciiroliiicimis  (iori,n,  Icoiit's  Avium,  1.S3.S. 

(I!  lll,C  2(it,K35;5,  (3  m>,  1:  410.) 

(iEO(H!AlMIu:Al,    UAN(iK:     l''l I   tllO  Houtll  .VlljUltic  aild  (rUlf  StatoS  ainl  tlld  l<()\Vt'r 

Mississii)|ii  V'.illcy  iioitli  to  the  .soutlioni  portions  of  VirK'inia,  Illinois,  aiul  iiidiaiia,  the 
f^rcater  iioition  of  .Vikmisus,  southern  Missouri,  and  the  Indian  Territory;  west  to  Te.\as; 
south  in  winter  to  the  West  India  laland.s  and  through  cistern  Mexico  and  Central  .\nier- 
iea  to  Colombia.  South  Amcricu.     Casual  in  S(mtlu>rn  Kansas;  accidental  in  Massachusetts. 

The  breeding  rang((  of  ("huck-will's-widow,  also  locally  known  in  South 
(."arollna  as  the  "Dutch  \Vhip-[)oor-wiH"  or  "Chii)-the-rod-oak-whit(!-oak,"  and 
in  some  id'  the  West  India  Islaiuls  as  tin;  "Spanish  \Vhii)-poor-will,"  is  coo.xton- 
sive  with  its  oeographical  (listril)ution  in  tiie  IJniteil  States,  exceptiuf''  tho  lower 
Uio  (!rand(!  Valley,  in  Texas.  It  is  only  a  sunnner  visitor  over  tho  greater 
portion  of  its  rangt-  with  us,  Ijut,  accoi'ding  to  Mr.  \V.  iv  D.Scott,  in  "Tho  Auk" 
(V(d.  VI,  18SII,  p.  2,">2),  "Some  of  the.se  birds  are  resident  on  tho  (Julf  coast  of 
Florida,  at  least  as  far  north  as  Tarpon  Springs,  where  in  winter,  in  Decond)er  and 
.lanuary,  tiiey  ari^  rather  rarer  than  at  other  seasons  of  tho  year."  Mr.  E.  A. 
Mcllhenny  also  tells  nu'  that  they  are  connnon  residents  in  soutliern  Louisiana. 
Hy  far  the  greater  number,  however,  retire  farther  south,  wintering  in  tho  AVe.st 
India  Islands,  as  well  as  in  ( 'entral  Anu-rica,  ami  a  i\'\v  civeii  pass  the  Istlnnus  of 
Panama  In  (Joloml)ia,  Sctuth  America.  They  usually  reenter  the  United  States, 
from  theii-  wint(;r  homes  in  the  south,  early  in  April,  and  move  leisurely  north- 
ward to  their  1  weeding  grounds,  retin'uing  southward  again  al)out  the  iieginningof 
Septeml)er.     The  males  usually  make  tlieir  a[ipearance  on  the  breeiling  grounds 


i 


THE  (MIUCK  WILL'S  WIDOW. 


148 


a  f'o\v<liivs  boforc  tlu'  foniiih's.  Dnriiij;'  their  ini^^riitioiis  tlicy  are  said  to  traxcl 
siii;ilVt  '"■  i't  iiiiist  ill  sniall  (•oiiipaiiios,  ami  not  in  larjie  Hocks,  like  most  otiicr 
s|tt'(ics,  an<l  tlicsc  journeys  are  jterforiiied  (Mitirely  at  ni^^lit. 

(.'hurk-will's-widow  is  tlie  larfjest  of  the  ('((itriiiiiilfiidir  found  in  the  United 
States,  anil,  like  the  rest  of  the  members  of  this  family,  it  is  crepnsenlar  and 
nocturnal  in  its  hai)its,  bein;;'  r-arely  seen  on  the  \vin;>-  in  the  daytime,  unless 
accidentally  startled  troni  its  hidiiif^-  place.  It  spends  its  days  mostly  hiiMeii 
a\va\'  in  dark  shady  places  in  woods,  amon^'  the  unihrjirowth,  especially  alonji' 
rocky  hillsides,  resting  either  on  the  ground  or  in  some  hollow  log,  under  a  leilnc 
of  rock,  or  perched  h-ngthwise  on  some  low  liml»  of  a  bushy,  densely-foliageil 
tree.  Although  a  tolerably  conmion  bird  throughout  the  more  southern  portions 
of  its  range,  it  is  by  no  means  as  well  known  generally  as  it  might  be,  and  only 
a  careful  and  patient  ol>server  can  expect  to  become  familiar  with  its  general 
habits.  Its  ihght  is  extremi'ly  noiseless,  the  very  enil)odiment  of  graces  anil 
agility  cond)ined,  and  in  this  rtispect  it  resembles  our  Owls  somewhat,  now 
skimming  along  close  to  the  ground,  dropping  down  suddenly  to  pick  up  some 
beetle,  then  dashing  uiiward  again,  perhaps  after  a  moth;  constantly  twisting 
and  turning  from  ono  courst^  to  another,  but  always  on  tlu^  lookout  for  any  passing 
insect.  As  soon  as  tlu^  sun  has  disaj)peai'e(l  behind  the  horizon,  all  thi^  Chuck- 
will's-widows  in  th(^  neighlntrhood  become  alert  at  once,  leave  their  customary 
restiuii'  idaces  in  search  of  food,  and,  during  the  mating  season  esi)eciall\-,  com- 


from  which  tlie\'  ha\( 


phi 
meuce  to  utter  the  jieculiar  call,  "chuck-will's-widow 
derived  their  name.     This  strangely  doleful-sounding  note  is  occasionallv,  par- 
ticularly while  miller  sexual  excitement,  uttered  very  rajiidly  for  two  or  three 


niinute: 


more,  the  s\-llal)les  being  all  rolled  into  one,  until  the  bird 


IS  comia 


■lied 


to  take  a  ri'st  from  slu'cr  want  of  breath.     The  late    Dr.  William  ('.  .\verv,  of 


(ireeiisboro 
on  this  sul 


Alaiiama,  well  known  as  an  excellent  ol)ser\ei\  wrote  me  as  follows 
il  cad 


l)jiH't:  "In  general  cadeiici'  flic  first  tlirei^  syllables  arc;  ai)out  eipial, 
the  syllabli>  'wid'  being  accented  and  emphasized,  and  tlu;  last  syllable,  'ow' 
heiiig  only  about  half  the  ([iiantity  of  the  lirst  three.  Pronounce  the  s\llables 
just  as  1  have  given  them  here,  with  the  accent  on  'wid'  and  the  ipiaiitit\'  of 
(Mpial  in  length  with  the  intoned  ,syllal)le,  and  \(iii  have  the 


the 


cat 


nrecediii"'  ones 


note  of  AiilrDslonnis  raroli 


'When  frightened  from  its  nest,  or  when  flying  late  in  the  evening,  it  utt 


el> 


a  harsh  note  at  times,  and  this  resembles,  to  my  ear,  the  syllal)le  'baw!  baw! 
Iiaw!'  Thesi'  notes,  apparently  of  displeasure  or  alarm,  are  low  and  can  not 
lie  heard  at  a  great  distance,  while,  during  a  still  night,  the  'chnck-wiU's- 
widow,'  or  call  note,  rapidly  repeated,  may  be  heard  tor  a  mile  or  more,  "^riiesi' 
notes,  (luring  the  mating  season  at  least,  an;  uttered  from  dusk  to  about  !l  p. 


m.. 


mil    while    sinyiii"' 


til 


e\'    usua 


iiy 


sit   on    tile  ji-round,   on    a    lo<>-   or    roci 


ind  in  such  a  jiosition 


occasionally  on  a  fence  rail,  or  on  a  low  limli  of  a  trei 

they  usually  sit  lengthwise,  not  crosswise,  on  the  limb.     1  have  known  this  liird 

from  early  boyhood  and  am  positive  that  it  never  chants  its  monotonous  smig 


,liiU 


tl 


e  on  till'  will"', 


has  I 


leeii    receiith'  statei 


It 


IS  also  sail 


1  'that  if  eitl 


ler 


, )  ■  '<  : 


Iji'i^y 


i 


m 


■^ ,  i 


^5. 


:! 


3     t 


II 


.,;/1 


•.Hi 


11 


ir» 


■  ii 


li 


viy 


i 


m 


'f^: 


144 


I.IK15  MKSTOKIES  OF  NOKTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


flii'ir  v'^'^s  or  ydiiii;^-  iiru  (listiirhod  tlicy  aro  ('iiiTiod  off  in  tlio  capiicious  nioutlis 
of  tlu!  Iiinls  to  soiiu!  ilistaut  i)art  of  tlio  forest,  in  tlio  same  nianiuT  tliat  a  cat 
transports  licr  kittens.'  1  nnist  say  tliat  I  do  not  lu'litfvo  tliis  asscrtioi:.  I 
j»nr|iosoly  llnslicd  the  parent  oil'  tin-  cjiji's  wliii-li  1  sent  yon  tln'eo  times  on 
May  ;j,  iSilO.  wiien  I  lirst  tonnd  the  nest,  and  onct^  mi  tlie  4tli,  altogei'  v-r  fonr 
times,  Itefore  I  took  the  set,  and  yet  the  old  bird  returned  (;ach  time  and  eon- 
tiniieil  to  sit  in  the  same  phu-e  as  lonf^'  as  hvv  e<^'ji's  renii.  'led  there.  VV'lien  I 
flnsiied  tlie  parent  tVoni  her  nest  on  the  3d  of  Jfay  she*  liad  oidy  one  o'^ii; 
thouji'Ii  she  was  settinji';  on  tiie  4tli  she  still  had  hut  one,  and  it  wa.s  only  on  the 
Gth,  the  third  day  after  I  found  the  nest,  that  sh(»  laid  flu!  last  e;;<jf." 

It  is  possiiile  that  this  species  removes  its  eji'iis  to  a  ditl'erent  locality  occa- 
Hionally  when  distnrlied,  l)nt  this  hal)it  does  not,  by  any  means,  appear  to  be 
iniiver.sal;  the  youn;^',  however,  are  more  fre(|Uently  hidden  hi  some  other  ])lace 
by  the  jtarents  under  similar  circumstances. 

Tluf  fooil  ol'  Chnck-will's-wiilow  consists  mainly  of  booties,  wiufjod  ants, 
and  other  insects,  (^sp<!cially  the  nij;ht-tlying  Lrpidoptcra — siu'h  as  tlu^  Spiiif/idcc 
(Hawk  moths),  SatiiruoiiUr  (silk  motlis),  and  N(iitnUJ(P  (Owl  moth.s) — and  the 
enormous  width  uf  its  short  bill  enables  it  to  swalfow  the  larj^'cst  of  these  very 
reailily.  It  does  occasionally  aspirt^  to  larj^-er  ^amo,  and  it  seems  to  bts  a  well- 
established  fact  that  small  birds  form  a  portion  of  its  re^'ular  bill  of  fare. 

A  well-authenticated  instances  of  its  canniltalistic  tcnulencies  is  ])ul)lished  by 
Dr.  F.  W.  Lany-don  anion;;'  his  field  notes  on  [.louisiana  birds,  in  the  "Journal 
of  the  Cincinnati  Society  of  Natural  History"  (Vol.  IV,  ISSl,  p  I'll),  in  which 
he  makes  the  following  statenuMit:  "The  stomach  of  a  female  shot  on  April  14 
contained  the  partially  digested  liody,  entire,  of  a  Swamp  Sparrow,  intermingled 
with  the  feathers  of  which  were  uuuierous  remains  of  insects,  chieHy  small 
beetles." 

^[oro  recent,  observations,  made  by  Mr.  John  I.  Northrop  on  Andros  Tslinid, 
one  of  the  Unhamas,  between  March  14  and  July  3,  IKDO,  fully  confirms  this. 
He  published  the  following  regarding  this  species:  "Three  specimens  were 
taken,  two  of  which  were  disturbed  in  the  woods  during  the  daytime  and  the 
other  .shot  at  dusk.  Upon  examining  the  stomarh  of  the  first  one  shot,  T  found, 
anK)ng  an  indistingui.shablc!  mass  of  brownish  matter,  a  small  bone,  about  half 
an  iiuh  long,  that  looked  like  the  leg  of  a  small  bird.  The  next  one  examined 
containeil  in  its  stomach  the  ])artially  dig<'sted  remains  of  an  entire  riunnning- 
bird,  enough  of  which  was  pi-eserved  to  identify  it  beyond  a  doubt  as  Sp(irii<l'nnis 
firoriUr  ' 

Audulion,  as  well  as  Dr.  Joim  (Jundlach,  also  mentions  having  found  the 
remains  of  l)inls  in  the  stomachs  of  this  species,  and  it  would  a})pear  that  such 
a  diet  formed  a  not  unusual  part  of  its  regular  fare. 

In  the  southern  \y,\rt  of  their  range  nidification  l)egins  sometimes  by  Ajiril 
10,  more  often  in  the  hitter  part  of  this  month  and  during  May,  and  occasionally 
eggs  are  foinid  as  late  as.Fune  30.     I  believe,  as  a  rule,  only  one  brood  is  raised 


The  Auk,  Vol.  Vlll,  IS',11,  p.  73. 


i 


THE  rilUrK  WIIilAS WIDOW. 


145 


ill  M  sciison;  but  tliis  last  rcidrd,  wliicli  is  frniii  'ritusvillc,  Kloridn,  si-ciiis  tit  iiidi- 
fiitc  tliiit  two  liroods  iniiy  ocviisiniiidly  Itc  rsiiscd  under  t'iivnr!il)lc  circiinistiiuci'.s. 
'Pile  iimst  iiortlicrii  Itrcciliii;^-  n<'(ird  1  Iiunc  is  one  trurii  the  W.isliiin  Wivcr,  in  tin* 
Indian  'rurritory,  in  almut  latitude)  iJ;') ',  hut  it  undouhti'illy  laccds  in  suitaljlc 
iticMlitics  iis  far  mn'tii  as  latitude  .'5S'.  Altluai^ili  fairly  altuuilant  tlu'dujilmut  tlio 
i;ieatei'  part  of  'i'exas  durinj>'  the  l)reedinj>'  season,  it  is  not  lound  anywhere!  in 
tile  lower  iJio  (JraiKh-  Valley  or  vicinity,  and  \  have  no  authentic  records  of  its 
hrecdin^'  there,  where  it  appears  to  be  entirely  replaced  hy  Merrill's  I'arauque, 
Nililiilioniiis  (ilhicitllis  mnrilli.  It  appears  to  l)e  tpiite  connnon  in  I'utnani  County, 
Florida,  and  the  niajorit}'  of  the  ejif^s  in  the  United  States  National  Musouin 
collection  were  ol)tained  there  by  Dr.  Williain  L.  Ralph,  where  it  nio.stly  nested 
ill  oak  tliickets,  under  trees  whose  branches  nearly  touched  the  <iround,  bcjtli  in 
swainpy  and  dry  situations. 

( 'hiick-wiU's-widow  makes  no  nest;  tlui  e};';;s  art^  usually  laid  on  the  <lry 
leaves  coverinff  tim  <>touii(1,  in  deciduous  forests,  and  occasionall}'  on  the  bare 
uicuiid,  either  in  flat  woods  or  on  brush-covereil  and  rocky  hillsides — in  fact, 
such  nestinji'  place  'em  to  he  preferred  by  this  species  to  flat,  lescl  woods, 
when  olitainal)le.  'Vkk  two  e<ijis  ai-e  deposited  on  alternate  days,  and  incubation 
coiiinieiices  with  the  first  i"^'^  laid.  I  believ(f  the  female  perforins  the  duties  of 
incubation  almost  entirely,  l)ut  both  sexes  are  very  devoted  parents.  The  hii-d 
nil  the  nest  will  try  as  assiduously  to  draw  the  intruder  away  from  its  vonnj^-  as 
llir  liiiifeil  (irouse,  by  fei^^niiij;'  injury  and  Hiitterinji'  aloiiji-  on  tlu?  <ii-ound.  it 
usiialK'  also  emits  a  liissin;.;'  noise  when  disturbed. 

The  efiji's  of  ( 'huck-will's-widow  are  amon<>-  the  handsomest  found  in  the 
I'liited  States;  the  shell  is  tiiie-tiraineil,  rather  thin,  and  moderately  jjlossv  in 
iiio>t  cases.  'i"he\'  are  usiialh'  elliptical  o\al  in  shape,  or  about  equally  roiualed 
on  iioth  ends,  'i'lie  jii'ound  color  of  these  eirji's  is  of  such  a  subtle  tint  that  it  is 
almost  impossible  to  describt^  it  accuratcK';  it  varies  friuii  a  rich  cream,  with  a 
tiiiiit  pinkish  sutfusioii,  to  a  pale  cream,  and  more  rarely  to  a  pure  white.  They 
;ire  in  mo.st  cases  more  or  less  profusely  blotched,  marlileil,  and  spotteil  with 
(iiU'eieiit  shades  of  brown,  tawny,  fawn,  and  Isabel-color,  underlaid  and  inixeil 
witii  liji'liter  shades  of  ecru  dralt,  laveiuh'r,  pearl  jiray,  and  pahi  heliotrope 
jiurple.  In  an  occasional  spi'cimen  some  of  the  markiiij^'s  take  the  shape  of 
irregular  lines  and  tracings,  like  those  of  the  ejijis  ol'  the  (irackles;  in  others 
liicy  are  tiiu;  and  minute,  obsciirinj^'  the  <4round  color  to  some  (.'.xteiit.  In  some 
specimens  the  darker  shades  predominate;  in  others,  the  liji'liter;  in  fact,  there 
is  nil  endless  variation  in  the  style  of  niarkiii<i's,  but  in  the  entire  series  there  is 
not  ;i  sinji'le  specimen  which  is  not  })erceptil)h-  marked.  The  e<;'<fs  are  rather 
liii'jic,  considering'  the  size  of  the  bird. 

The  avera^'e  measurement  of  forty-two  specimens  in  the  I'nited  States 
National  Museum  collection  is  W'l.Sl  by  "25.76  millimetres,  or  alxait  1.41  by  1.01 
iiulies.     The  lai'u'e.st  eti'i"' of  the  series  measures  4<t.l,'{  b\   27  4.'!  millimetres,  or 


l.fiS  bv  l.OS  inch 


tl 


le  sii 


lallest,  ;{5.;{(>  i)y  25.15  millimetres,  or  !.;}!»   iiy  O.'JO 


,;,,;X.|;; 


il 


■i:r' 


inches. 


i(M<;Mi— No.  a- 


-10 


Il  11 


it  •■ 


\ 


m  i 


14(; 


LIIM;  lllSTOKIKrt  ok  NOIiTII  AMKUKJAN   IIIUDS. 


Tilt'  typo  s|t»ciiiifii,  No.  20444  (I'l.  1,  Kij>-.  H),  (Voiii  fi  set  of  two  cj^jis, 
Uondiro  colk'ctiou,  was  taken  in  (!oinal  ('ounty,  Texas,  on  Juno  l."»,  1H7!),  ami 
represents  a  small  hut  a  very  handsome  ej^j;'.  No.  2448H  (I'l.  1,  V"\\t.  !)),  also 
from  a  set  of  two  ej^j^.s,  from  the  lialpli  collection,  was  taken  liy  Dr.  William  \.. 
K'alpli,  in  I'ntnam  Connty,  I'Morida,  on  .May  1,  1S!(1,  and  represents  on(^  of  tlie 
htdder-markeil  types,  the  specimen  beinj''  somewhat  alio\e  tlie  avtra^ie  size. 

52.     Antrostomus  vociferus  (Wilson). 
wnii'-i'ooif-wii.i,. 


';}  i  I ' 


Cniirimiilfiiis  nici/rnin  Wii.soN,  AMicricMii  <  (riiitlioloKJ',  V,  I.S12,  71,  I'l.  II,  I'iys.  I- 
AnlruntoiiiiiK  vucijvriin  lioN.U'ABTj:,  (jcoKnipliical  and  Coniiiarative  Li.st,  is;i,s,  «. 

(B  112,  C  'Mr,,  H  ;W4,  0  ;H»7,  U  417.) 


(ii;o(ii!APnu'Ai.  ranok:  ICasterii  Nortli  Ainerlcii;  north  lo  the  sontlicrn  poitions  ni' 


the  Dii 


niiniDi)  II 


r  Canada  in  tiie  proviin'cs  ot  Nova  8rotia,  Qacix-c,  and  nnrtluMii  Ontario. 


to  soiitliwestt'in  Kcewatin  and  western  Manitolia;  west  in  the  I'liited  States  tiiron;;!! 
eastern  North  and  Sonth  Oakuta,  Nebraska,  western  Kansas,  the  Indian  Terriicay,  and 
Te.xas;  soath  in  winter  through  eastern  Mexico  to  (iiniteniala.  Casnal  to  Porto  Hieo  and 
the  West  I  allies. 


While   the   lamiliar  call  of  the  Whip-poor-will,  from  which  it  receives  its 


name 


ilinost  universally  known  to  every  farmer's  l)ov  tliroiio-hoiit  its  ran' 


th 


iin'(| 


itse 


is  not  nearly   .so   often  corrcu'tlv  identitied,  and   otir  common 


Niji'lithawk,  or  Uull-hat,  is  frequently  inistakiii  for  the  author  of  these  notes. 
It  is  oul\'  a  sunmn-r  \isitor  throu<>hout  the  ofeater  portion  of  the  United  States 
id  the  southern  |)arts  of  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  usually  arrivin<i'  from  its 

soiithei'ii  portions 


ai 


winter  haunts  in  (iuatemahi  and  .southern  Mi'xico,  al 
of  its  lircediiio'  ran^i'e  in 


Ollii 


th 


the   United   States,  about  the  middle  of  .Maich; 


am 


moviny  h'isurely  northward,  it  reaches  our  middle  Sttites  alxiut  April  1.'),  ami 
till'  more  noi'thern  ones  from  one  to  three  weeks  later.  Not  a  few  Wliip-|)oor- 
11s  winter  re^iularly  in  the  southern  parts  of  Florida,  as  well  as  alonj;'  tlie  (iiilf 


wi 


coast  of  {.louisiana;  those  tire  probably  birds  which  breed  mainly  north  of  the 
United  States.  As  far  as  1  hnvv  been  able  to  ascertain,  this  sjiecies  reaches 
the  extreme  northern  limits  of  its  ran^c  on  the  north  shore  of  Lake  Wimiipe;:, 
near  Norway  House,  one  of  the  Hudson  Hay  Company's  I'osts,  situated  in  tlu! 
siiiitliwi'stern  part  of  tlu'  rrovince  of  Keewatin,  in  about  latitude  ")4^.  It  is  a 
■iideiit  in  suitable  localities  throuohont  .Maiiitol)a,  and  a  set 


cominnn  summer  re 


is  now  in  the   United  States  Niitional  Museum  collection  taken  \>\  M 


William  MaeTavish,  near  Lak(!  Manitoba,  in  June,  IStJ'J.     The  western  limits  of 
its  raiiyc  evteiid  well  into  the  (jreat  Plains.     Mr.  A.  W.  Meiike  writes  me  that 


lie 


las  slior  this  species  ni   tinney  County,  111  southwestern  Kansas,  wliere  it 

t'vidently  breeds,  but  is  rare;   and  it  is  undoubtedly  also  a  simiiiier   resident 

tlirou<;liout  the  orciitcr  ],>art  of  Nebraska,  as  well  as  ol'  Xortli  and  South  Dakota, 

.Mr.  William  Lloy  I  records  it  as  a  summer  resident  in  tlie  eastern  portions 

\\,  and  Mr.  U.  I'.  Attwater  ob.serveil  it  in  Mexar  Couiitv,  Texas. 


d'C.u 


iclio  Conn 


TFIK  WIIII'l'OOU  WILL, 


U7 


Tlicsi!  iMtiiits  I'liniisli  proldilily  iilMtut  tlio  westcni  limits  of  its  hruciliiiir  raiijfo 
ill  tliiM  State.  It  in  (ipimrciitly  a  very  raro  smiiiiii'r  resident  in  Kluriila,  and  In 
tile  iiniru^iliati^  vicinity  <>t'  tlie  Hoiitli  Atlantic,  ami  (iiilf  coasts  in  Alaliania  and 
Mis,sisrti|)i)i;  it  ia'cunit's  soniewliat  in(Mt'  j^eiierally  distrihuted  tlinaifiliont  tho 
liill  coiuitrv  (it'  western  South  Carolina,  nortliern  ({eorj^ia,  and  Alaliama,  hut 
is  still  rare  liere.  The  late  Dr.  William  ( '.  A\t'ry,  one  of  the  most  reliahlo 
ornithologists  ot'  the  South,  met  the  Whip-poor-will  near  i\nniston,  Alabama, 
ill  ,liily,  and  while  rather  rare,  it  nnipU'stionahly  breeds  there  to  a  limited 
(Nteiit.  .Mr.  W.  J.  .Myers  reconls  it  as  sometimes  lireedin.n'  in  llillslioro  Coiinly, 
I'loiida.  where  he  round  a  nest  and  two  ej^jis  <iii  ,\pril  .">,  iS!i;i;  jind  Mr.  K.  A. 
^il■Illlel'.ll\■  int'orms  me  that  he  I'oinid  it  nestin<i'  on  .Vverx's  Island,  in  soiitheru 
Louisiana,  where  it  was  a  rare  sninmer  resMeiit,  hut  tar  nions  common  in  fall 
;iiid  winter.  I[e  also  says:  "These  birds  are  very  tame,  i'or  on  two  occasions, 
^\llile  sifting-  still  In  the  twilijiht  to  oiiserve  tho  movements  of  some  Owls,  I  liavo 
iiad  lliem  come  so  close  that  I  coidd  have  cau^^'ht  them.  <  >ii  one  occasion  oiio  lit 
(III  iii\  knee,  and  another  on  my  foot  as  it  was  extended  before  me."  Tiie  I'Morida 
and  Louisiana,  lireeiliiiH-  rt'conls  are  the  most  sontliern  I  know  of,  and  it  breeds 
iiitM'e  or  less  (•oininonh'  in  suitable  localities  tliroiiyhoiit  the  rcinainder  of  its 
ran^c.  Like  many  other  species,  it  is  very  iimcli  attached  to  its  once  (diosen 
haunts,  ami  will  return  to  them  from  year  to  year,  often  nestin;^-  in  the  iihuitical 
spot,  or  at  iiio.-<t  ^^itllin  a  few  i"eot  of  it,  if  the  ininiediate  surroiindinjis  hav(>  not 
been  cliaii;ucd  too  iiiiich  ill  the  nieaiilime.  It  returns  south  ai:ain  during-  the 
first  p;irt  ol'  ( (ctober.  Its  faxca'ite  resorts  are  dense,  shady  thickets,  itorderin;;- 
oil  cleaiiiins  and  river  \alle\s;  ro(d\\  and  brush-covereil  hillsides,  and  rollini;' 
coiiiiir\ ,  iiitersjiersed  alternatcK'  with  woods  and  iulti\ate(l  tracts,  are  pret'erred 
to  the  iiKMC  le\cl  iirairie  regions.  In  the  latter  it  is  oiiK'  ftaind  aloiiji'  the  river 
bliilVs,  aiiioii^'  the  .shrubbery,  and  rarely  any  distance  away  on  tlu^  open  and 
iieailx  fretdess  plains,  Tinlcss  at  dusk  and  in  early  hours  of  the  iiij^ht,  wliihi 
ill  sciirch  of  food  on  the  roads  leadiii"'  throuyii  these.  lis  tliyht  is  stroll"', 
swift,  jiraceful,  and  ciitirtd\'  noiseless,  ;^li(liii<4'  like  a  shadow  (dose  aloiii;'  the 
ground  ill  pursuit  of  nijiht-prowlinji'  insects,  mainly  Lcpidnjilrni  and  ('itlroiilcrd, 
on  which  it  feeds  jilniost  ex(dusi\(dy.  in  the  Western  States,  which  are  soiiie- 
timo.s  overrun  by  swarms  of  |{o(dvy  .Mountain  Locusts,  it  also  feeds  larj^idy  on 
those  when  abundant.  Considered  fr(an  an  economic  ])oint  of  \iew,  the  Wliiji- 
poor-will  is  an  einineiitly  useful  and  beiieticial  liird,  deservinj;'  the  fullest 
protection.  Likc^  ( 'liiick-will's-widow,  it  is  crepuscular  and  nocturnal  in  its 
habits,  and  is  rareh"  si-eii  in  the  da\  time  unless  accideiitalK'  driven  from  its 
hidiiin-  phice.  It  passes  the  hours  of  dayli;;lit  in  .-.liad\'  retreats,  either  on  the 
uiduiid  (ir  on  low  limits  of  trees  (on  which  it  always  per(dies  leiijithwise)  n\\  old 
lo^s,  and  on  or  under  rocks  wtdi  covered  by  undi-rbrush.  It  is  rarely  found  at 
liijiher  altitudes  than  .'{,r)00  feet.  Tho  familiar  call  note  of  the  Whip-poor-will 
is  well  expressed  by  its  name,  but  it  .sounds  to  nio  nioro  like  "  Wliip-po(a'-wi(di," 


osneci 


alL 


,heii    uttered   (dose  to    tho    listener.     On    their  tirst   arrival  (ai  tin 


a'eediu};'  jiroumis  tins  call  is  espe< 


11 


\  frociuontlv  and  rapidK   iciieateil  nt  t 


'1  ,1  '■ 


■  f 


^ 


;|(>^ 


<,r 


i'l 


"n 


ill' 


■M 


Si 


1 

» 

(• 

i 

5 

i 

< 
1 

1 

;■ 

i 

■ 

J 

?!■ 


(I 


• 


)*' 


i... 


4 


\m 


148 


!-irK  III8TOK1KH  OF  NOUTIF  AMKUHAN  Illl.'DS. 


l)<'yiimiii;i'  of  dusk,  iiml  tlin»ii;;lunit  tlio  caily  piirt  ot'  flic  iiijilit,  somt'tiiiU's  tor 
iiiiiiiitcs  iit  il  timi',  without  imy  purcoptil)!!)  iuturiiussiou,  nud  oiio  ciui  tlicu  easily 
(Icroy  tlifsc  liiidH  l>y  iniitatiii};  this  «'all. 

'I'iicy  an>  siiid  to  siiijr  uImo  ocrasioiialiy  duriii;i'  tlic  day,  liut  I  never  liciiid 
oiif  at  siicli  a  tiuic,  tnt'ii  duriiijf  cloudy  weather.  Ah  tlie  lireedinj;'  season 
advances  tliey  httconio  luoro  and  nioro  silont,  but  tiiey  sonietinu's  sin;;'  as  hite 
as  Septeinlier,  never  with  tiin  vim  and  jiersistency,  iiowever,  as  on  their  lirst 
arrival,  when  trecinently  halt"  a.  (htzeii  or  niorc^  ot'  tiiese  Itirds  may  lie  heanl  at 
thy  saints  time,  I'urmin;;'  a    pertiM't  chorus,  their  notes   Itlendin;^'  so   comiiletely 


mto  ea( 


h  oth 


ler  that  they  sound  lil\((  a,  contiimons  "  \vhi|i|ier-Nvlii|i|ier-\\  hi| 


the  last  svllalile  iiein^'  entirely  lost  in  the  medlev  ot"  noise  produceil;   >till  siirh 
vo-al   concerts  are  not  especially   unpleasant   to   tiie   ear,  and   rather  lidl   the 
ucr  into  ii  sound  sleep. 
.\l)oiit   <lnsk   the  \Vhip-poor-will   emerges   t'roin   its   liidiuL;'   place    in   some 


listc 


nei;;!ihorm;i-   tincket  ami  ^oes   liaw 
1 


ikill;;'    t 


or   Its  evenmii'  nasi 


consiiierahh 


hi. 


)onioi 


ll-ti 


n  a  I 


jirounil,  especiallN    on  w  ell-tr;i\ cled 
list   hath  to  rid  its  IkmIn-  ot"  xcrmin. 


I  ot"  its  food  is  picked  up  from 
roatls,  on  «  hich  it  fre(piently  indul;;('s 
It  will  visit  some  t'ax'orite  spots  re^nlai'ly,  and  slightly  sandy  roads  are  preferre(| 
to  hea\ier  soil.  Its  movements  on  the  ^'round  are  ratherawkward,  its  feet  hein;;- 
weak  and  short;   iait  few  of  our  hirds  are  more  "'racefid  on  tiii'  winy  than  the 


W 


ip-p 
It  I 


a'-will.      i   hav(^   seen   one   toiu'h 


hack  of  its  win 


to. 


•th 


sweiit   ii\'  nu', 


n-rest   its   noiseless   lliiiht    instantK,  di 


to   th 


'■rouni 


jierpoiK 

At 


licidi 


M'l\-, 


lick  up  some  insi 


ect.  and  dasi 


1  a\va\-  a-' 


■iiiili 


leiih 


I   al 


as  It   ha 


such    times    It    occasioni 


Iittei 


as  It 
most 
hed. 
k 


diick-diick,"  and  another  souiKliny  lik< 


I  low,    puiTiny  nv  iirimtin^i'   noise    hki 

t  li( 


'  zile-see,  zue-see 


vMiicli  can  no 


near( 


1  nnl 


ess  (Ule  IS  ( 


los.'  I 


IV. 


\\'hile    on   a    collecting''   triji   in    Ili'rkimer  County,    New    \'oi'k,   with    l>r. 
William    h.    IJalph,  in   .lime,   ISl),"?,   1   witnessed   a    most   amusiiiM'    pei'foniiani'e. 


,hi.'l 


I  one  ma\'  see  perhiqis  onci 
oine  '-Ml  feet  ill  the  real 


in  a 


lifet 


line 


1  h 


huildiiii''.  S( 


.f  tl 


ippelied  to  lie  m  a  llllle  ollt- 


le  not 


ise  at  which 


we  were  stoppiiin-,  eai'l\ 


on  the  evening  of  the  ■24th,  aliont  half  an  hour  after  sundown, 


w  hen 


1    h 


iiecu 


liar,  1 


ow,  ciu 


ckiny  noise  outside,  which  was  directh'  followiMJ  l)\-  the  familial 


call  of  "\vlii|i-poor-wi 


jiair  of   these   liirds  paid   lis  reniilar  \  isits  iroin  the 


neiii'lilioi'in;^' f<ii'est,  often  perching-  <iii  the  root'  of  tli(0iouse, 
on  the  limhs  of  a  crab-aiiple  tr 
road   nassiim'  in 


an 


lellf 


eiice 


re(^  nearliN',  or  occasioiialh'  iili 


1  crab-app 
front    of  the  house,  where  tlie\'  would   a! 


rhti 


tl 


<l   us    to    a 


closeK'   approachc(l   before  takin;^'  win;;',    and  treat. 

nirectlv  aloiiy'side  of  the  small  outbuildin"'  nri'viouslx'  referred   ti 


11^-  on  the  f-andy 
tli<-msel\ cs  to  I  ' 
iiiii'htlv    ('• 


sai 


id  and  linu'  had   bee 


1  snilled 


d  fi 


tl 


rom  tile  nuiiiei'<ii 


is  tracks  of  tl 


lese 


made   b\'   them    iii"'litlv  afterwards,  it   was   e\  ideiit   that   th 


IS 


it    was    \l>lle( 


I'c'ni 


lai'h 


and    was 


the    trystin^'  placi'  of  at  least  one  jiair.      Lookiiiu'  thi'onyh 


a  small  aiierture 


saw   one   ( 


if  the    bir 


ds  waddlni':'   alioiit    iii   a    \ crx'  excite^ 


manner   over 


II 


le   saiid-covere(l  space,  w 


rhicl 


1    was  |i 


naps 


ii\ 


Icet    s(|nai'e 


and  it  was  so  much  interested  in  its  own  performance  that  it  did  not  notic.;  i 


lie. 


THH  VVmP  POOH  wir.L. 


I4{» 


iiltliitiiyli  I  in;iilr  some  iiuiHc  tryiii;;'  to  (iylif  nil' ii  swiinii  nl'  iiiiiHi|iiii(Mw  w  liiili 
iissiiili'il  nil'  Iroiii  ill!  siilrs.  Its  liciiil  ii|i|iciir<M|  tu  lie  III!  iiiiiiitli.  iiml  its  imli's 
Will'  iittiTcil  sii  I'lipiilly  tliiit,  cluHc  Hi*  I  sviiH  ti)  till'  liii'il,  tlii'V  siiiiiiili'il  liki'  mil' 
lull;:.  fiilltilllKillft  lull.  A  t'i'W  si'CiiihIh  lifter  liin  lirst  ert'nrf  (it  WIIH  tin-  nillle)  lie 
\V;is  jiiliii'il  li\'  Ills  iiljlte,  Mini  slie  iit  iiliee  nillillielli'i'il  tu  l'i'M|iii||i|  W'itll  il  |ii'i-llliiir, 
|ii\V,  iill/./illi''  III'  yrillitili';'  Mute,  like  "  ;iii\v-uii\v-!''il\V.  "  lliuliillliti'ilh  il  imte  nl' 
:l|»|infMll  or  einli'liriiii'lil.  Tllis  eviilelltly  rust  IliT  I'ulisiilel'illile  ell'iil'l  ;  ller  lieilil 
iiiliiiisl  tiiiii'lieil  till'  ;il'nllliil  while  lltterillj>'  it,  lier  iillllllll}ie  wiis  reliiMil,  iiml 
lier  wliiile  linily  seellieil  ti>  lie  ill  il  viitlelit  trelillile.  'Pile  iiiiile  in  tile  ineillltillie 
liiiil  siilli'il  ii|i  ti>  lier  Iiml  tiiiii'lieil  lier  liill  witli  liis,  wliirli  nimle  her  inine 
slii>litl\  In  line  siile,  lilll  so  sliiwK'  tlldt  lie  eilsiK'  kciit  elitse  iiliil|i>-sii|e  ut'  her. 
'I'liese  siillill^-  inuvellli'llts  were  kept  up  fur  ti  ininilte  nr  llliire  eiiell  time;  first 
line  Wiilllil  llln\e  ilWllV,  I'olliiWeil  li\'  the  other,  ailil  then  it  WHS  revi'l'seil:  liiitll 
were  illinlil  eiplillK  liiilil  illlil  i'(i\-  lit  the  siinie  time,  'i'lieir  entire  ln\e  milkillj;' 
liiiikeil  e\i'eeilin;>'lv  hiiniiin,  anil  the  feniiile  ai'teil  a.s  timid  ami  liashfiil  as  iiiaii\' 
\iiim^'  maiili'iis  winiM  when  receiviiijn'  the  lirst  ileclaratiuiis  nf  their  wunld-lie 
|ii\i'i's,  while  the  lowei'in;;'  i>t'  her  lieail  nii^i'Iit  easily  lie  interpreteil  as  liein;;- 
ilniie  til  liiile  her  iiliishes.  .Inst  aliniit  the  time  I  tliuii<;'lit  this  I'unrtship  witiihl 
leaili  its  I'limiiN,  a  i\i>>x  ran  cuit  of  the  lioiise  anil  eailsed  Imth  tn  take  tli;;lit. 
1  le  alwiiN's  shiiwed  an  iniai'i'iiiintalile  antipatliN' fur  these  liirds.  and  invarialiU 
I'liaseij  them  as  siiitii  as  one  wuiild  ali<j!'ht  near  hy.  I  watehed  \\>\-  them  uii 
-cM'i'al  >iiliseipieiit  eveiiin^is,  in  the  same  pliire,  lint  they  iiexer  ri'tiirnei!  there 
sii  earlv,  liiil  their  t'resli  traeks  mi  the  sand  sliuwed  that  the  plaee  had  iieeii 
visited    later  in  the  nii^ht. 

In  the  mure  smithern  purtiMiisuf  its  raiiji-e  the  \Vliip-| r-will  iiests  iisiiallv 

aliuiit  tlie  tirst  week  ill  .\la\ ,  iiceasimialK'  mil\'  diiriii"'  the  last  \\\i\  weeks  in 
.\pril,  and  in  the  mure  iinrtherii  parts  nsnally  nut  liet'nre  dune 

Mr.  1 1.  W .  Mint,  of  New  liaveii,  ( 'miiiecticiit,  has  kindly  furnished  me  w  ith 
liic  fcilliiwiii;;'  iioti's  mi  this  speeies:  "This  lieaiitifn!  liird  is  a  yreat  I'avnrile  i4' 
mine,  and  1  have  dexuted  I'lHisideralile  time  ti>  stiidyinj:-  its  haltits.  It  shows  a 
>trmi;i'    attai'limeiil    I'm'  eertain    Inealities   tu  tlm    iiej;le<'t    i>t'    utliers    appareiitK' 


nalK'  suited  In  its  tastes,  and  1  have  taken  live  sets  of  it 


s  ei-ys  wi 


thin   lii(»  feet 


111    a  i;i\eii  iiiiint.  and  even  when  the  tirst  set  was  taken  the  I'emale  will  nt'teii  la\' 


ith 


a;:am  witlim  a  rm 


1  nr  twii  of  the  orieiiial  site.      It  nests  rather  ear 


Iv,   .Mi 


\-  ■_>() 


tu  'I't  iieiii'^'  the  average  date  ol'  m\'  liiids.      I  know  of  no  more  Imlieroiis  sii;'Iit 


n    iiird    life    tli:iii    that    ull'i 


li\'    the    female    wli 


ell    siiilileiilv    surprised    with 


th 


NOIIII'J 


lie    tiles    or    r 


ather  Hops  aWmit   the    intruder 


in  a   ( 


iri'le,  often 


dit- 


in;>-  to  tmnlili'  alimit    iipmi  the  jiroiiml  amonji-  the  1 


eaves,  s 


preadin^-  tlu-  tail  and 


'iiiiii;-  the  month,  at  the  siiiii"  time  cmittini 


'■  a  SI 


iiiml  smnethinii'  like  th 


e  I'l'v  or 
ids,  wholly 
imle-erilialile,  the    \oiiiin'  themselves,  i'l    tlieir  scaiitN'  drciss  of  dark    vellow  I'll/./,, 


line  of  a  \ery  yoiiiii:'  piipp>'i  'H'd  :dso  other  <futtnral,  iinemith  smii 


iiil\   all  mm 


Ith,  addiiiy  to  the  ticneral  etVect.      1 


oiu'c,  anil  miee  oiilv,  saw 


a  I        de  (the  male  is  iie\er  present  at  the  nest)  Ciirrv  a  yoniij;-  hird  alimit  ,i  rod. 


III    not   sa\'    she   ll^ 


I'll    lier   mil,  am 


I   don't   think  she   did,  lint    I    am  almost 


,:', 


■  •■! 


•i 


^ 


\: 


i 


4'| 

J  '.*i 


\'^ 


m 


150 


1,1 1'l',  lIlSToniKS  OF  NOltTII  AMKUIdAN  1!IIM)S. 


iscd,  as  tlic  vniiii"'  was  liiini'i'd  clusc  to  tlio 


sure  tile  claws  aixl  Ic^s  niih'  wcrt-  i 

IkhIv.     1  have  in'\cr  kiinwii  tin-  t';j;'j;'s  t(»  lie  rcniovcil,  tiiiiii};'li  1  liavf  Ici't  tliciii  in 

twii  or  tlin-c  ililVcrriit  iiistaiiccs. 

"1  t'diiiiil  a  pair  III"  \-,iimu'  niic  iinirniiifi'  and  went  lntinc  after  my  cainci'a; 
Itilt  ii|inii  in\-  rcttini,  scvcriil  imui's  later,  tliex'  were  ^^'uiic  and  tlic  old  hird  also, 
and  a  caret'ul  scarcli  tailed  to  disclose  tlieir  retreat  In  tliis  case  it  would 
ii|)|)eai'  that  tlie  old  liii'd  i-enio\ed  tlieni.  as  tlie\'  were  certainly  too  youn;;'  to 
travel  tar  tlieniseKcs.     'I'lie  eii';;s  that   I   have  f'oiniil  (with  the  cNception  of  one 


St 


t)  resendde  each  other  closely,  and  w<'fe  all  taken  in  moderately  o|ien  second- 


,tl 


uTowth    woodland    and    on    rnln'cs    so 


)niewhat    t'levateil     al)ov(^    the    immediate 


sni 


roundinjis.      No  attempt  at  a  n(>st  has  been  ol)ser\cd;   tl 


HI  s 


li;iht  dejH 


ic  cfi'M's  wer(t  plactMl 

t'ssions  and  nsnallv  on  one  larj^'e  h  at",  nexci'  near  a  loi>'  or  rock. 

"The  set  referi'i'il  to  aliove  as  exce|itional  is  (piite  heaxilv  marked,  and  one 

i''rCii  has  the  spots  on  one  side  nieriicd  into  one  lari^e  blotch.      It  was  taken  ,ImI\' 

4,    ISHl,  at    Deep    Hi\cr,  ( "oniU'cticnt,  and   is  the   latest   ilate  on  which    I    have 

t'onml  ej:';is,  thon^ili  I  lielie\-e  that  twoliroods  are  I'eared." 

'The   Whip-poor-will,  like  tlw  other  species  of  tlie  < '(i/irinni/(/iil<r  foinwl    in 

t,  hnt  fleposits  its  e<:<is  usually  on  a  layer  of 


the   I'nited    Slates,   inal 


!<es  no  lies 


tlr\'  lea\'es  oi   decKMioiis  trees,  sometimes  on  dr\'  •..uie  uetMJIes,  iind  occasioiialh 


on  the  hare  "Tound,  n'eneralK'  under  thi(d<  Imshes  which  afford  pleiitx  of  shi 


ide 


111     SI 


me  se(diided  and  oul-of-the-wa\   corner,  near  the  outskirts  ol'  foii'sts 


or  on 


ln'iish-co\-ered  hillsides,  river  liliilfs,  etc.,  which  are  not  readih  accessiiile  and 
not  disturlx'd  much.  It  is  naliirallv  a  timid  and  retirinii'  liird,  and  does  not 
hrook  reiieateil  intrusion  \fvv  <;racet'ull\'.  'I"he  nesting'  site  selected  is  al\\a\s  a 
well-draiiie(l  and  a  dr\'  one;  liiilit  Miid  saiidv  soils  are  prei'erred  to  liea\ier  ones, 
and  it  rarely,  if  ever,  nests  in  places  that  are  siiliject  lo  oxcrtlow. 

The  niimlier  of  e;;-;;s  to  a  set  is  two:  these  are  deposited  on  alternate  days, 
and  incuhalioii  commences  with  the  lirst  eiiii'  laid.  I  heliexc  the  female  atteiiils 
to  this  duty  almost  cNchisiNch-,  and  she  is  a  most  tlexoteil  parent,  iisiiifi'  all  the 
well-known    artilices   of  many   jirouiul-liuildinji-  species   to   entice   the    intruder 


th 


awa\    ironi   tlie    vu-i 
,.uns  il'  the   nestiim-  si 


aw! 


iiiit\'  of  her  treasures.     ( fccasionallv   she 


will    reino' (■     lier 


te   has  i)een  disturlieil,  and  the  eij'i>'   is  said  lo  he  carrii'd 


y  in  her  capacious  mouth;   luit  tl 


US  IS  no 


t  a  regular  liaitit  1)\    an\    meat 


The  callow  yomiij;,  however,  are  more  fre(pientl\'  carried  to  a  sate  localitx'  if  ti 
ot'teli   distlirlied,      Tlie   eii'^s  ot'  the  Wlli|»-p 
i)ird.  and    elliptical    oval    in   shape;   I 


oor-will  are  laru'c 


for  tl 


le  size  ol"  the 


shell  is  rather   frail,  close-;'raine<l,  and 


dial 


ilil 


\ar;aiile    m    the   ai 


noiint  of  liist( 


w  Idle  others  show  littli'  or 


r   present;   some 


are   rather  "-lossv, 


T 


le  L;round  color  ol    lllese  ey^'s  i 


111 


usually  ]iure  white;   occasionalK-  a  taint 


cream  tint  is  perceptible,  and  the  markin^i's  consist  of  blotches,  spots,  and 
tracings  ol  dilfereiit  sliades  of  brown,  tawiu  and  lighter  tints  of  ecru  drab, 
hncnder.  lilac,  and  pearl  ^ray.  In  most  s|)ecimeiis  the  markings  are  profuse; 
in  some  the  darker,  but  in  the  majority  the  lighter  tints  preilominate,  and  an 
occasional   e^^'   is   almost    unspotted.     On    tla?    whole,  they   are  not    nuarh'   ns 


TIIK  Willi' I'OOK  WILL. 


151 


lininlsoiiii'  {'iiji's  iis  tliusi-  (>r  ( 'Imck-wiirs-wiilow.  jiikI  flicv  fire  ^iciicriilK'  niiicli 
lijililiT  cdldrrtl. 

'I'lic  jncnijif  mcasiinMnctit  of  tliirty-tlircc  specimens  in  tlic  I'nited  Stiites 
Niitioniil  .Musenin  nillectinn  is  I'lt.liJ  hy  'Jl.'Jlt  inilliinetres,  tir  iiliouf  1.1")  liy  O.s  I 
indies.  Tlie  iiirjicst  ej;-^-  ot"  the  series  measures  .'{().4S  i)y  L'^.Sd  millimetres,  nr 
i.-_>()  liy  O.OO  inelies;  tlie  smallest.  I'T.CiH  liy  J  '"J  millimetres,  or  l.()!t  l.y  O.Sl 
inclies. 

Tlie  t\|ie  s|)e('imen,  No.  lS'jr»(i  (IM.  1,  Fi<i\  !(»).  IVom  a  set  of  two,  was 
taken  l>y  .Mv.  l{ol>ert  Wid^way,  near  Wheatland,  Indiana,  in  .May,  iSSS,  and 
i'e|in'sents  one  of  the  I  tetter-marked  eji'^s  of  this  species;  No.  L'Olftd  (I'l.  1, 
l'"i;i-.  II),  from  the  Mendire  collection,  also  from  a  set  of  two,  was  taken  on 
.Imie  1',  ISS7,  at  ( )winj;s  .Mills,  Haltimore  ( 'onnty,  .Maryland,  anil  shows  one  of 
lh(   lii^htcr-marked  sjii-cinu'iis. 

53.     Antrostomus  vociferus  macromystax  (\VA(ii.i:i{). 

srKi'iiKNss  wnii'-i'oo'i-wii.i.. 

Ciiliriuniliiii.s  iiiiirromjistii.i-  WA<iLKl!,  lliis,  I.S;U,  ."».'{;$. 
('((/;(•( HI »///».v  roci/vnis  m<icr<>iininl<i.f  llAit'rK.K'i',  Ibis.  ISitU,  'JHO. 

(H— .  ('— ,  U— .  CSSl,  r  I17<(.) 

(il''.0(iRA1'ni('AI,  KAMil',:  I''m)Iii  ( inatciiialii,  < 't'litrt'.!  .Viiicrii'a.  iiortli  ovci'  flic  Mcviraii 
tiililclaiids  to  siintliwcslcin  New  Mexico  iind  .soutlicin  .\ri/<)iia. 

Slejiheii>-'s  Whip-poor-will,  a  somewhat  lar;j'er  siilispecies  than  its  eastern 
rrlalivc,  was  lirsl  descrilied  hy  Mr.  William  iJrewster,  in  the  "I'mlletin  of  the 
Nullall  ( Irnitiiolouical  Clnii"  (\ol.  \'l,  1881,  p|i.  (ilt-7"_'),  from  a  specimen 
uliiained  l)\  .Mr.  I"'.  Stephens,  who  first  met  with  it  in  the  ( 'liii'icaliMa  .Mountains, 
.Vri/ona,  on   .May  2,    isso.     Sultsetpu-ntly  lie  found  it  also  in   the  Santa    IJita 


.Moimtains.  in  1S81,  where   it  was,  however,  less  numerous  than   ii 


I  the    liii'iner 


raiii'-e  the  \ear  in'ex  1011 


111  speakinji-  of  Ste|)heiis's  Whip-poor-will,  .Mr.  iirew- 
ster  sa\s,  on  paj^e  71:  •'In  the  ('Idricahua  .Mountains  it  is  apparciillv  imt 
iiiicoiniiioii,  to  judii'e  Ircm  the  loUowin^'  notes  which  accompanied  iii\  specimen: 

1  have  heard  se\cial  ol'  these  Wliip-|ioor-w  ills  siiiiiinfi'  at  one  tiuic,  and  am 
!iild   tliat    tlie\    were   heard    here   last  yi'ar.      I    hear    /'.  imlltiUi   c\cr\    eNcnint;-. 

They  kee|)  hijili  uji  the  moimtain  side,  while  this  Whip-|io(ir-\\  ill  all'ects  tic 
lower  iiart  of  the  cainoiis 


«      *      * 


In   a    recriit    letter   .Mr.  Steiiheiis  adds:    '!  heard  the  lirst   Whip 


diuut   tlic  midille  ol    .Ma\.      \S\  .lime   1    tlic\    wer 


e  as  common  a.- 


I 


c\<r  Ixliew 


Iheill   to  lie  111 


the  Kast: 


sometimes  i  could  hear  three  or  four  w  histlint;'  ;il 


llie\  were  \('ry  restless  and  rather  shy,  so  1  not  t\\\\\  the  specimen  I  sent  \  cm, 
and  a  female  shot  in  the  da\tiiiie.  The  latter  flew  oil'  her  nest,  which,  ;is  usual, 
was  only  a  \cry  slight  depf'ssion  in  the  "ground,  hut  in  this  c.isr  was  o\crhuii^ 
li\  a  rock.  The  single  ei^i;'  (now  liefore  me)  is  plain  white,  with  \vy\  faint 
la'ownish  spots,  so  faint  that  one  x\oiild  liardlv  notice  them.  She  would  lia\i' 
laid  no  more;  this  was  on  .Inly  4,  ISSO.'" 


«■■•>, 


/■i 


'1 


it;' 


r 


i 

Si 


m 


,;  I 


I 

1 

^ 

1 

I 

' 

!f 


ii 


m 
1 


'■•  *.p'i]i1- 


.  I- 


Km 

1^ 


152  LIFE  IIISTOHIBS  OF  NDUTII  AMKKIOAN  HIltDS. 

In  till!  siuiKf  Imllotin  (Vol.  Vll,  1S82,  jt.  212)  Mr.  Hrcwsti'V  tlcscriiu's  tliis 
ojfff  its  follows:  "The  efi'jf  is  white,  with  ii  dull  oloss.  At  first  sif^ht  It  ii|)iK'iirs 
to  hv  iinuiiuiiliitc,  but  !i  closer  iuspeetion  reveiils  ii  few  fiiiut  hlotehes  of  the 
palest  possiltle  purple,  so  faint,  iiidi-ed,  that  they  nii<i'ht  jtass  for  superlicial  stains 
were  it  not  for  the  fact  that  they  underlie  the  external  polish  'V]w  alisenci^  of 
well-delined  niarkinj^s  may  ]irol)al)ly  lie  explained  l>y  the  assumption  that  the 
Itird  had  laid  one  or  more  clutches  earlier  in  the  season,  thus  exhaustlufi'  her 
sujiidy  of  colorinu'  pij^ineut.  The  specimen  measures  1.17  liy  0.IS7  inches  (< 
•2!».72"l)y  2-.M(l  millimetres)." 

Mr.  F.  Stephens,  in  his  notes  on  this  subspecies  sent   to  me,  say. s:  "'i'l 


»r 


le 


locality  where  I  fotuid  the  e^fi'  was  a  <;ulch  near  the  summit  of  the  (!hiricahua 
Mountains,  in  a  thick  forest  of  yellow  pine.  The  nest,  if  it  can  be  called  so, 
was  a  slijrht  depression  scratched  in  the  "■•round,  under  the  edjic  of  a  bowlder. 
Incubation  was  advanced.  1  do  not  af^ree  with  ]Mr.  Hrewster  (to  whom  I  ])re- 
senteil  the  e;ii};)  in  thinkinji'  tliat  it  was  a  second  brood.     My  opinion  is  that  this 


tl 


le  mon 


th  of 


s])ecies  is  a  late  breeder,  as  it  is  also  a  late  mi};rant." 

Di'.  A.  K.  Fisher  uu't  with  Ste]ihens's  Whip-poor-will  durin 
.Time,  iSill,  and  has  <;iven  me  the  followinj>'  notes:    "The  Whip-pnor-wilTs  note 
was  not  heard  at  Fort  ISowie,  Arizona,  durin;^' the  last  three  weeks  of  .May,  1S!)4. 


Wh 


U'U  we  made  camp  at  the  mouth  of  Hucker  ("an\ on,  snme  fort\  miles  sou 


th  ..f 


the  Post,  in  the  (' 


uncanua 


M 


ountains,  on  the  last  da\-  of  the  month,  we  heard  a 


few,  and  a  couple  of  days  later  found  the  specii-s  abundant  hij;her  up  in   the 
same  canyon,  amouj^'  the  pines  (/'.  jmnilrnisn).     Here  at  early  dusk  ami  at  dawn 


tl 


leir  notes   were   heard   almost  continuoush,  and   nund)ers  of  bird 


s  were  seen. 


On  ,lune  5  Mr.  I'^i-ed.  Hall  Fowler  foimd  a  nest,  if  the  sliiiiit  deiiressi 


on  m  tlu 


th 


rot 


It 


nid  can  be  sodesi^^iiated,  on  a  stee])  side  hill  al)out  ■")()  t'eet  abo\-e  the  streai 


was  situated  undei 


an  o\'ernan';in'''   hus 


h  at  the  edii-e  of  a  Hat  I'ock,  and  < 


on- 


the  fragments  uf  ei;-"-  shells  from  which 


taineil  two  \'ouu;;',  I'eceiith'  hatched,  and 
they  had  emerged. 

"At  Fly  Park  (altitude  al)out   10,()()(t  feet)  the  species  was  very  mucii  less 
connnon,  though  a  few  were  heard  e\tr\'  nin'lit.     While  feedini;'  tlie\- often  idiiiht 


on  a   iironun 


eut  rock  or  dead  stub,  from   which  they  liiunch  out  after  ])assii 


insects  and  return  to  wait  for 


Her  iire\ . 


Its  call    nitte,   althouiih   resendilin"-    that    of    tla 


common 


\V1 


Mii-|)oor-wi 


iir 


11. 


is  said  to  lie  harsher  and  lou(i 


er. 


liieut.  II.  ('.  15enson,  Fourth  ('a\alrv,  Fnited 


States  Arm\-,  also  met  witii  it  near   Fort    iluacl 


uici 


md  shot  a  female  there  on 


^lav  IS.  ISSI 


,hich 


IS  no 


w  in  the  United  States   National   .Mil? 


(•mil  CO 


liectit 


Mr.  \V.  W.  Price   wiiti 


s   me 


Wh 


nii-i)oor-will  III 


I'i 


the  ( iraham  Mouiita 


distinctK'   heard   the   note  oj'  Stephens"; 
ins,  .\ri/.oiia,  at  ab(ait  7,11(10  feet  tdcMitioii 


d  reasons  to  beliexc  the  testimony  of  a  (iov- 

ns,  noi'th 


on  duly   l!l,  iSill.      I  mIso  iiave 

eminent  |iacker,  who  says  he  has  heard  its  cry  in  the  White   Mouiitai 

of  Fort  Apache,  in  about  latitude  ;!4^." 

It  a|.|iears  to  lie  pretty  jicnerally  distributed  throiijiliout  the  lii;ilier  moun- 
lain  rauyes  of  southern  Arizona,  and  undoubtedly  breeds  where\er  found;  its 


STEPHENS'S  Wll  1 1'  I'OOlt  \V  1  IJ>. 


153 


fnvorito  rosorts  socm  to  Ito  tlu;  rocky  sides  of  cimyuiis.  'Plic  rcmiiiints  of  tlie 
(.oMi'slu'lls  t'oiuid  l>y  Mr.  Fowler  (tlm  lower  Imlt),  wiiieli  lie  kiudly  sent  me  tor 
exainiiiiition,  iiro  uniforinly  pahs  croaiii  colored  ami  apparently  unspotted;  an<l  tlie 
ejro-  of  this  species  is  evidently  but  slij>litly  marked.  Ife  writes  me:  "'Piie  eyji's 
were  dejiosited  on  a  bed  of  oak  leaves  by  the  side  of  a  lar^-e  i-ock:  there 
was  no  nest  cxceptiuj^'  tlus  bare  leaves,  which  had  been  hollowed  out  slightly; 
both  parents  and  the  two  youu};'  ones  were  taken  and  they  are  now  in  m\'  col- 
lection; tho  latter  were  covered  with  lijifht  brown  down,  and  were  not  more  than 
1 A  inches  loiifr." 

There  mv  no  ejffi^s  of   Stephens's   Whip-poor-will    in    the    I'nited    States 
National  Museum  collection,  and  no  s])eciniens  are  i.^nred. 


54.     Phalaenoptilus  nuttalli  (.ViDrr.oN). 

I'OOK-WILI.. 

i'liprimulfiiis  niiflalU  \VDvnoy,  Birds  of  Americii.  VI F,  l.St.'i,  .T»0,  I'l.  4i»."). 
I'hnhtiKiptilus  itutliiUi  IJiDcaVAY,  Proceedings  IJ.  S.  National  Miisemn.  III.  ISSO.  .".. 

(B  11.$,  C  2(i(i,  1;  ;!.'>-.,  (J  3!»S,  i;  IIS.) 

(iEOOUAPHICAL  RANGE:  Western  I'nited  Slates,  (roin  llie  Sierni  Nevada  and  llie 
('iiseade  nionntains  eastward  to  sontiieastein  Sontli  DaUota,  eastern  Nebiasl<ii,  Kansas, 
tiie  Indian  'rerrit(n'y,  and  ea.stern  Texas;  north  to  i^asteiii  Wasliin.ulon,  Malm.  Montana, 
and  .soutlie.rn  North  Dakota;  .south  in  winter  thronj;'!!  eastern  .Mexico  to  <iualeniala.  Cen- 
tral America.     Casual  east  to  Iowa  and  Missouri. 

The  Poor-will  or  Niittall's  I'oor-will,  a  sonu'what  smaller  species  than  our 
eastern  Whip-|)oor-will,  is  <listributed  o\-er  (piite  an  extensixc  ran^e,  its  habitat 
l)ein<r  mainly  confined  to  tluf  interior,  from  the  eastern  borders  (d"  the  I'l.iins  and 
the  Great  Hasin  regions  to  the  Sierra  Nevada  and  Cascade  mountains  on  the 
West.  As  far  as  yet  knoyvn  it  does  not  app(sar  to  l)e  found  north  of  our  border. 
l)Ut  it  will  not  surprise  me  to  see  it  yet  recorded  from  the  southern  ])ortions  of 
western  Assiniboia  and  Alberta,  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  especially  as  it  is 
known  to  occur  in  Montana,  the  tvpe  comiuf"'  from  the  U])|ier  Missouri  Uixcr,  in 
tliat  State.  Its  breediuii'  rau^'e  is  coextensi\c  \>ith  its  distriiiution  in  t\\o  I'liitei! 
States,  where  it  is  chieHy  a  sunmier  resident;  the  majoritv  of  these  liirds 
mifi'rate  to  the  table-lamls  of  eastern  .Mexico,  and  maiu'  ^^o  still  farther  south  to 
(iuatemala.  A  few,  however,  winter  alony-  our  southern  border,  in  the  Colorado 
Desert  in  southeastern  (California,  as  W(dl  as  in  similar  localities  in  southern 
Ari/tnia,  New  Mexico,  and  southwestern  Texas.  I  heard  the  unmistakable  notes 
id"  this  species  early  in  December,  iST'i,  in  the  \icinity  id'  my  camp  on  Willito 
(!reek,  near  Tucson,  Arizona,  and   aj^ain   aliout    the  miildle  id'   l''el)ruary,  IST,'!. 

In  some  of  its  habits  it  differs  consideraitly  from  the  precedinii'  species  of 
this  family  which  are  alnn)st  entir(d\-  confnied  to  the  denser  woodlands;  the 
Poor-will,  however,  althoii^-h  fre(piently  found  in  similar  localities,  is  apparently 
e(pially  as  much  at  honu^  on  the  open  pi'airie  and  the  almost  barren  and  arid 
reo'ions  of  the  interior,  which  are  covered  onh'   here  and  there   with  stunted 


'■■fis 


■fie 


«::; 


ii.-5i 


m 


1^: 


m 

If! 


154 


LIFK  lIISTOlUliS  OF  NOKTU  AMEllIOAN  lUKUS. 


. 


■m 


'i 

'I 

If' I 

:lilr 

. . .  :.t. 

ili 


jtiitclics  of  sage  {Artemisia)  and  otlicr  desert  jdaiits.     'Plie  cliniate  dues  not  set 


111 


t'  the  hottest  reuioiis  of  tli 


e  coiitiiiei 


It,  lik( 


to  alVect  it  iimeli,  as  it  iidmhits  some  o 

Death  VaHey,  in  soiitlieastern  California,  as  well  as  the  slopes  of  the  |{(K'ky  and 

Hlue  mountains,  in  (h-eyon,  vliere    it   reatdies  altitmles  of  from  (!, (1(1(1  to  S,()()(l 


teet.      1    1 


ia\('   liean 


(1  the  I'oorwill  in  Mear  Valley,  ()re<;(>ii,  in  a  localit\'  wliere 
frost  ••oiild  lie  fonnd  every  month  in  the  year,  in  the  eastern  parts  of  its  raiij;(' 
it  overlaps  that  of  the  Whip-poor-will  for  some  distance,  and  it  appears  to  It 


ipiite  common  in  portions  <»t  eastern 


ans, 


IS,  notaidvso  alioiit  Maiiliattan,  where 


I'rof.  I).  !•;.  Lantz  has  repeatedly  f  nmd  it  hreedini^-.  In  a  letter  dated  ( )ctoher 
4,  1S'.I2,  speakiny  of  Xnttall's  as  well  as  of  tli(^  mori^  recently  descrihed  Frosted 
I'oor-wili,  he  says:  "'{'he  Frosted  I'oor-will  is  not  uncommon  in  this  localitv.  1 
ha\('  noticed  more  specimens  at  the  time  of  their  spring;-  niij;ratioii  than  later. 


Indeed,  at  that  time  ir 


d)oiit 


as  common 


the  other  form,  I'/Kihriidjitiliifi 


inittnlli 

kind,    ir 


Milt  ill  the  breediii"'  season  iieaiK  all  the  liirds  seem  to  be  of  tlu^  latter 


owe\er,  mv  ow 


I'n  o1)servatioiis  lead  nu^  to  renard  the  '//"s/rv/' 


as  a-  more 


color  phrase  of  I'lHi/ii'iio/itilKs  iniftdili.      1    liav((  met  with  hotli  birds  togetlu  ,'  in 
mi<^ratioii,  and  once  found  a  pair  of  tled<>liiiys  near  where  they  were  hatched, 


one  ( 


if  th 


1)1  I'd 


liowini;'  a  decii 


led  I 


ioar\'  or 


frosted  coloriiiii'  on  the  wi 


II"'  am 


t,".ii  tV'ithers,  till-  other  beinji'  without  these  markings  Only  the  female  parent 
was  seen.  She  \vas  a  typical  Xnftalli.  The  j'oiing  birds  were  caiight  ami 
liandh  d.  The  frosted  one  was  not  so  well  developed  as  the  other.  So  far  as  I 
lia\'e  'ibserved,  there  is  no  ditl'erence  in  the  habits  or  in  the  ej;'fi's  of  the  two  liirds. 


I  1 


lave  tounil  a  niiiniK 


lb 


>f  sets  of  the  older  varietv,  sonu'  of  them  befon^ 


1  k 


new 


that  t' 


.ertt  was 


a  frosted  form:  since  then  1  have  always  b 


careful  to 


jiositixely  identify  the  parents  before  takinji'  the  eji'ji's.     The  birds  can  easily  b 


secured  b\-  tlu'  use  of  a  butti'iHv  net, 


or  even 


bv  di 


roppinji'  a 


hat 


ovei 


tl 


lem  as 


tliey  sit  in  the  sun;  but  the  precaution  to  secure  them  is  unnecessary  to  the 
])ractical  eye,  for  one  can  always  have  leisure  to  study  them  before  they  take 
to  ilifiht.  With  one  exce])tion  the  eji'fi's  taken  were  laid  iii>oii  bare  patches  of 
;ii'a\cl  or  on  low,  flat  rocks,  and  jilaced  usually  mar  a  bunch  of  weeds  or  a  tuft 
of  yrass.  The  excejitioii  was  a  set  found  on  the  liare  ground  in  an  allev  in 
.Manhattan  City.  This  alley  was  in  c(aistant  nse  and  it  was  straiiii'e  that  the 
cfi'jis  remained  for  so  loiif^'  a  tinu^  undisturlied,  for  when  taken  incubation  hail 
The  I'oor-wills  usually  keep  to  the  vicinity  of  .steep  hills 
Tliev  seem  to  return  to  the  same  localitv  fi'(tm  year  to 


leii'iin  111  lioth  cii'ii's, 


th 


and  (d<l   dead 


\  ear 


to  I 


)i'ee( 


The  food  of  the  I'oor-will  consists  mainly  '  the  smaller  iii<;lit-flyin<i- motiis, 
lieetles,  locusts,  etc.,  of  which  a  considerable  portion  are  gathered  from  the 
Lirouml.  Its  ilifi'ht  is  swift,  «'asy,  and  perfi'ctly  noiseless  as  it  skims  aloiiif  close 
to  the  ground  in  search  of  suitabh;  morsels,  and  of  tlu'se  the  more  indigestible 


arts,  such  as  \\ 


ill"'  coNcrts  of  beetles,  etc.,  are  ejected  in 


the 


ame  manne 


as  111 


th 


{aptores  and  other  birds 


the  f 
As  tar 


oriii  ot 


I  I 


diets 
1) 


lave  lieei 


tie  to  oljserve,  it  does  not  utter  its  well-known  and  mouriiful-soiiiiding  note  of 


)n\ 


h-wl 


lee-ee 


rhih 


tl 


Oil  the  wni"',  aiK 


1  th 


ast  syllable  is  iitterei 


ow  that 


TIIK  POOH-WILI;. 


156 


unless  one  is  close  to  the  liinl  it  can  not  lie  roidily  (It^tcctcd.  I  liasc  licanl  tlie 
unniistakablcf  son;^'  of  tliis  species  in  many  places  in  tlie  West,  lint  altliuiijili 
t'airlv  connnon  over  a  f^reat  extent  of  country,  it  is  nmcli  more  fVc(picntl\- 
lieai'd  than  seen.  I  have  also  spent  eonsideralde  time  in  vainly  looking;  for  the 
egfi's  of  this  species,  and  only  sncceedcd  in  olttaininj^'  a  single  set.  Its  hign- 
1)nons  calls  are  most  often  heard  shoi'tly  aftttr  dusk,  along-  the  sides  of  ivickv 
canyons  in  the  foothills,  and  less  often  on  the  lexcl  plains  and  the  miamtain 
summits;   its  call  note  is  also  ticcasionally  uttered  in  tlic  daytime,  hut  not  often. 

Mr.  Fred.  W.  Koch  writes  int*  on  this  sul)ject  as  follows:  "( )n  the  morning 
of  Jhiy  "),  ISDI,  in  the  vicinity  of  ^hitarango  S|iring,  in  the  Coso  N'alley, 
California,  while  walking  along  a  sheej)  trail  on  the  hillside  al)o\(^  the  spring,  1 
was  siu'jiriseil  to  hear  a  l*oor-will  call  from  the  opposite  hill  several  yards  away. 
'Thinking  it  singular  for  this  liird  to  utter  its  note  in  the  daytime,  I  stopjjcd  to 
hear  it  repeated  and  \o  make  sure  of  its  identity.  Just  then  its  mate  llew  iipalioiit 
10  feet  away,  and  on  examination  1  found  a  single  fresh  i-'^'/  laid  on  the  ground 
in  a  little  bare  spot  a  few  feet  in  diameter;  next  day  tliere  were  two  eggs,  which 
A\ere  takt'U.  'i'lu'  hird  i)roltal)ly  uttered  the  call  to  warii  its  mate."  'This  set  is 
now  in  the  I'nited  States  National  .Museum  collection. 

This  species  was  fairly  common  near  Camp  Harney,  Oregon,  along-  the 
slopes  of  l{attlesnake  Canyon,  in  which  the  I'ost  was  huilt.  It  usually  arrived 
here  al)out  .\pril  15,  and  any  tine  (ncning  after  sundown  si^Ncral  of  these  birds 
woidd  "tnni'  up"  and  commence  calling- from  different  directions  along  the  sides 
of  the  cain'on,  and  keep  up  their  concert  for  an  hour  or  more.  (  )n  the  e\cning 
of  ^fay  20,  1S77,  while  returning-  to  my  (piarters.  1  noticed  a  pair  of  tliese  ])ii-(ls 
hopping  along  the  main  road  directly  in  front  i>f  the  otHcers' (piarters,  evidently 
feeding,  and  subsequently  I  saw  sonu'times  half  a  dozen,  within  a  distance  of 
300  yards,  similarly  engaged.  They  were  (piite  tame,  and  would  scarcely  move 
out  of  my  way.  1  more  than  once  ai)proached  within  two  feet  of  one  bet'ore  it 
took  Hight,  and  then  it  Hew  oidy  a  few  feet  before  settling  down  again.  \  \ov\ 
low,  griuiting  sound,  like  "pweek  pweek,"  and  another  (-aused  by  the  snapping- 
togetlier  of  the  mandibles,  were  the  only  noises  made  while  so  engaged:  the\' 
never  uttered  their  ordinary  call  on  this  road.  ()n.lune  4,  bs77,  a  short  distance 
abo\-e  the  I'ost,  I  fhisluMl  one  of  these  binls  on  a  small  plateau,  o\cr  wliii-h 
numerous  bowlders  were  scattered:  the  scant  patches  ot'  soil  being  coxcred 
with  sage  and  other  bushes.  This  bii-d  Huttereil  and  tund)led  around  me  in 
a  circle,  which  made  me  suspect  that  its  nest  was  close  by:  but  the  most  carefid 
search  failed  to  rt-Ncal  it.  I  am  positi\'ea  )pairnest(»d  there,  as  I  could  lieai- their 
calls  in  about  the  same  jjlaci-  every  inght.  The  I'oor-will  sits  so  close  and  its 
plumage  harmonizes  S4)  pcrf(*ctly  with  the  ordinary  surroundings  that  its  eggs  or 
ynung-  are  oidy  discoxered  by  accident.  The  only  set  of  i-^xiX'^  obtained  b\-  me 
was  foimd  on  the  di-y,  ban-en  plains  south  of  my  camp  on  h'illito  ('reek,  near 
Tucson,  .\rizona,  on  .\ug-ust  2,  IS72;  they  were  fresh  ami  liiid  on  the  l)are  gi-ound 
under  a  small  grease-wood  bush  (0///V////)  and  were  fulK'  exjiosed  to  the  sun.  The 
male  was  shot.      From  the  late  date  on  which  tliesi'  eggs   were  found    I   believe 


.  ■!  i 


't  i 


:,',     ::t 


;ti   i: 


'  :  ;  I  • .! 


1'  I; 


r 

•• 

•    ♦ 

lo(*. 


LIFK  IlISTORir.a  OF  NORTH  AMEHK1AN  BIRDS 


■ 


"  *  ■.  i^ 


Ill 


this  species    raises  twii  Ih'immIs  a  year,  at  least  tlii"uii;i'lioiit  the  soiitlieni  iiortioiis 
at'  its  faii;4'e 


It  <li<l  not.  iiunear  to  Ix^  ('oiiinio 


ipi 


II  on  tli<-s( 


til 


iilaiiis,  Itiit  ill  the  t'lMtt- 


its  rails  w 
The  ('li'iis 


ere  iiiiicli  more  Creiiiieiitly  heard. 


>f  XiittaH's   I'tior-wi 


first  discovered   hy  I  h-.  (1.  Suckloy, 


(11  .liilv  17,  is.")!!,  on  till!  North  Fork  of  tli(^  I'latte  Itiver,  in  western 


Xel 


iraska, 


iiiiil 


111   e 


.Meet 


it'    this   set   is   at   present   in   the  niiitt  1  States  National   .Muse 


ion. 


I  liiid  that   it  had    been  correcth'  eiitoriMl,  but  its   exist 


eiice 


nideiitiv  been  overlooked,  as  no  nientioii  of  it  is  made   in   tli 


listorv   o1 


uni 
had 
f 


North  American  Minis,  1S74,"  by  Haird,  Hrower,  and  T{id<;\vay.  There  are  also 
specimens  from  Nevada,  California,  Utah,  ('olorado,  and  Arizona  in  the  collec- 
tion. Like  the  lialaiice  of  the  species  beloii^inj;'  to  this  family,  Niittall's  I'oca'-will 
is  crt'piisciilar  and  nocturnal  in  its  habits,  ami  is  rarely  met  with  in  the  daytime 
iless  accideiitallv  tliished;  but  as  it  is  ver\'  tame,  and  will  scarcelv  move  unless 


ui 


in  ilaiiji'er  of  iteiii;^'  stepped  on,  it  is  very  seldom  seen  duriiifi'  the  day  which  it 

bunch  of  yrass  or  a  low  bush,  beside  a  rock  or 


siieiiils  111  repose  under  some 


sp 


sometimes  on  one,  am 


I  altl 


KUiuli  it  iiia\'  o 


fteii  b 


)e  sittmji'  111  plain  view  and  within 


few  feet  of  one,  it  is  not  I'eadih'  detected.      I  think  it  rarelv  percli 


es  on  low 


limits  of  trees.      .Mtlioiiiih  coinmon  eiioiiiih  in  suitable  localities  throiiiihoiit  its 


rann'e,  <renuine  e<;"s  of  Nuttn 


1 


oor-wii 


are 


still 


rare  in  ooloyical  collections 


Niditication  be^-ins  rather  late;  the  earliest  breedinji' record  I  have  is  Mayo, 


itlieasTcrn  ( "aliforiiia  ;  the  i 
tl 


iiaj()rit\'  mention  the  months  of  .lime  and  .luh', 
f'Ai 


mil  a  sin^i'le  one  names  the  beiiinmnji'  oi  Aiiy'iist.      I  wo  eji'^^'s  are  laid  to  a  set  on 


te  d;i 


alteriia 


\-oun"'.  am 


bel 


leve 


botl 


1  sexes  assist  in  iiici 


I  bat 


:on  and  in  tlie  care  o 


th 


1    iM.tl 


I  are  devo 


ted 


tl 


ev 


forsa 


ke  tl 


lareii 


ts:  tl 


le\'  wi 


11  let 


\du  almost  touch  them 


•f  th 


before 


leir  treasures. 


Tl 


le  e^fi's  lay  usiialU'  on 


the  1 


lare  ji'round,  closi' 


to 


some  little  bush,  to  shelter  them  somewhat  from  the  rays  of  the  sun.     Tlu^y  vary 
from  oval  to  blunt  idliptical  o\al  in   shape;  the  shell  is  rather  thin,  close  jiraim-d. 


anil  moileratel\-  ylossv. 


iieir  color  is  iisualK'  stateil  to  be  white,  but  on  close 
inspection  it  can  readily  be  seen  that  it  is  a  delicate  cream,  with  a  faint  pinkish 
tint  wiiicli  does  not   perceptibly  fade.      Kjijis  in  the  collection  tal 


ken  more 


tl 


laii 


twenty  years  ajio  still  plainly  show  this  peculiar  tint,  'i'he  e^ys  are  unspotted 
as  a  rule,  lait  an  occasional  sp(H-iiiien  shows  a  few  faint,  ilarker  shell  markin<js 
around  one  end,  which  are  barely  perceptible  to  the  naked  eyi;,  and  which  fade 


msiderablx  in  t 


line 


IH^    a\cra<;'e    in 


easurenieiit    of   thirteen    .speci 


mens 


in    the    riiit- 
National  Miiseiim  collection  is  ^l'^.\'.^  \\\  r.l.Oo  millimetres,  or  (l.!)ll  \i\ 


■lates 
.'\i)  inch. 


Th 


arrest   e: 


111 


easiires  •_'(;. (IT   bv  ■_'ll..'{2  millimetres,  or  l.H.")  by  O.Si)  inch 


the  smallest,  ■_*•_'. ."!.')  bv  11)., '{(I  miliimetn 


O.SS  bv  0.7(1  inch 


The  type  specimen.  No.  "24404  (I'l.   1,  Fiji'.   "J.")),  from  a  set  of  two  ejifi's, 
Ralph    collection,  was  tak<'ii   in   Kstes    I'ark,  (Colorado,  on  .June   19,  l.SDl,  and 


represents  about  an  averaue-sized  spe 


■cinieii  o; 


f  tl 


us  s 


pec 


les. 


TIIK  FUOSTKJJ  I'OOK  WILL. 


167 


55.     Phalaenoptilus  nuttalli  nitidus  Hkkw-stku. 


FKOSTKl)  I'OOK-WILL. 


I'liiiliiiiiiplihix  iiiiltalli  iiilidiin  BuK\V8i'i;i!,  Auk,  IV.  Apiil,  1HH7,  147. 

(B  ll.J,  pint;  C  2»i(i,  iKiit;  H  .{55,  pint;  (J  ;i!»8,  part;  U  USd.) 

(Jeo(JUAPiiicai.  banok:  Ai)pareiitly  siiiiihir  to  tbiit  of  the  Toor  will. 

'riic  Frosted  Poor-will,  it  lij^litcr-colorcd  imd  grayer  bird  tliaii  Xiittall's  I'oor- 
will  is  likely  to  pi'ovc  only  a  color  phase  ot'  tlio  latter,  e.sjx'cially  as  the  known 
raiiii'c  of  the  two  appears  to  l>e  practieally  identical,  was  first  descrihed  by  Mr. 
William  IJrewster  in  "The  Auk"  (Vol.  W,  IS.S?,  p.  147),  from  specimens  taken 
on  the  Nueces  Hiver,  Texas,  Feltrnary  27,  1SS6.  Ft  has  .since  tlien  l»een  met 
with  in  soutlu'U.stern  (!alifornia,  Arizona,  southern  New  .^[exico,  ( 'olorado,  and 
Kansas.  Its  oeiieral  hahits  appear  to  he  entirely  similar  to  those  of  the  preced- 
iufi'  species,  hut  there  is  as  yet  not  suflicient  material  availal)le  to  enable  one  to 
come  to  any  positive  conclusions  about  the  pro|)er  status  of  this  pale  form. 
The  lat<'  Col.  N.  S.  CJo.ss,  in  his  work  on  the  "Minis  of  Kansas,  ISIH"  (p.  IIW), 
makes  the  tbllowinji'  pertinent  remarks  on  this  subspecies:  "This  i)ird  does  not 
apjtear  to  differ  in  haliits,  actions,  or  size  from  /'.  iiiittdlli,  and  I  am  im])ressed 
with  th(^  thought  that  it  may  possibly  prov(>  to  be  a  dichromatic  phase,  like  that 
of  the  Screech  Owl  (Mrfi(isio/)s  a.sio),  rather  than  a  subspecies,  as  now  entered." 

'I'luf  very  fact  that  it  can  not  be  considered  as  havin<i'  a  ranj^-i^  of  its  own 
where  the  typical  I'oor-will  is  not  also  found  seems  to  confirm  this  view.  One 
of  the  li;ihtest-colore(l  specimens  of  this  pale  form  which  I  hav(^  seen  (an  acbdt 
female)  was  secured  in  Death  \'alley,  California,  on  January  "Js,  iS'.tl,  and  is  now 
in  the  ornitholo<^'ical  collection  of  the  ITnited  States  Department  of  Aji'riculture, 
in  this  city.  Other  specimens  from  the  same  region  are  typical  I'lidhfiioiiti/its 
iniltiilli,  and  both  ])hases  wintei'  to  some  extent  in  these  desert  regions.  A  set  (»f 
eggs  of  this  race,  taken  with  the  ])arent,  in  Iviley  Comity,  Kansas,  on  .Imie  'Jli, 
\XH\\,  l)y  Mr.  Kben  M.  Mlachly,  are  now  in  the  (loss  collection  in  tiie  l'ui)lic 
Museum  at  .Milwaukee,  Wisconsin.  They  were  laid  upon  the  liare  ground, 
imder  a  bunch  of  grass  upon  the  |)rairie,  near  the  edge  of  a  corntielil;  they 
measiuv  1.0,")  by  ().7!t  and  l.O.'ilty  0.7.S  inches;  or  "iClH  by  •_'<U)7  ami 'iC.KI, 
by  111. Si  milliuietres.  'I'here  .are  no  absolutely  identified  eggs  of  this  suit- 
species  in  the  Tnited  States  National  .Museum  collection,  and  tlun'  iU'e 
indistiuyuishable  from  those  of  the  I'our-will. 


m 


''  i'  .-■ 

fir  ■ 

'i     it      ., 

' 


■Iff 

III 


iP' 


I 


|- 


m 


mi 


H^l 


158  lill'K  IlifSTOKlKS  OF  NORTH  AMKUICAN  BIUIKS. 

56.     Phalaenoptilus  nuttalli  californicus  Kiugway. 

DIISKV  I'OOIMVILL. 

l'hal(viioplilu.s  nuttalli  mliJ'orniouM  UinuWAY,  .Manuiil  of  Noitli  Aiucrican  Itirds,  1887,  588, 
foot  note. 

(15  ll.'i,  pint!  <;  L'fiti.  piirt;  l{  .i'M,  part;  C  ;W.S,  part;  V  418 fc.) 

<li;o(ii!APiii('Ai.  HAN(ii';;  I'acilic  I'oast  ieH:i(iiis,  from  ('aliforiiia  north  to  VVasliiiiff- 
ton  ( f ),  soutli  to  northern  Lower  California. 

'V\\o  raiiiicor  tlic  Dusky,  also  known  as  tlu-  "(!alifomia,"  Poor-will  isoonliniMl 
to  the  moist  coast  districts  ot"  California,  and  ]»rol)al)ly  to  similar  localities  in 
( )rcL;on  and  Wasliiniiton,  Messrs.  Lyman  Meldiiij:'  and  A.  W.  Antliony  likewise 
report  it  from  'i'ia  Jnana  and  tlie  San  I'edro  Mai'tir  Mountains,  in  northern  Lower 
California.  Tlie  most  ty|)ical  examples  of  this  dusky  race  como  from  localities  west 
of  the  coast  ran;i(^  in  ( 'alii'ornia,  while  the  hirds  of  the  interior  and  tlio  western 
slopes  of  tlie  Sierra  Xe\adas  are,  more  or  k'ss,  intermediato  iM^twtH'ii  this  and  the 
connnon  roor-wiil.  Its  hreedin^-  ranji'e  is  coextonsivo  with  its  distribution  in  the 
I'nited  States.  Mr.  F.  Stejihens  writes  nu';  "The  Dusky  Poor-will  is  f'reciuently 
heard  in  the  sprinji'  and  fall,  and  a  few  winter  in  sheltered  valleys  neartlio  coast 
in  San  Dieud  Ciamty,  but  it  is  ajiparently  a  rare  summca*  resident  in  .southern 
California,  and  I  iiave  never  taken  its  eoo-.s."  Jlr.  Charles  A.  Allen,  of 
Nicasio,  California,  considers  it  a  conunon  sunnner  resident  in  Marin  County, 
where  it  arrives  about  the  tirst  week  in  March  and  remains  during  the  breeding 
»ea.son. 

I\lr.  U.  H.  Lawrence  writes  mo  from  Monrovia,  Los  Angeles  Connty,  (Cali- 
fornia, as  follows:  "The  California  I'oor-will  is  pretty  connnon  hero.  I  first 
heard  its  notes  on  Mav  3.  iVccortling  to  my  hearing,  the  words  '  l*earl-rab-it' 
give  a  fair  idea  of  its  call  in  letters.  There  is  a  kind  of  chuck  or  catch- 
lireath  after  the  lirst  two  syllal)les  which  really  makes  the  call  ha\o  three.  It 
is  clearly  gi\('n,  and  the  tirst  two  syllal)les  can  be  hoard  at  a.  considerable 
distance;  when  excited  more  than  conunonly  this  call  note  is  reiterated  with 
animation  for  a  short  time,  but  it  is  generally  given  with  slight  ])auses  after 
I'ach  call,  then  a  loiigei'  interval  of  silence  lollows  as  the  bird  moves  to  another 
place.  While  Hying  in  sight  1  have  never  heard  it  give  any  sound.  On 
August  1,  while  walking  along  the  road  to  Duarte,  about  10.30  ]).  m.  on  a 
mooidight  night,  i  Hushed  one;  it  tlew  just  ahead  of  me  till  I  had  passed  its 
nesting  i)lace,  when  it  wheeled  around  and  alighted  there  again,  se(;ming  to 
nestle  ih)wn  to  the  ground,  which  was  packed  hard  just  there.  On  approaching 
it  again,  it  ilew  off  a  little  farther  along  the  road;  when  startled  it  gave  quickly, 
two  or  three  times  in  succession,  a  low,  soft  nt)te,  like  '|)weok,  ])weok,  pweek,' 
which  could  only  be  heard  a  few  yards  away. 

"On  Mav  5,  lS!i;},  while  hurrving  to  catch  a  train,  ah)ng  a  road  following 
the  i'tV^ii  of  a  wash,  a  bov  stopped  me  to  show  me  a  nest  of  the  California  I'oor- 
will;   we  Hushed  the  bird  after  nearly  treading  on  lior,  looking  about  our  loot 


R 


TOK  nrSKY  I'OOH-WII.L. 


160 


tor  the  rijilit  sput,  wlicii  slic  flew  a  t'cw  yards  imd  ali;;lit(Ml.  A  siiijilc  fjiji'  lav 
llici'c  ill  a  sli;^'lit  ilc|in'ssiuii  nil  tlic  clean  ami  sniiicwliat  cuarsc  ^rascl,  wlilcli 
was  ratlicr  siiiiMitli  Inr  a  t'cw  t'cct  aluait.  ArDiiml  was  tlic  usual  l»rusli\-  cliapairal 
ct'  the  wasli.  Tlic  {•'xir  was  liruiii^iit  t(i  iiie  hy  flic  boy  in  tlic  c\ciiin^',  witli  tlio 
iiird,  and  a  slij^litly  smaller  one  had  bci'ii  taken  the  day  |ire\ii(iis  IVoiii  the  saiiio 
nest." 

Mr.  Lawrence  kindly  jiresented  these  e}if>s  to  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection,  as  well  as  the  parent.  This  is  not  (luitc  a  typical  I'liiiliniii/i- 
liliix  tnilhiHi  rdli/'iiniiriis,  hut  it  approaches  this  subspecies  closer  than  the  true 
/'.  initliilli.  'The  tact  that  the  i'eiiialc  returned  to  lay  her  second  cuji'  in  the  saiiK! 
spot  tVoiii  which  the  first  had  been  taken  the  day  betbrc  shows  how  tenacious 
tlicse  liirds  are  to  a  locality  once  chosen  tor  a  iiestin;;'  site.  To  t'lirther  coiilirin 
this,  Mr.  Wolla  If.  Heck  writes  me  that  Ik^  shot  two  of  these  I'oor-wills  in  ■liiiie, 
I8!t4,  in  Monterey  County,  within  a  few  feet  of  the  spot  wlicic  he  tried  to  kill 
one  with  a  lisliin^-  |)olc  two  years  pre\ioiisly.  * 

.Mr.  ^\'alte^  \\.  Ih-yant,  in  his  "( 'atalo^ue  df  the  Uird>  nf  Lower  ( 'aliforiiia," 
makes  the  follow  in;:'  remarks  aliout  this  subspecies:  ■'Noted  at  scxeral  places 
between  Tia  .Iiiaiia  and  San  I'edio  .\lartir  by  Mr.  I5eldiiiu'.  -Mr.  .\iithoii\  hiis 
met  with  it  up  to  8,(100  feet  altitude,  and  says  it  winters  in  the  low  hills  near 
the  coast.  I'oor-wills  were  heard  every  eveiiinj:'  ou  the  steep  hillsides  at 
( 'omoiidu  and  at  \arioiis  localities.  The  only  specimen  secured,  a  male,  was 
taken  at  I'o/.o  (iraiide,  March  111,  LSS9  I  followed  tiie  bird  some  time  before 
^^•ctlin;^'  a  sliot,  and  each  time  that  if  was  frightened  it  tlew  al)oiit  lOO  \ards  ami 
alii.;'lit<'il  on  I'actus  about  .'{  feet  lii^li.  i'lie  .Mexicans  call  them  'Tapa-camiiio' 
when  thev  see  them  in  the  trail  at  dusk;  but  they  also  call  the  \i<:lit-haw  ks  by 
the  same  name.  At  ('onuaidu  they  were  known  as  'Cow-day,'  from  the  almost 
perfect  resemlilance  of  their  note  to  those  words.  In  upjier  ( 'aliforiiia  tlio 
birds,  which  1  have  freipiently  heard,  utter  the  notes  rapidly,  and  soiindiiio- 
•jMior-wiir  clearly;  in  Lower  California  the  sounds  are  jiiveii  ([uite  slowly,  and 
risemble  the  Words  'cow-day'  rather  than  'pcxa'-wili."'' 

Tile  lailv  set  of  ei^ys  of  this  subspecies  in  the  I'liited  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  the  one  already  referre(|  to,  ]a'e.seiiteil  by  Mr.  l{.  IF. 
Lawrence.  These  two  eji'jfs  are  indistiiijj;'iiisliable  from  those  of  the  common 
I'nor-will.  Their  li'round  color  shows  tlu^  same  pale  creamy  tint,  with  a  faint 
jiiiikish  tiiiji'e,  and  tlieir  shape  is  also  similar.  They  measure  •_•(>.  I'i  b\-  lll.,'!0 
and  •-Ti.L')  by  1!).;10  millimetres,  respectively,  or  1.04  by  O.Ttl  and  O.iHI  i»y  0.7(! 
inches. 

The  t\pe  specimen,  No.  2.')IK'57  (not  tijiured),  from  a  set  of  two,  taken  near 
Monrovia,  California,  on  May  I,  1S!I,'{.  was  |)resented  by  .Mr.  \{.  11.  Lawrence, 
as  already  stated. 

I  I'ruireiUiigs  of  Uie  Ciililniiiiii  Aciich-iny  nl'  Scicuceti,  I'tl  Hriics,  \(>1.  II,  ISH'.I,  pji.  'Ml,  288. 


I  :'h 


]. 


? 


I  K. 


■:% 


Wi 


ti  ill, 


ii 


;j 


ilH 


«' 


^  •: . .;.   K 


m  ■ 

V. 

i  '    ' 

* 

'T  ^ 

■( 

■  S 

,  ^- 

% 

I 


ill 

I 

I 


■^H 


■. 


:   !"^J 


i 


160  I. in;   IIKSTOIMKS  OK  NOirni   AMKIMCAN    I!II!I»S. 


57.     Nyctidromus  albicollis  merrilli  Shnnkit 
.Mi;ifiiii,i,H  I'AHAic^ii:, 

Sjiftiilritmiit  illliiriillis  mn-rllli  ,S|;NNi;i'T.  Ailk,  V,  .liili.,  ISHH,  14, 

(I!  _-;  r— :  1;  ;i,-.(l,  |mit:  C  .KC).  jmit;  I'  iVX) 

(iKdilUAIMIK'AI.  KANdK:  Sniltllci'li  TrMl.s:  Holltll  t  lll'iillj^ll  iHirtlKSlstuni  Mt'.xirii  (o  tllO 
Istliiiiils  i>r  'ri'liiniMtr|i<'i'. 

Tlic  r;iMM(.  (if  Mcirill's  I'liniiKiiic  witliiii  tlic  riiitcd  Stiifcs  is  ii  nitlicr 
rcstrictril  diic,  Ikmiil:'  iiiiiinls  cniitincil,  jis  t'jir  ns  known,  to  tlu^  lowci'  U'io  (inuulo 
\'iilli'\-  Hint  soiitlicni  TcMis.     'I'lic  most  ciistcrii  iioiiit  from  wliicli  it  lias  \ct  Immmi 


ciiorlcil  IS  Anmsiis  (  oiml\,  wlicri 


.Mr.  II.  I'.  .\tt\Viitcr  rc<Tiitly  shot  ii  s|i('ciiiicn 
near  luickjiort.  It  is  known  to  lie  t'airh'  ronimon  in  tliii  vicinilv  of  ("orpiis 
( 'liristi.  Mr.  I ».  U.  Bnrrows  also  met  witli  it  on  tiic  Nnt'ccs  Wivcr,  ami  tlicsi!  points 
|iioltalily  mark  tlic  eastern  limits  of  its  ranj^o.  We  are  indeliteil  to  Dr.  .lames  ( '. 
.Merrill,  I'liiled  States  .\rmy,  for  tlic!  iliscoverv  of  this  handsome  suhspeeies 
within  our  liorders,  w  ho  took  the  first  spoeimen  within  the  limits  of  Kort  Mrowii, 
Texas,  on  .\piil  1,  iSTii.  and  on  May  2  \\i'  also  ohtaiiuMl  the  eji'^s.  Since  then  it 
has  lieeii  found  to  1;;'  a  common  slimmer  visitor  in  tin;  lower  Hio  ( )rande  ^'alle\■, 
ami  a  nimilier  winter  ti;ere  as  well:   lint    tiic   majority   pass  south  into  eastern 


M 


exico,  I 


isiiallv  retiiriiinu'  lyiiin  to  tlu-ir  Ureedinj'-  <;roiiiids  earl\   in  .March. 


In  speakiny  of  tli(!  Iiahits  of  this  suhspeeies,  I  )r.  Merrill  says:  "It  freipieiits 
shads'  thickets  and  copses  (where  these  can  he  found),  and,  when  tliislieil,  dod^ies 
ra|iidl\'  and  silently  ainoii;^'  tlie  linshes,  hut  soon  alights,  only  to  repeat  the  short 
lli^ht  when    aj:aiii    apjiroached.     The   e;^';is  are   deposited   in  such   a  situation. 


iisiialiv 


it  the  foot  of  a  hush.     The  parent,  when  startled  trom  her 


eiiiis,  iiiaKes 


no  attempt   to  di 


'co\-  (Mie   awa\ ,  luit,  fh'I 


few  yards,  idi"lits  to  watch  tli 


intruder,  iVeiiueiitly  raising  herself  on  her  lej^s  and  nochlinj;'  in  a  curious  manner, 
iitti'riiii;"  at  the  same  time  a  hiw,  whininj;'  sound.  Their  notes  are  anionji'  the 
most  characteristic  niulit  sounds  of  tlie  lower  Kio  (iraiide,  and  are  constantly 
heard  at  e\ cninj:'  diiriiiu'  tlie  summer  months.  They  consist  of  ii  repeated  whistle 
n'semliliiii;'  tlie  s\]lali]es  '  whew-wiiew-w  hew-wliew-wlie-e-e-e-e-\v,'  much  stress 

(1.     The  wiiole  is  soft  and  mellow, 


jeiiij. 


hiid 


Ulioll 


the  last,  which  is    iiroh 


yet  can  l)i-  heard  at  a  iiicat  distance.     The  preliminary  'wliews'  vary  somewhat 


ui  nnniiier,  an 


I  late  in  tiic  season  are  often  omitted  alto"('the 


*      *      « 


"On  the  I'ltli  of  May,  ISTG,  I  foiim]  a  set  of  eji},'s  near  camp,  at  llidalji'o, 
ami  on  retiirnini;'  in  alioiit  iit'teeii  minutes  to  secure  the  parent,  who  had  disap- 
iieared  amoiiL;'  the  thickets,  I  t'oimd  that  she  iiad  remove(l  tlie  en'fi's, althoujih  tlie\' 


lad  not  liei'ii  toin 


hed. 


Mr.  |).  I).  Ihirrows  has  also  kindly  fnrnisiied  me  with  the  followinf"'  notes  on 
jMerrill's  I'arampie:   "\Vliile  in  tlu;  lower  l\io  (irande  country,  in  Starr  Conntx', 
the  fall  of  ls:iO,  I  lirst  met  with  tliis  liird.      It  .seems  to  he  a  resident 


.(liiriii; 


for  I  met  with  It  ihiriiii;'  liie  winter  iiioiiths  as  well  as  diiriii 

■  l'niicriliiif,'s  r,  S.  Niiliiiiiiil  Miisi'Uiii,  Vol.  1,  1S7S,  p.  1 1;>. 


tl 


i(!  sprmji' 


MKUUILI/S  I'AUAUtiUI': 


I*;  I 


mill  simiiiicr.     WIhmi  llii^  iicstin;;'  stNisoii  is  over  tlic  birds  riniiiiii  (jiiii't,  iiml  llicir 


M'ciiliiir  \v 


iiislli 


Mil-  Utile  IS  imt  liciii'i 


I  will 


I  rc!"ii 


liirit 


y, (111(1  yd, (111  \rry  wiinii  iiijilits 


(IlllMll"'  fill 


li  <>r  tlir  wiiiti-r  iiKiiitlis,  I  liiivti  (icciisidiitilK   iit'iiril  tliriii. 


I) 


uniin'  tilt 


til 


wiiittT  tlif  liinls  iiiiiy  1)1'  HiislitMl  IVtuii  tlit-  dt'iisf  fliifkfts  in  ilit-  Imtttiiii  liimls, 
liiit  lis  tlu)  iifstin;;'  si-iisoii  iijtpi'tmt'lifs  tlit-y  Ifavc  tlit-sf  fltisf  rt'trt'iits  anil  st't-k 
iiitirt^  (ipi'ii  ^iTttiiiiil.  I)iiriii;>'  tluMlaytiiiii>  tlit>  liinls  wci-f  t'liiiiiiiniily  t'tuiiul  mi  tlii> 
^^rtiiiiiit  at  tilt)  t'litit.  til' a  ^rtiwtli  <it'  liusiii's  nr  aiiiiiii^'  t'lillfii  liraiit-iifs,  luitl  I  liavf 
iifiMsitiiially  t'liiiml  tlifiii  iitTfiiotl,  nijjilidiasvk-lasliitiii,  ii|itiii  a  Itiw  lii'aiifli  imt 
iiitii'f  lliaii  a  i'tiiit  t'rtiiii  tin-  {i'niiiiiil.      WlifU  fltist-jy  a|i|iriiat'lict|,  tlicy  ilart  i|iiif.kly 


ttirwi 


fti  111  a  /iiiv,! 


•iMirsc,  (lrti|i|iiiiji'  as  siidilfiily  tti  tin-  ^i-niiiiiil 


lis  (li"lit  is 


-limt.  ii>iially  iitit   iiitn-f   tliaii  "lO  tir  GO  t't-t't,  ami  «lit'ii   st'ttlftl   tlifv  ftiiiiiiitiiii\- 
rt'iiiaiii  |ifi'l'fftK  t|iiict  until  ajjiiin  lliisjictl.     Tlify  liavc  a  |iffiiliar  way  nt'  tiii'nin;^ 


ir  larin!!'  almiit  as  tlit'\'  strike   tlie  yi'iuintl, 


that  tliev  can   liette 


r  w 


itfh  tl 


ut 


a|i|irtiafliiii^'  tlaiijifr.  'I'liey  lie  so  flusi;  tliat  it  is  witii  ;;reat  dillifiilty  tliat  tlif\- 
tail  lie  dilet'ted.  unless  tile  sjiiit  is  fai'et'idly  marked.  In  a  niiinlier  nl'  instaiifes, 
wlieic  the  liinl  seeineil  tti  t'et-l  that  it  was  tiiiservetl,  1  liaxc  hail  tiieiii  ^ti  llir<ni;;li 
a  pefidiai'  liiiuin;^'  iiiii\  ('nieiit,  reseinlilinji' that  tit' the  iJiirrtiw  iii^' ( )\\l,  eseept  that 
liiitly  is  raised  t'nnn  its  ftiiniilelely  |)nisli'ate  |)iisitit)ii.     (  M'ltii  when  !lnshed 


till 

llie\   will  iitliT  a  iietiiliar  iitite,  stiuntlini 


like  the  svlialile  'ki 


e\|)ltisi\('  elVet'l.      (  )ii  se\'eral  tiffasinlis,  i 
liiiiii  a  liiiut.   1   Iia\e  lieeii  startled    liv  a  i 


11  the  fail  tit'  tl 
let'lll 


i|i,    iitteretl  with  an 


le  \ far.  when  retiirniiijr 
I 


stiHi  slitii't  and 


iliar  'imt,  put,    wlueli  t-anseil  me  t 


11  111 


\   ijiin  a  little  tiLditer,  t'eeliii"-  sure  that  I  liail  distiirli 


w 


ild  tiirkev  anti  that  this 


s  his  wariiiii;:-  iinle.  ('antitnisly  apprtiathiiii;-  the 
sptil,  1  liavi-  t'tiiiiid  that  it  was  made  liy  a  i'araii([Ue.  wliifh  was  usually  perehed 
iipim  the  e\lreinit\'  til'  a  lnw,  dead  liiiili,  nr  tin  the  tup  ut'  a  laisli.  At  these  times 
I  I'tuind  that  the  liinl  was  watehiii;;-  t'nr  t'nutl,  and  at  intervals  wtuild  leave  the 
perfli,dart  till' a  slmrt  distance  as  it' in  pursuit  ulaii  inseet,  ami  astpiiekly  return, 
ill  very  iniu'li  the  same  maimer  that  the  Whip-ptiiii-will  is  afeiisttimed  to  tin.      I 


lielievi!   thiit   tlit 


arils  are  s 


triftl 


\'  msectivtirtiiis 


lint  I 


lia\e  never  iiiiiile  an 


'Xaminatinii  t>t'  the  stumaeh   exeept  in  tine  instaiiee 


'riie  sttiiii.'ieh  tit'  this  l)ird, 


killed  in  ,laiiuar\',  slmwed  parts  ot"  tlie  f'uet  anil  wings  ut' small  lieetles  ami  till 


iiiseets. 


At   the  appmai'li  tit"  tin.'  Iireeding  seasttii   ami  as   early  as  the  niitltlle  ut' 


Mari'li   the  pendiar  whistle  of  the   i'aruiuiue   liet'omes 


itiwfr 


K'iii  (iraiide,  where  tliex'  are  t'tinimini,  it  iiia\ 


he  li 


general,    ;i 
eard  tin  al 


Mile: 


Tl 


lis 


s|iiH'ies  is  strictly  nuctnrnal.      When  thislied  in  the  daytime  they  .ivtiid  striking 
against  hushes  with  AViuidert'id  skill,  hut  they  areipiite  seiisitixf  tn  a  strung  ligiit. 


The  hirds  liegiii  to  call  as  the  tlnsk  of  the  e\ 


eiiiii"'  fiiines  on. 


ill 


IS  a  loiiii-iirawn 


'ko,  wlie-e-t'-o-e->\',"  iiiiieh  ])rt)loiigetI,  and 


he  eoiniiioliest 
lised   til  ii    iiiijh 


pitch  toward  the  last.     'I'liis  is  repeated  often  and  with  great  energy,  and  on 


-til 


niii-ht  iiiav  h 


iiiiitted. 


heard  at  a  lung  distance 
d  I 


At  titl 


lei 


times  the  tirst  svlialil 


e  IS 


nil  It  IS  \iirieil  liy  a  repetition  ot 


tl 


le  first  s\  llalile,  a> 


ko,  k 


<o-\vlie-e-e, 


lie 


first  svlliililes  roiieateil  deliherateh',  and  the  last   not   so  long 


tirawn  and  sudtleiih-  cut  short. 


lljsiiti— N,,.  If- 


>   I     ■HI 


:i 


K 


'$ 


■i 


M) 


.Ji 


jl 
1  u 

11 


1 

1 

1(5 


l.iri;  IIISTOUIKH  OK  NOUTII  AMi:i!l<!AN   HlUhS. 


lii 


'.'•I 

'I 


i: 


'M 


-w 


iv 


i 


U> 


tv«« 


i:H 


liJ) 


■1;ii 


"1  llil\c  never  liiliml  tlie  l'iir(llli|lle  lieMt'm;;'  in  tlle  i|eli.-.e  lliickels,  wllere  tliey 
liiili"  iliirin;;'  tlie  winter.  Tlicy  wcei;  tlie  more  njien  ;ii'iiinii|,  llie  lii^li,  le\cl  spots 
near  tlie  ri\er,  ny  n|i  sunie  nrrii\'ii,  nninn;,''  sriitterin;^'  hnslies  jiihI  |(e;ii'  eneliis,  liut 
never  on  tin'  rockv  liills,  wliere  tlie  Texun   Niylitliiivvk  is  irei|iienilv   loiniil.      In 

one   insllHIi'e  ;l   nest   VVils   tolUlil   ilt  tlie   e(l;;e   of  tl    cllltivilted    lield.       TIm'   ^'<<;\X>*  ">"•' 

|i|jii'ei|  on  llie  liiire  ^^ronml,  with  no  titteiii|)t  iit  nesi  liiiilijin;^,  niiil  nsniillv  tit  tlie 
tool  III' ji  i'llliii|i  ol'  linslies.  'I'lie  liinl,  w  lieli  liuHiie<|  t'roiil  tile  nest,  i|liiellv  ilill'ts 
otViiml  ili'o|i-.  to  llie  i^roiiiul  lint  t\  sliort  ilistiincc  iiwiiy. 

'•|>nrin;i   llie  winter  iiml  siirin;;'  (|H!»4)   I   t'oiin<l  the   l'(iriiii(|ne  to  lie  Inirly 


Ctll 


niiioll  illolili'  tile    li 


■  course  of  tlie  N'lieces  IJivcr,  lint  I  ilo  iioi  think  thiit  it 
is  to  lie  roiiml  iinirli  JMi'lhei'  ciist,  iiimI  I  know  thjit  n  little  riirther  north  its  |iliii'e 
is  tiikeii  liv  the  ( 'linek-wiirs-wi(l<i«.  Here,  us  on  the  l{io  ( Jiiinde,  I  ronml  it 
ri'siih'iil  ihron^lioiit  the  yeiir.  iiinl  iiltlioii;ih  it  lireeds  there,  I  \\;i>  not  siiecesst'nl 
in  lindin;!'  iinv   nests." 

The  t'ood  ot'  Merrill's  l':irillli|lle,  like  thill  ol'  the  rest  ol  llie  Cnpi  ilinililitlfr, 
coiisiMts  niiiiiilv  ol'  ni;:ht-tlyin^'  insects,  snch  iis  niolhs,  lieelles,  etc.  Tlu^  croji  ol' 
ji  s|iecinieii  shot  liv  Mr.  II.  I',  .\tt\viiter.  neiir  L'oi  k|iort,  're\ii>,  wiis  tilled  with 
lirellies,  I'Iniliinis  jiiirnlis .' .  Ill  the  lower  Ilio  (Ji'iinde  \'iillev  t'resh  ei;;,;s  fire 
occ;isioiiiillv    tilkeii   in  the  second  week  ill  .Vjiril.   lillt    tile   lireedinji'  sciisoli  is  not 


ilt  its  liei<i'lil   liel'oi'e  .Miiv  lllld  lasts  well  into  ,ll 


ine 


I'lie  earliest  iireediii"'  record 


I  liav(^  is  .\|iril  1  h   the  latest,  June  -7:   in  lioth  cases  iIk'  e; 


I'o'S  w 


en-  fresh.     It 


IS 


proliahle  that  two  lii'oods  are,  at  least  occasionally,  raised  in  a  sea^ 


lie  eji'^'s  o 


f  M 


errills  l'aniiU{ilc  a|>|iroacli  an  elli|itica!  ovate  more  than  an 
elli|itical  oval,  one  end  lieiiif.''  alwavs  more  |ierce|itililv  |ioiiited  than  the  other. 
The  shell   is  close-urained,  rather  thin,  and  either  without 


OSS  or  oil! V  nioiier- 


iitelv 


leir  ;iroini(l   <'oior  varies  trom  cre;im  and  vinaceoiis   h 


ull   I 


o  a 


rich  salmon  Imll'.  and  this  is  more  or  less  aliimdantly  s|iotted  and  splashed  with 
lintVv  jiink.  ecru  drali,  pale  lavender,  and  more  nirelv  with  deeper  shades  of 
cinnamon  rnfons.      In  an  occasional  specimen  the  niarkinu's  are  nuiinlv  conlined 


ritv  tl 


to  the  iarjicr  end,  lint  m  the  majoi'ity  they  are  jiretty  evenly  scattered   over  the 


entire  siiriace 


.f  tl 


e   ''rl'^'- 


A  f 


ew  arc 


lint 


sliij'hilv  niarke(l,  and  unless  carel'nllv 


I'xamiiied    mii^lit   pass  for  immaculate.     They  are   handsome  eii'i^s,  and   do  not 
rcscmltle  any  others  of  the  ('iiiiriiiiitl/iitltr  found  in  the  I'nited  States. 

The   Mvcrajic   measnrement   of  forty-one   specimens   in    tlie    I'liited    Slates 

the    Walph    collection,   is    •il.-_'4    hy 


Xati 


.\l 


iseimi    CO 


llect 


tU 


.mi  millinietn 


loll,   mostly    iroi 
ilioiit   l.-J.'i  liv  (».H!)  ind 


ics. 


he  larji'est  cl;;. 


of  the  series 
iiallesi, -JT.IS 


iieasiires  ,'(,'!  :i 7  liy  24.i;{  millimetres,  or  1.31  hy  (•.!!")  inches;   the  sm 
Ity  2n.,")7  millimetres,  or  1.07  hy  O.Ml  inches. 

(  M'  the  type  specimens,  No.  2.52N1I  (I'l.  2,  Fie.  1)^  from  a  set  of  two  eji'es, 
Ralph  collection,  taken  on  May  l(i,  1S!»2,  represents  one  ol'  the  lietter  marked 
examples,  while  N'o.  2().'{3r)  (PI.  2,  Fiji'.  2),  also  t'rom  a  set  of  two  and  from  the 
same  collection,  taken  on  April  1(!,  ls;i;i.  represents  one  of  the  liLihter-marked 
types  of  this  species.      Hoth  were  ohtained  in  Cameron  County,  Texas. 


TMK  NKlllTIIAVVK. 


i(s:) 


58.     Chordeiles  virginianus  ((imi.i.in). 


NIDIITIIAWK. 

('(iinhiiiiliiUH  I'irfiiniiiiiiis  ( lMi;i,iN',  Systvmiv  N'atiiiii',  I,  ii,  I  7HS,  lOL'H. 
CliiiiiUilix  ririjiniiniiis  Swainsun,  l''iiiuiik  Itorciili  Aiiii'rii'ikiia,  II,  l.s.'ll,  I!M1, 

( It  111, (!  'j<;7,  n ;r.7. « '  ;«!•!•,  ir  420.) 

(iKniiitAl'tllCAi.  itANiiK:  I'lastci'ii  Noi'tli  AiiH'i'Icii;  imrtli  in  llit>  Dominion  of  Cnniiilii 
to  Novii  Scot  ill,  Ni!\v  Iti'iinswii'k,  <^lU'll(t(^  noi'tJKM'M  i>nliiiio  (Moose  Kiicloiy),  und  Kft'watin 
(l''oi'l  ('liMi('liliill),  in  hititndo  o!)  ,  itnd  tlifurd  in  u  noitliwr.sU'rl.v  ilii'frtioii  lo  tin'  Mstckrn/.lr 

liivi'i'  \'all<',v,  in  tliu  virinil.v  of  l''ort  (■ I  llo|ii'.  to  til)ont  iiitituili'  O.'i   ;  west  in  llie  llnl((>il 

Siiitt's  to  liio  oastm'n  liordcr  of  lliit  (ir*>itt  I'liilns  iinil,  s|ioniili('iill,v  only,  alont;  tlu'  Honthnn 
liiiiiniliiry  of  tln>  Dominion  of  Caniiilii  un<l  tlu*  noitlioiii  lioi'ilcr  of  liic  rriitcil  Slulrs,  in  llio 
^^<lOll('ll  ilintiii'ts,  to  sonlliciii  llritisli  Colnniliiii,  Wasliin^rlon,  ( )i'('>:<)n,  anil  noithcrn  Cali- 
fornia; Montli  in  wintrr  to  tlir  llalninia  Uluinls,  CtMitral  AiiMMJca,  anil  tlic  (;t'<>at(M'  parf  of 
KiMltli  Amri'ira. 

'I'lii'  raiio(.  ul'  tlit^  Xi;;litliii\vk,  iilsii  kiinwii  as  "  IJiill-lmt,"  "  .M(is(|uiti>  lljiwk," 
"Will  ii'  llic  Wisp,"  "I'isk,"  "I'iraiiiiilif'',"  and  soinctinu'M  cri'inifiuisly  im  "  Wliip- 
|iiKir-\viH"  (l)i'iiio'  tVc(|iii'iitly  iiii>*t!iki'ii  tor  this  s|)i'cics),  is  i|iiiti'  an  oxtcinlcil  ouo. 
It  is  iinl\  a  siiiMiiirr  \isitiir  tlirini;ilii>iit  tlir  I'nitril  States  ami  tlio  I  tiiiiiiiiiuii  nf 
Caiiaila,  firiii'fally  arri\iiin- tViiin  its  wiiitiT  iiaimfs  in  tlio  I5aliaiiias.  ('nitral  ami 
SdUtli  Aiiicrica  in  tlio  lattrr  lialt'  nf  April,  n-ai-liin^-  llii-  mure  iinrtlii'rn  parts 
aluiut  a  niiiiitli  latrr,  and  Icasin;^'  the  latter  a;;ain  in  laryc  stra^^^liiijL;  flucks  almnt 
till'  end  lit'  AnoMist,  Miii\in;r  leisurely  smitliward  and  disap|iearin;j'  i;radnall\- 
idon;^'  iinr  smitliern  Imrder  ahoiit  the  latter  pai't  nf  ()etiiltor.  Its  nii;;'i'atinnf-  are 
\i  ry  extended  and  rover  the  "•[•(.jifcv  |)iii-t  ul'  the  American  cdntinent. 

Its  lireedinj!'  faiiue  in  the  United  States  and  the  l)i(niini(in  nf  Canada  is 
(•ne\tensi\e  with  its  ;;'enoTaphical  disti'ilmtinii.  ( )n  the  Atlantie  Sealmard  it 
I'earhes  the  nnrtliern  limits  nf  its  ran;;e  in  ahnnt  latitmle  nl^,  in  tiiu  I'l'nvinee 


if  (,)nelie 


ami 


Itlinnii' 


h  it 


iias  Iteen  recn 


rded  fi'nin  lialiradnr,  I  tail  tn  tind  an\' 


pnsitise  evidence  nt  its  nccurrence  thei'e.  Se\cral  specimens  have  been  taken 
at  M<inHe  Knctni-y,  nni'thern  Ontarin;  and  anumo-  a  cnllectinii  nf  skins  frnm  Fni't 
Churchill,  nil  the  west  shnre  i>\'  lliidsnn  Hay,  in  ahniit  latitmle  ."i{)  ,  iinw  in  tlu" 
Ivlinimroh  Museum,  is  an  adult  female  taken  l>y  I  )r.  <  iillespie,  jr.,  w  hile  statimied 


tl 


lere  as  an 


.till 


imlsnn 


M; 


IV 


( 


in 


ilialil 


M' 


P 


us  tn   1S4." 


hence  it 


\"  fanofC's  III 


nnrthwestern  directimi  tn   the    Mackenzie    l{i\('r   N'allev, 


nni'th  lA'  Fnrt  Simps 


III. 


Mr.  .Fi 


line 


Lnckliart  sent  a   skin  tn  the   I'nited  States 


Natiniial  Musotim,  nhtained  near  Fnrt  (Jnnd  llnpe,  Nnrthwest  Territitrv,  in 
ahnut  latitude  tili"^,  which  is  the  nnrthernmnst  n^-ord  I  have  lieeii  able  tn  tind. 
Till!  western  limits  of  the  Niijrhthawk  are  nnt  sn  easily  defined.  In  this  direc- 
tinn  it  reacdies  the  (^astern  hnrdors  nf  the  (irreat  I'lains,  and  it  is  also  fmiiid 
sporadically  tliroiii^hinit  the  lietter-tiinberod  parts  alnii-;'  the  snuthern  l»niiiidar\- 
nf  the  Dnininion  nf  ( 'anada  and  the  iiortheni  Imrder  nf  tin;  ['nit<'d  States,  west  tn 
southern  Hritisli  Ciiliimliia,  Washino'tnn,  Oreu'nii,  and  iinrtherii  California  (.Mount 
Shasta),  where  it  is  replaced  in  the  more  open  |)nrtinns  nf  these  reoions  liy  the 
lighter-cnlorod  western  representative,  CItordcUes  vityiiiiuiuti  Itiiiryi.     1  was  ijuite 


li^l!! 


I 


■  \   • 

It! 


i  ( 


i- 


I 


.1  III' 


I- 


tl! 


1 


■i\'. 


It 


t^l 


-  n 


,1    ;!'      >k 


•iiiii--^'!;!' 


!H 


^i-i/^ 


..  ;t 


^11: 


••) 


m 

''■-1 ; 

1 

i't 


•<i|i, 


164 


Ml'''    IIISTOKIKS  OF  NOKTIl  AMi;iM('A>;   lUltU.S. 


sun  I'iscd  tn  liiid  tli;it  si  ins  ijikcii  l)y  iiu;  in  the  \iciiiity  (if  l''urt  Kliiiuatli,  ( 'n'fion, 
Mid  uiiw  ill  tlic  I'liit  ,1  ^,t:it('s  XatiDHid  .Muscium  cnlJoctidii,  arc  alnuist  indistiii- 
ji'  .s)ial)lt'from  typical  spiM-ii.uMi.s  from  tlio  castcni  ITiiitod  States;  tlicy  t'crtainly 
ait|ir<ia(li  tlio  eastern  bird  far  iium*  (dostdy  than  tliu  li^ilitcr-cdlun-d  western 
snlispeeies.  The  siuiie  remarks  a])pl \  to  specimens  !roni  suntliern  IJritisli 
(.!oluml)ia.  ^^'^aslnn^•toll,  and  nortiieru  ( "alii'oi'iiia.  .vioii;;'  riic  respc(ti\e  Imi-ders 
of  their  rany'o  the  two  fni-ni.^  oM-rlaji  sometimes  for  eonsi(h'ri  l»h'  distances,  tiie 
present  species  occupying'  t!ie  (lUtskii'ts  ol'  tiie  lietter-tindiered  tracts,  whih'  the 
western  race  is  principal! \  restricted  to  tiie  more  ojieii  prairie  cniinli\. 

'The  Xi^iithawk  is  jicneralK  a  common  snnimer  resi(h-nt  thronyiiont  tiie 
eastern  I'nited  States  norta  of  latitiKh-  .'5.')^.  wliih-  sonth  of  tiiis  it  is  more  irreji- 
nlarly  distriiinted,  hut  l)reeds,  to  s(,.iiie  extent  at  h-ast,  in  all  i>f  oiir  SontlK'rn 
Statt's,  exceptiiiji'  perhaps  l''lorida  and  the  immediale  \iciiiit\  of  ilie(!nlf  cciast. 
Its  common  name  is  somewliat  of  a  misMniner:  it  is  l)\  no  means  iioctmnal  in 
its  lialiits:  in  tact,  it  is  diurnal  and  crepnsciilai,  and  it  is  not  at  all  imiiNnal  to  see 
numliers  nl'  these  l)irds  on  tlu'  win;^'  on  bright  smiiu  da\s:  lint  it  does  must  of 
its  ImntiiiL''  in  cloudy  weat'.ier  and  in  tiie  earlv  mornings  aiul  e\ c'linLi's,  retiriiii:' 
to  re.^i  siMiii  alter  it  iiecomes  i^ark:  hut  dnriiiji  lirijiht  mooiilij^ht  nijilits  it 
keeps  lip  its  tliyjit  somewhat  latei  I'nd  I  ha\"  heard  its  i-alls  as  late  as  elexeii 
o'clock. 

Il  is  one  of  our  most  <iiacefnl  Mrds  on  the  wiii^-  and  its  aerial  e\(iliitions 
■ire  truly  wonderful;  one  moment  it  ina\'  lie  seen  soariny'  throii;:'h  space  without 
any  apparent  iiio-.cment  of  its  pinions,  and  ii^iain  its  swift  fiiyht  is  accompanied 
liy  a  u'ood  deal  of  rapid  Happiii;^  of  the  wliiu's,  like  that  nf  oiir  l''alcoiis,  and 
this  i>  iMnstantK  more  or  less  \aried  1>\'  iiunieions  twistinj;s  and  turnings. 
While  sudiieiily  dartiiiu-  here  and  there  in  pursuit  of  its  |irey  I  have  svi'H  om- 
ol  tlie--e  lii'ds  shdtit  aliiinst  |ierpeiidicnlarl\  upward  v*illi  the  swit'tiiess  of  an 
allow  in  |iiirsiiil  nt'  some  insect.  Its  tail  ajipears  tu  assist  it  ^'reatl\  in  tliest- 
Midden  ziiiv.aii'  chany-es,  lieinu'  Jiartly  expandi'd  duriii;;'  most  of  its  coiiiplic;ited 
iiKiveiiieiits.  I  know  of  no  more  ii.terestinu'  sijiiit  than  tu  watch  a  iiumher  of 
Xi^lithawks  while  eii;^-;io(.d  in  feeding',  skimmie;^'  close  to  the  ^rouiiil  or  over 
the  water-  ol  some  pom'  ur  lake,  j.i'lidii  iX  swit't'.x'  alunjj'  ii:  all  kinds  of  serpentine 
Liyratioiis  with  tlie  utmost  i^race  and  ease,  and  no  matter  how  limited  the  space 
'iiay  he  and  huw  mimeruus  the  hirds,  nunc  vW]  e\er  L:et  in  the  wav  uf  each 
ulh  -r;  all  their  mo\eiiients  seem  lu  he  accuinplished  in  the  must  hariioniuiis 
manner. 

'The  XiLi'hth.i  ,\  i\  is  a  social  hiu!  while  on  ilie  wini:-,  ;md  I  liaxc  seen  fiillv  a 
liMnilrc<|  at  one  lime  hawking;-  o%('r  a  sm;ill  mountain  meadow  ur  a  pond,  and 
they  certamiy  seeineil  to  eiijov  each  other'.-  coiiipanx .  \\  hile  on  the  wiiifi'  theii' 
(piernlous  .uid  sipieaky  call  note,  sounding';  like  "a'h-eek,  adi-eek"  or  "speek- 
sjieek  "  is  rejiealed  at  dill'eri'iit  iiiter\als.  },'ir.  \V.  Iv  (JruNcr  desi'i'ihes  this  note 
as  a  sharp,  mowing;-  "miieike,"  and  it  is  also  said  to  resenilile  the  wurd  "heard," 
nttere'!  ill  a  whisper.  When  disturlied  while  sitting- uii  ils  epL;s  il  n--uall\  utters 
a  luw,  I  iirriii,.;'    >:•  cluukliiiy  suund;   and  during  earh  s[iring  the  male  I'reipieiitly 


THF.  NKHITHAWK. 


165 


Icsccuds   r!)|)i(lly   iVcmi    lii«^li  iiliovo,   tlit-   vilinitinii  ciuiscd    hy   tl 


If   ail'   piissiny 


throiii 


;li    tl. 


ic  iJiiiniii'ics  ]iri«liiciii<i'  II   ])ccii 


liiir  I 


inoMiiiiy  sound   wliirli    has  1 


K'fll 


(■imi|p.ii'('d  to  that  iiiailc  liy  lilawiiif;'  tlii'oiij>'li  tlic  hiiiijiliolc  ot'  an  empty  harnl; 
this  collies  perhaps  as  near  to  it  as  it  can  In*  th'scrihed.      It   is  amazing'   to  sei 

diiriiiji   tiiis   peeiiiiai 
he   rapidity  ot'  a    h;^htniii;^ 


wliat    iierlei 


■t   control    tliese    liirds    ha\t'    over   theiiiselvi 


•rroniiaiice  :   cie-cciidiiiii'  as  the\-   do  ahnost  with 


t':i-ii,  one  would  tliink  tlie\  could  not  possil)l\-  arrest  their  downward  course  in 
liinc  to  ]ire\cnt  liein^i'  dashed  to  the  <iroinid;   lint   at  the   proper  inonieiit,  l)\   a 


-lliiile  reverse  i 


noveineiit  of  their  wiiii>s,  tliev  rise  in  a  "radual  curve,  to  resiiii 


iiiiie 


their    lliu' 


It    or  reiieat    the    same    pert'orniance. 


'I'l 


Iv  coiiiineil  to  the  matin<i'  and  breedin^i'  season, 
'th 


lis    aerial   pla\'    seems 


to  1) 


I  1 


ia\  e  iie\-er  ol)ser\ ci 


It  later  111  the  ^car 


<  111  the  <i'roiiiiii,  however,  the  Xi^^htiiawk  does  not  sliow  to  siieli  L;dod  advan- 
iits   liere  are   slow,  iinstead\',  ami   evideiitK'  more  oi"  less 
Its  t'ood  consists  inaiiib,'  ot  insi-cts,  such  as  tlies  ami  mos(|uitoes,  small 


tau'e   and    its    moveiiu 


lahoi-ioiis. 
I'e.^tles.  p- 


Iiopiiers,  cri(d\ets,  and  the  smaller  iiijilit-tKiii"-  moths,  and  1  l»elie\( 


rasshopi 


that  all  are  can 


lilit  on  the  wiim'.       It  must  be  considered  as  an  emiiieiitl\-  iiset'nl 


am 


1  Iteiielicial  liird  and  <leser\cs  the  fullest  protection.     rnfortuuateK  .  1 


iowe\cr, 


the     ''u'lithaw  Ic  is  considered  as  a  le"itiniate  jiaine   liird   in  certain  section 


iiiaiiN    are    Killei 


.111    I 


1    x'earlv   for  food,   as   well   as   for   s|)ort,    simply    to   show    the 
n  marksinaiiVhip:   and  the  j^-ood  tlie\'  do  throULih   the  destruction 


ot    million-    o 


troiililesoi-.ie   insects  is  cntirelv  lost  si"lit  of      Its  fa\<irite   liaii 


iit.- 


ire  till-  ei 


iii'i's  of  forests  and  (deai'iims,  Imrnt  tracts,  meadow   lands  al 


on':'  ru'cr 


Ipotloms,  and  ciilti\ated  lields,  as  well  as  the  flat  mansard  roofs  in  many  of  our 
lar^'er  cities,  to  whicii  it  is  imdoiiiitedly  attracted  hy  the  larye  amount  of  food 
rcadii\  olitainalde  in  siirdi  h  calities,  esp.'cialh'  aliort  electric  liiiiits.  and  also 
ecure  ni-tiiii.''  sites  atforde<l  on  the  ij'rax'el- 


tlie  convenient  and  s. 


eo\('ri(|    >lli'laces 


if  the  roof>,  which  ma\'  he  \\  ,  od  evervwhei'e  in  ahiindaiice.      DuriiiL;'  tiie  heat 


if  the   da\    the  \ii;lith; 


iwk  ma 


\   1  ■■  found  I'csti 


horizontal    limlis   ot   t 


111  fence   rails,  the   Hat    surface   of  some 


lid 


ieii-co\  ere( 


1       I'k 


I'ee: 
111    stmie    wall 


■lid  1ol:'s,  chimney  tops,  and  on  railroad  tracks.  When  perched  on  the  liiiili  ot' 
a  tree,  a  lo;:',  or  a  fence  rail,  it  always  sits  lei.jitliwise,  and  exceptiiiu'  diirin;;'  tlu^ 
niatiiiu'  and   lireedinj:'  M-asoii  I  iiave  rareh'  seen  one  on  the  ji'i'oiiiid. 

I'ictK   speakiiiL;.  the  Nijihthawk   is  not  a  forest  liird,  as   it  oiiK   fretpients 


>t 


their  oiit'-k'rts,  or  e\teiisi\-e  clearini!'s  and  linriit  tracts,  while  it  a\oids  the 


dense 


Mill    hea\ler   ii'l'iiW 


ill  cl'  tlmlier.      It   does   not   oiiject   to  simshilie   like   the  A\ 


looi'-Wlll  al 


d  the  ( 'liiick-w  iil's-w  idow.  and  apparently  is  not  alfected  In  the  li^h 


ill  the  wa\   tlie\   are 


In  New  y.nii'laiid  and  iinist  of  the  other  Northern  States  nidili<'ation 


relv 


coiniiiei 


ice>   Kefdl'e   the  lilst 


Week   111    .llllie  (more    ottlll    (IlirUlU'    the    second),  a  II 


th 


contiiiiio   well  into  JiiK        The  earli 'st  date  I  know  of  on  which   it 


s  ci^'j:>  ha\(' 


lieeii  taken   is   May   I'T   in  soiithei'ii   Michijian:   the  latest,  .liilv    HI   in  south 


\aiiia.      Ill 


more  southern  parts  of  its  rann'e   it  usiuilU   nests  in  tin 


I'emisxl 

lii-l  half  of   M; 

Like  ilie  rot  of  the  ('inirhiiiiliiiilit'.  the  NiLi'l'thawk  mal> 


l\,  .-Mid    \oiin;,;'ai'e   ocea-ionalU    loimd   li\    tin-   end  ol    llll^  inonlli 

es  no  111  St.  iillt   de|io>I|-.  it,- 


..»i  I' 


m 


w 


ill 


h 


I- 

I. 

1- 


i 


'■    Hi  »■ 

Ml: 

■ !  V .' ' 

r-t  I.  ■  • 

^:  1  ■  '■ 

J  ::  f, 


t' 


'Q\ 


166 


Lll'E  lUSTOltlKS  OK  NOIlTll  AMEllIOAN  lilHDS. 


t\V(i  ('"iji's  (111  tlic  bare  jiroiiiid,  frcHiiiciitly  in  very  cxiMisod  sitiiiifions,  soiiK'tliiios 
on  sonic  little  cU'Viition,  or  in  slij^'Iit  lU'pivssions  on  Hat  rocks,  liutwccii  the  I'ows 
in  corn  or  potato  liclils,  in  pastures,  on  },n'avcl  liars,  and  cinder  jnles  near  I'nr- 
iiaces,  and  witliiii  recent  years  they  also  nc^t  nutre  and  more  t'reiinently  on  tlie 
flat,  <^Ta\el -covered  roofs  of  houses  in  our  larj^cr  cities.  'I^hey  inuloulitedly 
tind  such  nesting'  sites  very  convenient  and  secure,  but  tlu^  intense  heat  to  which 
the  eg'ji's  and  youii;;'  are  necessarily  exjiosed  diirinj;-  tlie  (hiy  must  li(>  something;' 
fearful,  and  I  have  no  doubt  tliat  some  of  the  latter  jierish,  and  that  not  a  few 
of  the  eji'^s  liecome  addleil,  from  this  cause.  In  favoriti^  localities  the  Xii;lit- 
hawk  breeds  occasioiialiy  in  small  colonics,  and  se\('ral  ]iairs  may  lie  found 
breeding;'  in  close  |iroximit\'  to  each  other.  I  belicNC,  as  a  rule,  only  a  siiii;le 
brood  is  raised  in  a  season,  but  if  the  first  set  of  I'ji'fi's  is  taken,  a  second  one  will 
be  laid  aiiout  a  week  after,  wlii(di  consists  occasionally  of  only  a  sin^'le  eoo'. 

The  Xii;lithawk  \\as  (jiiite  common  aloiin'  the  liorders  of  the  ojieii  piiK* 
forests  near  Fort  Klamath,  Oreji'on,  and  all  the  nests  found  here  were  ]iiaced 
close  to  the  edj^ie  of  the  perpendicular  rini  rock  ^^■hicll  skirts  Klamath  X'allev 
toward  the  east.  The  ejijis  wert'  imariably  laid  Avithin  a  foot  of  the  edj^c,  and 
I  i)"esuine  such  places  were  selected  for  [iroteetivci  ])urposes  to  lessen  the  dan^'er 
of  their  lieiiifi'  stepped  on  by  cattle  or  horses,  l^liese  birds  always  pick  out  a  dry 
and  well-drained  spot  in  which  to  lay  their  eji'^'s,  and  if  discovered  on  the  nest, 
the  part-nt  atteiiqits  by  all  the  well-known  tactics  of  <iround-breedin;^'  birds  to 
draw  the  intruder  away  from  the  spot,  thitteri.ifi-  in  front  of  him,  just  out  of 
reach,  uttering;'  at  times  low  cries  of  distress,  etc.  Occasionally  the  e^ji's  or 
youn^-  are  I'emoved  (piite  '.  little  distani'e  by  the  jiarent,  but  this  habit  is  liy  no 
means  universal.  A  nes  examined  by  me  on  .Fune  14,  ISii;},  in  irerkiiiier 
County,  New  York,  was  foun  !  in  a  slij^ht  natural  (h'])ression  on  a  well-drained 
fern-covered  side  hill,  in  an  old  (dearinj;,  close  to  a  small  lake,  'i'he  eiiiis  laid 
on  the  line  firound  about  an  inch  or  more  apart,  which  seems  to  be  their  usual 
posiiion,  the  ends  pointinu'  in  the  same  direction;  when  covered,  eaidi  rests 
against  opposite  sides  of  the  breast  of  the  parent  and  is  held  in  place  by  the 
wiuji's.  1  purposely  tlushed  this  bird  u-Ncrid  times  to  note  her  iictioiis.  It 
allowed  me  to  approach  her  within  ;i  couple  of  feet  each  time  before  lUiiii;- oil', 
and  then  it  onl\'  rctireil  a  slior*^  distance,  idiiihliu';'  on  a  prostrate  old  lo"-  close 
by,  remaiiiinj^-  |)erfectly  silent,  .\bout  li\c  minutes  alter  1  h  It.  it  returned  and 
settled  ajiiiiii  on  the  eu'^s  while  1  was  still  in  plain  \  iew  I  Hushed  her  aLjain 
sli,  rtly  afterwards,  and  slu'  rejieated  the  same  pertonnain'e;  lint  the  third  time 
she  uttered  a  low,  piirriiiL;'  noise  as  she  Hew,  ])rolialil\'  a  note  of  protest.  I  was 
in  hopes  that  she  mij^ht  ti\'  to  remove  her  ey-^^s  and  1  would  have  a  chance  to 
observe  how  this  was  done,  Init  she  failed  to  nratifv  m\'  wishes.  The  male  did 
nor  put  in  an  appearance  <lurinL:'  the  two  hours  spent  in  watchiny  the  nest.  As 
nearly  as  1  can  as<'enain,  inculiation  lasts  about  sixteen  da\s,  and.  both  sexes 
assist,  in  this  (lut\'.  Tlie  \muiil!'  are  fairl\'  well  co\ered  with  j^ra  \  down  wdieii 
tii^t  liatche(l:  the\  yrow  rapidly,  and  while  small  one  (.if  the  parents  is  always 
close  by. 


THH  NIGllTHAWK. 


1()7 


(>iil\'  two  I'fi'^^s  arc  laid  ti>  a  set  (i  'i  altcniati'  ilays)  and  inciiljatioii  bcyiiis 
with  tli(^  lirst  one  (Icpusitt'd.  Tlu'  slu-ll  is  stiMiifi',  closc-^raiiicd,  and  liciicrallv 
moderately  <^l(issy;  in  sliapo  tlicy  vaiy  tVoiii  ellijitieal  oxate  to  elliiitical  on  al,  tluf 
loriiier  prexailiii;.','  in  the  iiiajdrity,  one  end  heinj;'  a  triHe  smaller  than  the  other. 
TluMr  ui'oiind  color  is  (|nite  \arialile,  iUid  ranges  from  a  pale  creamy  white 
thrnn<;li  (lifi'erent  shades  ot"  cream,  olive  Itntl',  and  olixc  ;i'ra\-,  and  tlie\-  are  pro- 
I'lisely  lilotched  and  s|ie(  l^led  with  ditVereiit  shades  of  slate  Idack,  drab,  smoke 
and  lilai'  '^vny,  ami  tawny  (dive,  mixed  witii  li<^'liti'r  shades  of  pear!  j^ray,  lav- 
ender, and  plmnheons.  In  some  specimens  tlw^  markinjis  are  line  and  niiiform 
in  size,  almost  oliscin'in;;'  the  ground  color;  in  others  the\'  are  less  inimerous, 
hilt  larp'  and  prominent.  Tluire  is  an  eiulless  variation  in  their  markiujis. 
Scarc(d\'  au\'  two  sets  resendde  each  other  closely,  and  1  consider  the  e;;^'  ot' th(! 
Ni^hlliawk  one  of  the  most  ditli<'ult  ones  known  to  me  to  describe  satisfactorily. 

The  average  measnrement  of  eif^-lity-oiie  specimens  in  the  I'liiteil  States 
Nationa!  j\[iiseum  collection  is  -in.'.iT  by  '-M.sf  millimetres,  or  l.ls  l»y  0.8(1 
inches.  The  largest  e<i';i'  of  this  series  measures  .'{,'{. ;").'{  liv  'J'i.Nd  millimetres,  or 
1.3-'  by  O.'.K)  inches;  the  smallest,  -*7.(!.S  by  •-•0..J7  millimetres,  or  l.o'.l  by  O.Sl 
inches.  ^j 

The  typo  specimen,  Xo.  1IS13  ^Vl.  3,  Vi'^.  1),  from  a  .set  of  tw  >  taken 
near  Diibmiiie,  biwa,  on  May  2S,  isdf),  by  the  .Messi-s.  IMackbiirn.  re|)re.>i  , its  one 
of  the  laru'er  and  heavier  marked  sjiecimens.  Xo.  •_*4lt(iS  ( i'i.  .'!,  Fij;-.  2),  Kalpii 
collection,  from  a  set  of  twoiakeiiby  Dr.  William  L.  K'alpii  in  Iierkiiner( 'oimty, 
Xew  York,  on  .Inm^  '_'4,  ISlll,  represents  a  small  specimen  with  an  (dive-^ray 
ji'roimd  color  and  rather  dark  iiiarkinj;'s;  while  No.  •_'()4r)7  (i'l.  .'1,  l-'iu'.  '5),  like- 
wise from  ii  set  of  two,  IJeiiilirc^  collection,  was  taken  by  the  writer  near  I'"ort 
Klamath  ( )re^'on,  on  July  (I,  IScS'i,  and  represents  one  ot'  the  li^litei'-<'olore(l 
types. 

59-     Chordeiles  virginianus  henryi  ((Jassix). 

WKSTKKN  MCllTllAWK. 

I'lionlfilcs  hciirjii  (^^ASSIN,  Illiistriitioiis  of  tlic.  Hirds  of  Caiitiiinia.  'I't-xas,  elf.,  I,  l,S,").">,  '_':(.">. 
i'liDidrilix  rinjiiiininis  var.  /i(;/nvy/ ('oi'KS,  Key,  IHTli,  181, 

(I!  ii.">,  c  2<i7<(,  u  ;r.7.(,  ("  4(M»,  r  vnut.) 

(tEoohapukwi.  1!AN(ik:  Wostciii  North  Aiiiciii'a;  north  to  I'cntial  liriiish  ('iilMinl)ia 
lo  about  hititiah'  ■")"•'  aial  throajih  llie  |iiiiiric  ilistrirts  of  southern  .llhcrta.  .Vssinihoia,  and 
western  Manitoba;  east  in  tlic  I'nited  States  to  we.xtei'ii  .Minnesula.  Iowa,  noilhern  and 
central  Illinois,  Kansas,  the  Indian  Terr! toiy,  west eni  and  .soutlieiii  Texas;  south  mer 
the  tablelands  of  Mexico,  and  in  wiuter  throuffh  Central  Anieiiea.  over  the  (greater  part 
■if  Houlh  America  to  I'atayonia. 

i^he  Western  Xiu'litlian  k,  a  liohter-colored  snbsjiecies  than  the  preicdiiiu',  is 
a  common  simimer  resident  tliioii;^iiont  a  considerable  portion  of  western  Xorlh 
America,  l)nt  it>  ian;^('  is  likewise  a  rather  irregular  one.  ( >n  the  whole,  it  is 
inor((  of  a  ])rairie  l»ird  than  the  former,  but  it  is  b\'  no  means  ciudined  to  the 
plains   alone;    it  upjtears   to    bo  eijuallv  at   homo  ou  tlio   more  open,    barren 


u 


•Hi: 


I*  ^    • 

i 


•'!i^i|t:^ 


r.i 


f!  I 


'"     'i  I 


l|  !li 


w- 


1  .. 


IP 


1G8 


LIFK  IIISTOIUKS  OF  NOUTII  AMURIOAX  lUUD.S. 


'J 


$  . 

■V'     * 


If 


1:1  U 


m 


lili 


IIX 


)mitiiiii   niiiycs  tliri)ii<ili(nit  tlu^  West,  wliciv^  it  is  ioiiiid 


:i  siiiiimcr  rcsii 


l<-iil 


witiiiu  till) 


lip  to  iiltitmlcs  of  10,()()()  feet.  None  of  tlu^sci  l)ii'(ls  jippciir  to  wiiitc 
limits  of  tile  riiitcil  Statos.  It  usiiiilly  makes  its  appwimiicc  aloii^  our  soiitlioru 
Ixirdcr  about  April  I,  iiinl  rcttu'us  to  its  winter  haunts  a^'ain  late  in  Sopt'/mbcr. 
()fCUsioual]\    a   few   sti'a;;';iicrs   mav  arrive   somewhat   earlier  in  tho   sprin;^',  as 


Mr.  H.  !'.  Lawrence  writes  me: 


am  sii 


re  I   heard  tlie  er\'  of  a  Xiiilithawk  at 


Olv 


m|)i 


sunnner. 


W 


islim^'ton,    on 


.Mareli   "in,    ISOO.       .'hev    are    connnon    hei-c    in 


tl 


10 


a\e  I 


iftei 


1    seen 


them  tak(!  dust  l)al! 


IS  ni 


til 


e  evenmu'  Hi 


th 


near  an   adjacent   cottaj^c. 


Ml 


Ma.K 


|)atlis 


iirlane   reports 


siiosiiecies   as 


coiumon  summer  rosideiit  in  the  vicinity  of  I'"orts  St.  dam 
tli(^  inti-rior  of  British  Cohnnhi;     in  about  latitude  ," 


es  am 


■^1 
1  St.  (!e(iru( 


in 


and   he  sent  two  sets  of 


('"■"•s  aiK 


I  a  skill  from  there  to  tho  United  States  Xal 


ona 


I  M 


Useiim  collection  111 


1S81).  'riiese  points  mark,  as  far  as  known,  the  northern  limits  ot'  its  raii;^'e.  I 
know  it  to  tie  cominon  throujihout  the  saf;'obriisli  plains  and  the  prairie  re;;'ioiis 
of  northern  Washinjitoii,  ldalii>,  and  .Montana,  and  there  is  no  iloiilitthat  it  also 


occurs  m  similar  re 


ions 


tl 


iroii'-'hoiit  eastern  AlliertJi,  .Vssiiiiboia,  and   western 


Manitoita:  it 


niv 


eiv  to  be  found  farther  iiortl 


1  as  we 


lie  eastern  limits  of 


its  raii^i'e  extend  w«dl  into  Miini'-sota,  Iowa,  northern  and  centra!  Illinois,  wliei  . 
it  is  the  prevailing;'  form  foiinil  throuf^hoiit  the  jirairie  regions  of  these  Stales. 
It  is  also  common  tliroiif>'Iiout  the  middle  and  western  portions  of  Kansas,  tlu^ 
Indian  Territory,  and  southwestern  Texas.  Alon;.;'  our  southern  border  it  appears 
to  be  rather  rare,  and  I  ob.served  but  ver\-  i\'\y  of  these  birds  in  the  lower  \alle\s 


ind  desert  regions  in  southern  Arizona. 


II( 


tl 


ie\-  apnea 


pp 


to  1 


)('  inaiiih-  coii- 


fin 
altit 


t( 
ude: 


•arreii  mom 


itaiii    raiiii'es,  and   onlv  brcH'd   suarinyl 


It  till 


lower 


Dr.  K.h 


A.  M 


earns  reports   it,  liowi 


ver,  to   be   the  common  f 


)f  Xiiihthawk  in  the  Animas  A'allev,  near   the  international   iioiiiidarv 


oriii 
line,  ill 


itl 


siaitliwes 

which  are  now  In 


tern    New  M<'xico,  and  lie  took 


•t   of 


here  on  diilv  .'],  1S1I2, 


the   I'liited  States  National   Museum  collection. 


In  Ins  mier- 


estiiii^-  paper,  "( )l)ser\ati(ais  on  the  .Vvifaiina  of  jiortioas  of  Arizona,"  the  Doctor 


niiikes  tile  tollowmy'  remarl 


on 


us  suhsiiecies 


species  to  infrinji'e  on  the  territory  of  the  'rexiiu 
Xi^htiiawk  dnriii.u' the  breeding' season;  each  keejts  to  its  own  ^roiuid,  tiie  latter 


I  h 


i\e  iie\er  known 


hellij;'   coll 
pines  and 


illed    to    the    region    iielow  the   pi 


MMlce; 


lil'eedmn-  111   "Tciit  mimhel's  11 


lies,  and   the  former  re 

lese  limited  areas. 


miii'i'Miit  was  tiikeii  nt   I''ort  N'enl 


e  on 


.Ml 


I  \' 


tl 


!l,  ISS.-). 


Klinu'  m 
A  sii 


tl 


10 


'I' 


wo  tresli  co'Lis  were  tiikell 


at 


lieiiea 


th    tl 


le 


pllle 


M 


Flaystatf  on   June  18,  1SS7,  in  a  le\el  place,  l)estrewii  with  volcanic  scoria. 
In    our  ^iiniiner  camp,  near  the  summit   of  the    .Moii'olloii 
licetle  was   aimoyinj^-ly  iibiindant,  llyiii^-   into  our  tents   in 
l;'  tlie  dav  and  swarmiii';'  around  our  lo;^-  iires  at  tULi'lit.     As 


oiintains.  a 


^reat  numl)ers  durm 
the  twilijrht  "atlier  m] 


hundreds  of  these  Xi;.;lithaw  ks  ajipeared 


tl 


upon  the  scene 


]treyiii'j'  up 


on 


tlie    troublesome 


insects. 


(' 


arel( 


our 


)resence   at   the   lires 


and  of  the  iiois\-  liilarit\-  of  camp,  tli(^v  flitted  throiin'h  the  smoke  with  astonish 


aptiiriiiii'  ni\riads  of  ihr    hated    beetle 


:\> 


llev 


in^'  freedom    from   liiilideii'. 

passed  anil  repas.sed  abo\e,  between,  and  around  us,  until  their  flickering'  forms 


TIIK  WKSTEIO  ISUiHTlIAWK. 


1051 


III 


were  iis  fiVMiiliiir  us  tlui  stirring;;  of  tlic  i)iiic  l^iii^lis  uvcrhcinl,  aiiil  llu'  l';iiiiiiii<;'  dl' 
tlii'ir  wiii^i's  iiliMDst  iis  little  lu'L'(lt'(l.      A  cuiiplc  nt'  \-ouiij;',  rccciith    liMlclicd,  wrrc 

I'tmiid  lu'iir  the  caiui)  uu  July  27,  1HS7,  show  iiij;'  that  twn  lir !.-■  arc  rcarcil  tiic 

Kaiuc  yi'ar,  or  tliaf  its  scusoii  of  rciirodiu'tioii   is  (|iiit('   iirotractcil.      The  \tiicc  of 
this  spocics  is  (|uit('  unlike  that  of  ('liordtilrs  /r./yy/.sv'.s."' 

Tu  southern  California  it  is  a  soiuewhat  rare  suiiiiiier  resident,  iiut  in  the 
middh  :.iid  northern  portions  of  this  State  it  is  not  niudiiitnon.  In  the  lower 
l»io  (irande  Valle\-,  tln'oiiji-hout  western  Texas,  th(^  I'lains.  ami  the  (iicar  l)a>ii 
rc';jions  it  seems  to  he  i^cneralK'  distrilmted,  and  ajipears  to  he  e(|nMll\'  at  lionu 
in  the  hottest  desert  districts — like  heath  \'alley,  for  instance,  lielow  Nca  le\el — 
as  on  the  hijiher  mountain  summits  in  the  Sierra  Xevadas  and  the  liuck\  moun- 
tains, r  found  the  Wosterii  Xijihthawk  fairl\  comiiion  in  the  \icinit\-  of  all 
the  military  Posts  where  I  have  heen  stationed  in  tlie  West,  and  1  ha\c  not 
ohserved  the  slijihtest  ditl'erence  in  its  li'cneral  iialiits.  call  notes,  etc.  i'roin  those 
of  its  eastern  relatix'es. 

In  the  lower  iJio  (Irande  Valley,  in  'i'exas,  niiliiication  commences  occa- 
sionally in  the  last  ucek  in  Ajtril  and  lasts  well  into  .Inly,  and  here  two  hroods 
are  iindoul)tedly  raiseil  in  a  season,  while  in  the  more  nortiiern  portions  1  lielie\c 
one  is  the  rule,  and  here  egf^j's  are  rarely  found  liefore  the  middle  ot'  ■luiie,  and 
frei[Uently  not  before  the  first  week  in  July.  Its  nestinu'  iial)its  are  ;dso  .similar; 
it  hreeds  in  correspoiidinj;'  situations,  exce]itin<,'',  as  tar  as  I  know,  the  Hat  r<iofs 
of  houses.  I  have  not  yet  heard  of  their  hreeclimi;'  oil  !iousel(i|)s  in  an\  part  ot' 
their  ranji'e.  A  si-t  of  e^j^s  of  this  subspecies  was  found  by  me  on  .Inly  li,  IsT.'j, 
ill  the  i'oothills  of  tlii'  I51ue  .Mountains,  some  (!  miles  iDrtheast  of  ( 'amp  Iiarne\-, 
( )rejj;ou,  laid  ainon^-  some  pebliles  on  the  liare  j:r(.und  under  a  little  saji'e  bush. 
'I'lie  sittiiij;'  iiird  allowed  me  almost  to  touch  it,  ami  was  \cry  reluctant  to 
abandon  its  ei.;'i;s,  which  were  but  sliji'litK'  incubated.  (  )ii  m\'  approach,  it  riitlled 
its  feathers  and  eiiiitteil  a  hissinj;'  sound,  resemblinj;-  somewhat  the  spittin;.;'  of  a 
cat  when  mad.  'Their  favorite  nesting  places  in  that  vicinity  were  the  crests  of 
j:ra\clly  ridges,  always  selectiu};-  a  well-drained  spot,  wlu.'re  the  rains  could  not 
chill  the  yoinii^'  or  e^'^'s.  Hare,  rocky  talile-lamls  are  also  freipieiitly  resorted 
to  for  similar  purposes,  and  less  often  the  flat  tops  of  bowlders.  Extensive  burnt 
tracts  aUo  furnish  favoi-ite  abidinji'  places  for  tlu'in  in  the  more  nortliei'ii  portions 
of  theii' ran^-e :  in  fact,  in  such  localities  they  are  fully  as  abundant  as  on  tli<' 
more  open  saytdjrnsli  plains,  'i'liey  are  ver\'  <le\iite(l  jiareiits.  .Mr.  W.  (i.  Smith, 
ol  liONcland,  Colorailo,  writes  me:  "1  had  one  swoop  down  sexcral  times  at  a 
doM'  that  used  to  accompany  me,  finally  drivinji'  it  awity.  1  think  the  bird  had 
a  lU'st  close  bv  and  resortecl  to  this  means  to  protect  its  \  oun^'  or  sitting'  male." 

'I'he  e<>'jis  of  the  Western  Xij^hthawk,  both  in  shape  an<l  maikiiiiis,  are 
scarcely  distin<i'uishable  from  those  of  the  eastern  bird,  and  tiie  same  description 
will  answer  tor  both:  on  the  wdiole,  however,  the  lij:hter-colored  fypi's  seem  to 
preilominate  o\'er  tin.'  darkei'  ones.  'Tiie  eji'ys  fii^iire(|  ot'  the  ])recediiijj-  s[)(H'ies 
will  also  answer  for  this,  and  the  sin<:le  e^y  fijiiu'ed  of  this  suiispecies  can  like- 
"wise  l)e  matched  amoiiji'  the  series  ot'  the  I'oriiier. 


I 


•It  •• 


■;;.,,  I 


■  'f' 


mm 


M  .i'!'. 


1 


'  ri.e  .\nU,  \  111.  \  11.  IS'.iii,  pp.  J.-,l,  -^riu. 


P' 


170 


LIKU  lUSTOlllKS  OK  NOKTII  AMliUlUAN  B1UI>S. 


'rill!  iivcraii-c  inoiisuromcnt  of  a  series  of  sixty-three  ej^jj^s  in  tlic  I'liited 
States  Xatioiiiil  .Musimiiii  collection  is  also  practically  tlic  same,  iiein;;'  21l.!t7  l)y 
21.(11  millinictrcs,  oi'  I. IS  liy  (LSf)  inches.  The  larji'est  e^i'^' of  the  series  nieas- 
nres  .•{I'.ol  hy  22. SC  niillinietres,  or  1.28  by  O.MO  inches;  ihe  smallest,  27.43  i)y 
2().S;{  niillinietres,  or  l.OS  hy  0.82  inches. 

The  typo  specimen  selecteil,  No.  26120  (I'l.  .">,  Vl^X'  Ot  from  a  set  of  two 
eons,  was  taken  liy  Dr.  Hilj^'ar  A.  .M(!arns,  ITniteil  States  Armv,  in  the  Animas 
Valley,  near  San  i-nis  Spriniis,  New  Afttxico,  on  .luly  .'i,  1S|I2,  and  ri'jjre.sents 
a  vvvy  (inely  ami  jn'otiisely  marked  sjiecimen,  in  which  the  j;roiniil  color  is  not 
very  ri'adily  perceptible. 


6o.     Chordeiles  virginianus  chapmani  (SKwinT). 


I'l.OKIllA  NKiirni.VWK. 


{('Iii>riliilrs  ixiiiiiiic)  chninmuii  (Senni'.TT  .MS.)  Ooiics,  Auk,  \.  .liimiiiry,  IHS.S,  :'u. 
CInrdfiIrs  riniiniiiniin  clmpmitni  Scott,  Auk,  V,  April,  IHSH,  lH(i. 

(li  — ;  C  — ;  It  S'llh,  V.  1(11,  ir  IL'O/a) 

r<EoaHA.l'niCA.L  l!.\N(il',:   Florida  and  (lie  (iulf  <()iist :    west  to  sontlicni   Toxiis; 
winter  .snutli  to  the   li^iliiiniil   Islands  and   tliroii^^ii   eastern    .Mexico  lo  CtMitral   Anierica. 
(3asna'ly  north  to  Nortli  Carolina  (.Macon). 


in 


nil 


.■h'l: 


m 


m 


The  rano'e  id'  the   I'Morida   Nii;'htlia\vk,  also  commonh'  calleil  "linll-i)at" 


Mat, 


a  somewliat  smaller  an< 


I  <larl 


ker-ciilo 


re(l  bird  than   tl 


w  c<innnou 


smi[)ly 

Nij^'hthawk,  is  conlined,  as  far  as  known,  to  I-'lorida  and  the  (Jnlf  coast  west- 
ward to  southern  'l\'xas.  I  ha\o  no  ])ositi\('  bretidin^'  records  from  outside  (d' 
Florida,  but  it  is  nmre  than  likely  that  it  breeds  alon;:'  the  I'ntii'e  (!nlf  coast 
as  far  west  at  least  as  .\rausas  ("onnt\',  Texas.      Mr.  II.  1'.  .Vttwater  kindh'  sent 


•veral   skins  tak 


en   near 


Kock 


)ort,  in   tile  abo\('  coinit\'  (fall 


specimens 


which  are  undoubte(lly  rcd'erable  to  this  siibs])ecies.  There  is  also  a  ^kin  in  the 
IJniteil  States  Xatio  lal  .\[iiseum  colhsction  taken  iiy  Dr.  Mlliott  ('ones  near  Fort 
Macoi.,  North  Carolina,  on  .lune  10,  ISdl),  and  I  lia\c  no  doubt  that  it  will  \'et 
ii-idar  suninier  visitor  ah>n";  the  south  .\tlantic  coast  of  (leoroia 


IS  a  re 


l»e  found 

and  South  (Jarolina.     There  is  not  sutlicieiit  material  available,  excepliiiL;- from 

I'Morida,  to  eiialde  me  to  dernie  its  breeiliui;'  ranuc  more  ihdinitel ,' out>ide  (d'  this 


Stati 


riie  Flori.la  Ni-lit!iawk 


is  niil\'  a  summer  resa 


lent  of  tile  Tiiited  State.- 


USUI 


:dlv  arriNinii'  from  its  winter  haunts  in  tlie  soiitli  about  the  mii 


d'  April 


ami  returnini;'  ajiain  late  in  October.  .Mr.  iVttwater  informs  me  tiiat  this  Nijiht- 
hawk  remains  later  in  tlii'  fall  in  tin-  vicinit\'  of  Uockport  than  the  W'esteiMi 
Nig'hthawk,  and  that  its  favorite  haunts  there  are  the  oak  opeiiinjis,  while  the 
latter  more  id'teii  freipieiits  the  open  jirairie. 


Its 


zciiera 


1    haliits,   call   notes,   food,   cdc.,   seem    to   be   similar  to   the  t 


wo 


in'ecediii;.'    speejes   in   almost  I'Very  respect. 


Mr.  W.   K.   D.  Scott  describes  a, 


yoiin^;'   bird,  ap|),'i 


itlv  t 


i\c  or  SIX   (ia\s  o 


Id.  as  i; 


r 


le    <lii\VM    is    ( 


lirt\ 


white  lieiieath,  ami  on  ail  other  parts  is  the  same  dirty  \\  hite,  mixed  with  sp(ds 


th 


THK  FI.ORIMA  NKillTIIAWK. 


171 


of  black,  ffiviiifi"  tlio  bird  fin  M]i|i('iirniic(>  altovc  not  inilikc  tlu;   yonuf^'  of  ^Ki/in- 
lifi.s  irilsiiui(t,  siivc  tliiit  tlic  down  is  Ioniser."' 

Mr.   I'ViMik  M.  ( 'liiiiMMiin,  in   liis  "I-ist  ol'    Minis  Ohscrvcil  jit  (liiint's\  illc, 
Kloriilii,"  spt'iikin^'  of  tliis  subspecies,  stfites:   "  Bull-l)iit  or  (iis  it  is  more  coni- 


non 


1\-  termed)  'IJiit'  sliootinj^'  is  here  a  popular  |)astime,  jiTeat  luunhers  I 


>eum' 


aNonte 


killed  for  food,  and  in  August,  wlien  tlie  l)irds  liaxc  f;;illiere(l  In  llocl 
fields  MiM\-  lie  occupied  at  nightfall  liy  as  many  as  a  dozen  jiunners." ' 

Dr.  William  L.  Kalpli  lias  taken  several  nests  and  e<j';.>'s,  with  tlii'  ]»arents,  in 
I'ntniini  ("ount\\  I"'loridii,  wliicli  are  now  in  tlie  I'nited  States  National  Museum 


collection. 


lere,  (lurm 


th.'  I 


ireediiiL;-  season  a 


reciuents  main 


Ivl 


ow 


llii 


line  woods,  esiiecialU'   sue 


t  least,  tlie    F 
I 


oi'iila 


N 


i-hlliaw 
li 


lurnt  oxer,  the  e^'us  j;'eiierall\'  l\'in;i"  on 


th 


lare  j;roiiii(l. 


liivc    recelilU'    lieell 
S;illi|\'  soil  seems  to 


(hi( 


't  of  ejiji's  Avas  found  by  him   under  a 
small  (iranjfe  tree  in  an  oraii"-e  yrove  on  tlio  side  of  a  sand\'  hill;   three  others 


le  prei'eiTcd  for  nesting-  plai 


were 


tal 


flat 


mellts  of  eh 


line  wood 


llld  111  one  mslauee  tlie  ( 


til 


hlid 


on  a. 


few  f 


raL 


d  left  wh 


fVit 


fall. 


n  trt 


had   I 


leeli    pai 


rtlv  I 


unit,  lietwceii  tin 


remaining-  ])art  of  the  tree  and  the  fitiimi),  aliotit  .'!  feet  from  e.icli.  Nidification 
apjii'ars  to  Ik?  at  its  heif^ht  in  Putnam  ('ounty,  Florida,  diiriii;;'  May,  and  jiroli- 
{iblv  two  broods  are  raised  in  a  season. 


'Die  e^ji's  of  the  Florida  Nijiiithawk  resembhs  those  of  the  1 


wo  preceilmi 


SJI 


H'ies  closelv,  l)otli  in  slu 


po 


aiu 


1  in  th 


iroiind  color;   hut  the  i 


iiarUmij^ 


rule,  ai-( 


much  darker  and  bolder,  and  the 


s  are  also  .soiiiew 


hat 


smaller. 


T 


le 


di 


ll'erence  between  them  and  those  of  their  near  relative,  Clionlrili 


rs  rny/iiiiiiiiKs 
is  still  jii'i-ater,  the  latter  beiiiii'  on  the  ;\hol(f  much  liijhter  colored  than 


those  of  tho  Western  Nijirlithawk,  reseniblinii'  the  eu'^s  o 
more  in  this  i-espcct. 


f    ('ll(ir<lri/rs   fc.l 


l\ 


]\I 


The  aA'craye  measurement  of  fifteen  specimens  in  the  I'nited  States  Nation 


useum  CO 


)V  ().8i 


llect 
inches. 


ion,  all  from  F 


orida,  is 


•ift.D.'J  b\-  "iO.S!!  millimetres,  or  .ibout  1.1  J 


The  li 


iravs 


t  ogj-- 


iiieasu 


rcsiJO.iU  bv 'in.,-)?  millimetre^ 


.r  !.•_'•_> 


bv  O.Sl  inches;  the  smallest,  '27. 4."?  b\- -JO.a--'  iiiillimetr 


l.OS  iiv  O.SO  ill. die; 


F 


(»f  the  typ(^  spe.'imeiis,  b.)th  fr.ini  tlw  Ralph  c..llectioii.  No.  '2  \'.u;'.)  (I'l.  ,'{, 
5),  from  a  s.>t  of  tw.)  e^iji's  tak.'ii  iieai 


•  S;iu  Mate. I,  I'M.irid; 


I.  oil 


.M 


i\' 


11,  iss.- 


represents  on.'  of  the  fiiier-markeil  examples,  wliile  No.  'J.'iS'J.'i  (I'l.  !{,  Fi;^-.  (i), 
also  from  a  s.'t  of  tw.i  taken  near  'Poinoka,  Fl.iri.la,  on  Afay  S,  Isii-J,  shows  one 
of  the  darker-colored  patterns. 


'  The  Auk,  \ul.  \  ,  iti(*»,  i<.  18lj. 


■  IbiiL,  1  ,  -'7:i 


■  n 


ii 


n 


i\  ■ 


■j'lf 


m 


T 

f^. 

▼ 

^ 

f 

4 

<• 

172 

hlKK  lllSTOHIIvS  «M"  NOIITII  AMKIMUAN  lUUDK 
61.     Chordeiles  acutipennis  texensis  Lawrknce. 

T:;.\A\  XKiMTllAW  k. 

Clitird'ilrs  iifiiliiiiiniis   var.  Ir.vvn.iiii  |{A.iin).  liitKWKi!,  iiiiil    Itiixiw '.v.   History  of  Nortli 
Aiiii'iir  III  Itinls.  II.  1S7I,  lOli. 

(Of.  MarU'it,  (laliiiojfiic  Itiids  liiitisU  Miiseiiiii,  Wl.  1!)!',  (IKi.) 
(1!  1 1(1,  ( '  LMiS,  U  3:.8,  C  402,  r  ll-'l.) 


■.-•.IT. 

§ 

\m 


iUti 


'i'' 


(li'.(i(iR  VPiliCA.r,  u,VN(M',:  Soiitliwfstcrii  irnitcil  Stiitos,  from  soiitlicrn  iiiid  wrstcrn 
'rcxas,  soiitlii'i'ii  New  .Mexico,  anil  Arizona;  iiorlli  to  hitiliidc  .'is  >  In  CaJiforiiia  (to  San 
.li'ai|iiiii  ami  Stanislaus  coiiiitii's),  soutiu'iii  Ni'vada,  and  soiitlicrii  Utah;  cast  (casually?) 
to  sciiilliwi'stci'ii  liiMiisiaiiii  ■oiiili  to  liO\v<'r  ('alifdiiiia  a:id  over  tlic  tablelands  of  nortli- 
ciii  Mcxicii;  in  winter  to  ('  .-ta  Kic;    lud  \'cra;;iia,  ( 'ciitial  Aiiiciica. 

Within  tlic  last  tew  vcai-s  tlic  i-aiij^c  of  tlic  Texan  Ni^litliawk  in  tin-  I'liitcd 


States  lias  heeii  "Teath' extemled.      In  ( "alitofiiia  it  is  now  known  to  occii 


far 


nor 


til   as  San  .loaiiniii  mid  Stanisliiiis  coimtie; 


in  about  latittide  ;{S-,  Mr.  I.. 
I'x'ldinn"  liavin^'  oliserved  alioiit  a  dozen  of  tlies(^  birds  on  .liiiie  :>,  Isni,  at 
Kni^'lit's  I-'en-\ ,  in  the  latter  coiiiitv,  and  one  of  tl 


lese  was  secure( 


I  bvl 


inn. 


list 


the  hiena  Ne\a(las  this  species  \v 


th 


as  met  witii   liv  1  M'.  ( ".   Hart  Merriain  and 


other  nieinbei's  of  liis  exploriiiji'  party  as  far  north  as  IJisiioj),  in  Tiiyo  Coiinry, 
( 'alifornia,  as  Well  as  at  several  points  in  southern  Nevada  and  in  the  lower  Santa 
('lara,  A'allcy,  in  I'tali.  in  tlu!  latter  \alley  Dr.  Merriaiu  found  it  lireedinn'  near 
St.  (ieorji'e,  securiii,!4'  a  set  of  fresh  eoji's  on  May  13,  ISKl.  It  appears  to  be 
t;'eiierall\'  distributed   tln'oiiyhoiit   the  arid  desert  reuions  of  Arizona,  and  it  is 


coniinon  111  si 


litable  localities  throughout  this  Territorx-  as  well  as  th 


roiii 


th 


itl 


f  X. 


ew  .Mi'Xico,  and  it  is  also  an  aliundant  snniinei'  resident 


southern  portions  o 

in  tlui  southern  and  western  iiortions  of  Texas.      Mr.  Iv  A.  M(dliieiin\'  has  tak 


eii 


It  ni  southwestern  liouisiaiia,  wliere  it  probably  occurs  only  as  a  stra^jiler.  It 
idso  appears  to  be  jicnerally  distributed  throuj>'liout  tlu^  fiToatcr  part  of  Lower 
(California. 

SoiiKf  of  the  habits  of  the  Texan  Ni;4lithawk,  the  smallest  re))resciitativo  of 
this  freiuis  found  within  tlii)  I'liited  State; 
what  larji'er  relative,  tluf  \\'esteru  Niohthawk. 


are  \{'r\'  similar 


lar  to  tl 


lose  o 


f  its 


sonuf- 


Like  tilt 


ist-nameil  species,  it 


verv  sociable  i)ird  at  times;   in  suitai>le  localities,  for  iiist; 


nice  01 


I  the  bottom 


lands  border 


mo'  soiiKf  o 


f  th 


irf^ei'  streams  withm  its  lanji'e,  it  is  \-er\'  abundant, 


and 


never  saw  so  man 


V  Nio'hthawl 


<s  amwiiere 


I  did  of  til 


lecies  one 


eveiiiuj^'  while  camiied  nciir  a  slono'h  close  to  the  (iila  l»i\-er,  wiiile  in  route  from 
Fort  Yuma  to  old  l-'ort  McDow 


southwestern  Arizona,  in  .lul\ ,  1S71.     'I'liere 


were  certainly   se\-eral   hundred   niakiii;^-  their  eNciiiu;^'  meal  on  the  uuiiierous 

is   oracefiil   as 


insects   wliii'h  abounded   in  that  vicinity.      Its  Hi^^lit   is  e(]iial 
that  <)f  the  other   Xi^hthawks,  but  it  rarely  soars  as  liioh  a; 


the  f 


oriiier,  am 


{^I'lierally  skims  just  over  the  tops  of  the  bushes  or  close  to  the  surface  of  the 
water.     In  fact,  1  liavo  rupeiitedly  seen  them  toucii  tlio  surface,  as  if  drinkinj;'  or 


TIJK  TEXAN  NUllITllAWK. 


173 


ciitcliiii"' insects,  |)r(il>iil)lv  the  liilttT.     Tlic  onlinarv  call  note  iittereij  hv  it  wliile 


111  tlic  win; 


luwever,  IS  ( 


(lute 


(liU'ei'eMt;   it  is  still  mure 


s(|nciiky  tliiiii  tliiit  of  tl'.e 


Ni"litlia\vk,  not  so  loud,  tuid  remind.'  me  somewlint  of  the  soinuls  miide  li\-  a 


ver\  vonn 


;;■  kittei 


n  ni  (hstress.  It  apparently  does  not  mdnljio  ni  the  |iecnliar 
aerial  performances,  cansin^'  the  hooniinjf  sonnds  made  l)y  the  other  niemhers 
of  this  "cniis  so  freiinentK  heard  durin"'  tlu^  matin"-  and  hrei'diny  season:  anil 
it  is  also  more  crepuscnlar,  and  nnless  accidentally  Unshed  is  rarely  seen  flyinjj 


dioMt  in  the  ilavt 


nne 


Dr.  James  ('.  Merrill,  I'liited  States  Arniv,  in  his  "T-ist 


of  Mirds  ( )l).servcil  in  the  \'icinity  of  Fort  Mi-own,  Texas,"  writes  of  this  spec 


It'S 


as 


foil 


ows: 


"Connnon  sn n n nor  visitor,  a rrivin;;'  early  in  April.  While  ('Imidrilix  rlr- 
t/iiHdiiKx  linnf/i  is  nsnalh'  foiniil  almnt  prairies  at  some  distance  from  Imnses,  the 
present  species  is  most  plentifid  jnst  outside  ot  l>rowns\illi-,  and  1  iiave  t'onnd 
several   sets  of  i"^'^s  \\itliiii   the  tort.      'These   are   iisiialK'  deposited    in  expo>e(| 


itniitions,  aniont;-  snarse  chanarral,  on  yround  hakeil  a 


Imost 


IS  hard  u> 


liiick 


the  intense   heat  of  the  sim.      (  )ne  set  of  e^ijis  was  placeil  on  a  small   piece  oi 
tin,  within  a  toot  or  t\\i)  ot'  a  Ireipiented  |)alh.     'i'lie  I'emale  >its  close,  iind  when 

peediK'  relnriis  to  its  t'l^'^s.  Thev  make  no  attempt 
to  decov  an  intrniler  awav.  1  have  ridden  up  to  within  live  t'eet  of  a  female  on 
her  eu'^i's,  dismounte(|,  tied  my  hoi'se,  and  put  my  hand  on   the  hird    liefort!  she 


tlnshed  flies  a  few  feet  and 


(I 


wonld  mo\(' 


T 


necies  is  more  strictlv  ci'eitnscidar  than  ('lidrilci/t 


I's   rii'f/iii- 


liii/n/i  or   Clioriliilis   riri/ii/imnis,  and    is   vcrv   seldom   seen   on    tla.'   win 


(Iminii' 


the  (h 


T 


le  notes  ai'e  a  mewni';-  c 


.11, 


and   a  \fv\   cin'ions  call  that  :s 


itli  dillicnltx'  described.      It  is  somewhat   like  the  distant   and  \fvv 


ipid    tap- 


pini;' ot' a  larji'e  Woodpecker,  accompainetl  l)\a  Innnmin^' sound,  and  it  is  almo.>t 
impossil)le  to  tell  in  what  direction  or  at  what  distan<'e  the  i)ird  is  thiit  makes 
the  noise.  Moth  these  notes  are  uttered  on  the  \\  inj:'  or  on  tlii^  jironnd,  and  \>v 
hoth  .sexes."' 

In  somi'  respects  its  habits  rescMnble  those  of  the  I'oor-will  more  than  the 
Niji'hthawks.  1  hax'e  UKtre  than  once  seen  several  of  these  bii-ds  aliuhl  on  the 
bare  ground  in  front  <if  my  camp  on  Willito  Creek,  near 'I'ncson.  .\rizona,  after 
rundown,  ami  watched  them  hoppin;^' attei- insects  or  diistin;.;' themselves.  'I'liev 
Were  verv  tame,  often  allowinjj'  nui  to  walk  '.o  within  four  t'eet  ot   them,  vvliui 


tliev  wenld  oidv'llv  a  few  \ards  Mud  resume  their  feedii 


The  T.'xan    Xij-I.th 


dl 


lawk   nsnallv  arrives  alou';'  the  southern   ho 


lii'  ajiinn. 
th 


>rdcr  of  \\f 


ranj^c  in  the  Tniteil  States  about  theiirst  week  in  .vpril,and  returns  soiiili  a<;ain 
in  the  latter  part  of  October.  Throuuhout  the  more  southern  poi'tioiis  of  its 
habitat  it   undoubtedlv  raises  two  broods   in  a  season. 


reci 


ird.s   I    have  (April   27   and   2H)  are  from   lh 


The  earliest  brecdinj. 
■r  Rio  ( irande  \'allev,  ii 


Texas;  the  latest  (onc^  of  my  own)  is  Aniiust  6,  1S72,  when  1  found  a  strongly 
iiicubate(l  set  of  ey'fi's  near  Tucson,  Arizona. 

1/ike  the  other  members  of  the  ('ii)ir'ntinl<ii<l(i\  the  Texan  Nijjhtliavv  k  makes 
ho    nest,    but    deposits    its    two  eyji's    on    the  bare  fi'muml,  where  thev   are  fullv 


'  Crucenlin^s    I'liitril  .sijiIcm  Niitional  Miisciitii.  V'nl.  I.  IS7S,  p.  lilt. 


I    i! 


".Mi 


i   ;       i  •: 


il      ' 


i     J 

ii 


■|:   l|! 


il-' 


f/r 


\y 


\n 


174 


IJI'l':  IIISTOKIKS  OK  NOIITII  AMKHIOAX  HIKDH. 


M^  : 

mm^ 

n'^''^' 

If 

■   M 

,11:  • 

■■ii 

Hi 

i 


ii> 


'i-'ii 


■..It  . 


I'XiMi.sL'il  to  ilic  r:i\  s  ul'  tlic  sun,  ur  iicar  tlio  Imso  of  .sonic  ilcscrt  slirult,  wliicli  nt 
Ix'st  i'urnislics  Iml  liltlr  iirotcction  tVom  tlio  iut(-iist<  lioat,  anil  I  liuv«)  t'ouml  its 
I'^i'ji'H  oil  tli(»  |iar(li<'i|  j;rav('lly  iiu-sas  of  soutluM'ii  Arizona,  inili'S  from  flin  nearest 
wati^r.  Tlieii"  favorite  hreedin;^'  resorts  herct  are  tlie  dry,  Itai-ren  tal)l()-Ian(is, 
tile  sides  of  canvons,  and  tlie  eresis  ot'  roclvX'  liiils.     i\ltlion;;li  not  altsoIntel\' 


certain. 


1  I 


lelleNC 


tile    t 


wo  e^-'^-s 
"•■'•:    laid. 


l)e;;ilis    witll    tile   til'st    e;. 

leconiit  of  ilieir  siniilaritv   in  color  to  their  "'eiieral  siirr 


ire  depositeil  on  altcniiito  days,  uiid  inciilmtion 
Tliev    ai'i^   exceediniilx   dilliciilt   to  detect   on 


diindnifis, 


\\ 


hicl 


I  iisnall\' 


liarnioiii/e  \vv\  closelv.  'I'lie  shell  is  sti'on;>',  close  j;'raiiied,  and  rather  <;loss\-, 
while  in  shape  the  ej^'jis  are  more  varialile  than  those  of  our  other  Xi^hthawks, 
rai|i;inji'  from  o\al  to  elliptical  oval,  and  aj;aiii  to  elliptical  o\ate.  The  jiroimd 
color  \!iries  I'rom  paht  ji;rav  (a  sort  of  day  color)  to  pale  cream\'  white,  with  a 
faint  [linkish  tint.     This  latter  pliase  of  cidoratioii  is  rather  nmisiial  however. 


'I'lu^  whole  surface  is  iiiimiteK    marlded,  snei 


dcd, 


or  ratiK 


th 


pepp 


ill 


I  line 


dots  of  dill'erciit  shades  of  ijra\s,  lilac,  and  a  lew  darker  and  coarser  markin^^s 


li' lawn  color,  >late,  ami  draii.     (  Iccasioi 
laked 


e\  e,  aiMiear 


pp 


lalK   a.  sperimeii  is  found  which,  to  tlii' 
itireK    iiiiiuarked;   Itiit  on  more  careful  examination  a  few 


le    noticeil 


i  lie\'   are    imicli 


dark  spiit>,  mere   pin    |ioiiils,  can   readily  I 

colored  than  the  avcrau'e  ei;L:s  ot' our  other  Ni;ililliawks, and  readilv  distin;;iiislied 


I'rom  thesi'  on  this  account,  as  we 


from  their  snial 


ler  si/e, 


Tl 


le 


aven 


IIK 


asiiremeiit   of    lifty-ll\(i    specimens    in   the    Inited    States 


National  .Museum  collertion  is  L'li.st  1)\-  111.(11  millimetres,  or  alioiit  l.Ot)  li\   0,77 


inclies 


he  larfj;-est  e: 


.f  tl 


lis  series  me 


asures  2JI.72  l)v  21.08  millimeti 


cs,  or 


1.17  l)v  (t.8;$  inches;   tlii'  smallest, 'i.'J.  11  hv  18.(ia  inillinietres,or(t.!)l  l)v(».71  im 


Of  the  tvi 


imeiis   (all  selecteil  from  set.s  of  two)  K( 


'4210  (1 


V\'^.  7),  taken  iiy  I  »r.  ('.  Hart  .Merriam,  on  May  l.'{,  1S91,  near  St.  (ieor;i-e, 
I  tall,  represents  an  ejiii'  with  a  lijilit  ground  coltu',  and  a  peculiar  and  rare  st\le 
of  inarkin-i'.s.  No.  21312  (I'l.  ;i,  V'v^.  8),  collected  near  Mrownsville,  Texa.s,  on 
May  8,  1891,  shows  one  of  the  darker  and  heavier  marked  styles.  No.  2r)2!»!) 
(IM.  3,  Ki<;-.  it),  from  tiie  same  locality,  taken  May  Ifi,  1892,  represents  a  very 
uniform  and  evenly  coIoihmI  speciiiieii,  while  No.  2(1351  (i'l.  3,  Kiy.  lO),  likewiso 
from  the  same  locality,  taken  May  8,  1892,  represents  about  an  avera^-e-colored 
t-ou-  of  this  siKM'ies.     The  last  three  types  are  i'rom  the  lialph  c:ollection. 


TiiK  BLACK  awirr.  175 

Family  MKll'Ol'omD.K.     Swiri«. 
62.     Cypseloides  niger  ((J.mkmn). 

III.ACK    SWIKI'. 

IliriiHilii  iiUiva  (iMi'.i.iN,  Systoiim  Niitiirii',  I,  ii,  I7S,S,  I02r>. 

Ci/imcliiiilis  »;.//(»•  Sci.ATKII,  pMircciliiijjH  /(iiilojjiiiil  Sdcicty,  .llllir  '_'",  18(r»,  rtl5. 

(I!  lOS.  (!  liTO,  U  ;!."•(>,  r  1(14,  I'   IL'L'.) 

LiKotillAl'llM'Al,  HANiii;;  .Moiiiiliiiiis  of  wt'sti'iii  North  Aincricii,  iiiaiiil.v  on  tlii'  I'licidc 
c^>a^t;  iiortli  to  liiitisli  ('nliiintiiii;  cusl  to  ciistcni  Wiisliiii>itoii,  NcmiiIii,  iiimI  roloriido; 
soiilli  to  Ciilironiiii;  iiiid  in  winter.  tliroiiKli  liowcr  Oiilitoniia  and  Mexico  to  C'ostii  Iticii, 
Ccntiid  Arnriicii  (and  llic  West  India  Isiandnf).' 

'I'lii!  niiioc  lit'  tlic  UliicU  Swift,  jilsii  kiKiwii  as  "("loiiil  Swift, "  is  still  nitlnT 
inipci'fcctlv  iIcIImciI.  As  far  as  \ct  known  it  lias  mily  liri'ii  niiscrvcil  in  tlic 
lidcky  .Mniiiitaiii  rcoioii  in  ('nlnrMilo,  wIutc  it  seems  tu  lie  mainly  cnnlineil  lu 
San  ,lnan  Cnmity,  in  tlie  suMlliwestern  [lart  iif  tlie  State.  .Mr.  A.  \\ .  .\ntlniny 
writes  wiv:  '•Here  1  fminil  tlie  I51aek  Swift  \ery  aliiinilant  in  the  smninei-  nf 
iss;5,  nestiiiL:'  in  all  i>\'  the  highest  craji's,  Inn  ne\er  in  jilaees  aecessilile  lu  ;in\- 
thin;j' nut  |ir(i\iileil  with  winos,  .\iiniit  Sihcrtnn,  ( 'iilnrailn,  a  laruc  culnnx  Innl 
taken  pnssessiiin  of  a  very  lii;;h  clill'.  making'  their  a|i|iearani'e  almiit  .linie  •_'!>: 
(Iurin<j:  must  i^t'  the  liay  they  eiiniil  lie  seen  niiisino'  aliunt  u\er  the  valley  at  a 
heii^ht  lA'  tViim  l,(l(t(>  to  l".!!!!!!  feet,  hilt  tcnvanl  e\eniiio'  ur  at  the  aii|»ruarh  ni' 
a  shower  they  descei'ileil  fre(|iiently  to  v\itliin  loO  feet  of  the  orumnl  .\t  siieli 
tiiiu's  an  occasional  .  ..ot  was  to  he  had  at  some  unwary  striiL;;;lei,  ami  a  series 
{i\'  aliuiit  twenty  was  taken  between  .lime  '2't  anil  .Inly  Id.  l-'emales  shot 
between  .Inly  .'')  ami  ID  containeil  ova  nearly  ready  to  deposit." 

Dr.  A.  K.  I'^isher  tells  me  that  he  saw  a  niimbei'  of  these  birds  about  the  elilVs 
near  Triniilad,  in  Las  .Vninias  ( 'oimty,  ( Colorado,  about  the  middle  of  .Inly,  1  S'.i2. 

.Mr.  Robert  U'id^way  met  witii  it  in  Nevada,  where  several  hundred  wei'e 
observed  one  moiniii^'  hoverino-  ovit  the;  ('arson  Ixiver,  below  l''oi't  Churchill, 
and  he  also  found  the  remains  of  one  on  the  Tnickee  [{iver,  near  I'yramid  Lake." 

'I'Ir'  Mlack  Swift  midoiibtedly  occurs  ,dso  in  suitable  localities  in  the  inter- 
vening' reo-ions,  tlu*  nioimtains  of  Utah,  for  instance.  'Phroiiiihont  the  Sierra 
Nevadas,  the  Cascade  .Moinitains,  and  the  coast  raiiji'es  of  California,  Oreoon, 
\\'a.shinotun,  and  Mritish  ('ohimbia,  it  appears  to  be  more  oeiierally  distributed 
tiian  in  the  more  eastern  portions  of  its  ranj,''e,  and  wherever  liioh  pei'peiidicnlar 
clitic  are  tound  one  may  rcNi.sonably  lioi)e  to  m(H;t  with  flocks  of  this  hw<>;i'.  Swift. 
They  are  extremely  social  birds,  and  are  rarely  seen  sinoly  even  during'  tlu» 

'  .VltlioiiKli  Mm  WeHt  liuliim  Swift,  tlio  typo  of  Ci/pne/oirftd  iiiiicr,  is,  .iciiinliii);  tu  llir  Aimiiran  Oniiilidl- 
iiHists'  rniiiii  rliwk  lint,  eoiisiiliTi'il  iili^ntiial  witli  our  liinl,  I  lidirM!  tlir  liir^'cr  size  nf  tln^  Iiitlir,  rs|M'iiiilly 
llir  iii;irUril  ililfi'i'i'iiri'  ill  till'  li'iiylli  i>f  till'  will;;  mill  its  Hiiiiiowtinl  imliT  iiiliinitinn,  is  siiDii'irnt  irii.siiii  lor 
»i|iiir:ilin«  llio  tvMi.  IIS  liuil  liii'ii  ilnim  liy  Dr.  I'.llint t  ( 'niirs,  anil  iiiiiri'  ii'ri>iitly  liy  Mr.  Kriii'st  lliirtrrt,  in 
vnl.  1(1,  jip.  I'.ll.  liri,  Ciitalojjiioof  ItirilH  in  tlii'  Hiiti.sli  .VIiisimiiii.  1  tiiiil  tlm  iiviraur  wiiiy;  iiii'iisiiriMiiinls  iif 
tlir  nini!  Wist  Iiiiliaii  siii'ciiiii'iis  tu  wliirli  I  liail  aiii'ss  In  Im  (i.Oil  inrlics,  wliilr  tliat  nf  liftirii  Nnrth  AiiiiT- 
iraii  sKins  i^  i;  .V.  im  lies,  anil  I  ci.nsiilrr  it  well  riitilliMl  to  HiilisiH'cilic  rank. 

■  liislory  of  .North  Aiiiiriian  lliiils,  Vol.  11,  ts7l,  p.  IliO. 


',!  t 


I 


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'ti  ' 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


1°   .%L^ 


is 


i 


llliil 


'Mill 


176 


LIKB  msTOUIES  OF  NOUTII  AMERICAN  HIHDM. 


hret'diny;  rttsisnii.  Tlu^y  usually  arrive  from  their  wintur  hoincH  iu  C'eutrnl  xViner- 
ica  iluriu};  tli«  latter  part  of  April  or  the  bcfi^iuniu;;  of  May,  aud  return  south 
ajjain  in  Se|)tiMnlH'r.  Tlu'V  breed  throntrliout  their  Hununer  ranj^e,  and  probably 
only  it  sinji'le  brood  is  raised  in  a  season,  as  they  nest  rather  late.  The  only 
loealitv  where  1  have  observed  this  specitfs  was  on  the  upper  (yoluiubia  River, 
opposite  liake  Chelan,  Washiuffton,  in  .July,  1><79.  Here  quite  a  colony  nested 
in  a  hijili  i)erpeinli<ular  cliHt' on  the  south  side  of  and  about  a  mile  baek  from  the 
river,  and  nunTDers  of  them  tlew  to  and  from  the  valley  below,  where  they  were 
feedin;;-.  'IMie  day  was  a  cloudy  one,  and  a  slow,  drizzlin<j  rain  was  fallinj^ 
nearly  the  entire  time  1  was  there;  this  eaused  the  birds  to  fiy  low,  and  tliey 
were  easily  idcntitied.  They  evidently  had  youn<>',  and  the  twitterinj^s  of  the 
latter  could  leadiiy  l)e  heard  as  soon  as  a  bird  entered  one  of  the  nmnerou.s 
crevices  in  the  clitf  above.  Tliis  was  utterly  inaccessible,  beinjr  fully  300  feet 
hijiii  and  almost  perpendicular;  and  without  suitable  ropes  t<»  lower  one  from 
above  it  was  both  u.seless  and  imi)ractical)le  to  make  an  attempt  to  I'eacli  the 
nests,  'i'liese  were  evidently  placed  well  back  in  tlie  fissures,  as  nothin<f  l)earinw 
a  resemi)lam"e  to  one  was  visible  from  either  above  or  below.  In  this  locality 
I  believe  fi'esli  e^fi's  may  be  looked  for  about  .Tune  25. 

Dr.  ( ".  Hart  .Merriam's  explorin^r  parties  found  the  Black  Swift  fairly  com- 
mon in  various  localities  in  Inyo  County,  (■alifornia,  durinj^- dune,  1891,  aud  a 
number  of  s])ecimens  weri^  secured  tliere.  Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher,  in  his  Report  on 
the  Ornitlioliijjv  of  the  Death  Valley  Expedition  of  l.S!>l,  makes  the  foUowinjj 
remarks  on  this  .sjjecies:  "The  HIack  Swift  was  first  ob.served  at  Owens  Lake, 
near  Keeler,  California  where  a  nundjer  were  seen  tlyinji;  back  and  forth  over 
the  salt  meadows  on  May  31.  On  June  2  twenty  or  more  were  seen  feedim; 
over  the  sanu?  meadows,  and  five  sj)ecimens  were  collected.  From  the  con<li- 
tion  of  the  ovaries  of  the  feuiale  secured  it  was  evident  that  the  e<jrgs  had  been 
laid.  When  tlie  tlock  left  the  marsh  it  rose  hif?h  in  the  air,  and  went  in  the 
diri'ction  of  the  clitl's  in  the  Inyo  Mountains,  near  Cerro  Gordo,  where  a  colony 
evidently  was  breedin<i." ' 

Mr.  F.  Stephens  writes  me:  "^Ir.  U.  H.  Jlerron  has  taken  this  species  in  the 
San  Hernardino  Mountains,  California,  when;  they  appeared  to  be  bree<lin^. 
They  were  flyinji'  in  behind  a  waterfall  that  pcau'ed  over  a  ])eri)endicular  cliff, 
and  he  found  one  drowned  in  the  basin  at  the  foot  of  the  fall." 

Mr.  S.  F.  Rathbun,  of  Seattle,  Wasliinjjton,  informs  me  th.it  the  Black  Swift 
is  ([uite  abundant  at  Lake  Samish,  three  miles  east  of  the  north  end  of  T^ake 
Wasliiii;iton.  The  slua-es  of  tiie  lake  are  well  settled,  but  the  birds  evidently 
find  Samish  a  j^i^od  feeilin^r  jri-(>und.  His  earliest  record  of  the  arrival  of  this 
species  there  is  May  lo.  Mr.  KoUo  II.  Beck,  while  huntiuff  near  the  rocky 
coast  of  .Monterey  (!oimty,  California,  in  the  sunnner  of  1S94,  shot  a  female 
Black  Swift  on  duni^  2!),  containiuf;-  a  nearly  developed  e'^if  in  the  oviduct, 
which  he  thinks  would  havtt  been  laid  ne.xt  day  and  would  probiddy  have  com- 
pleted a  set,  as  the  remainiiifj  eji'jis  were  very  small.      The  shell  was  not  formed 

>  Nurtli  Aiiioriniii  Knuiiii,  No,  7,  18i)3,  |i.  54, 


THE  BLACK  SWIFT. 


177 


yet,  and  Iio  Imd  no  inonnH  of  incaMurin^  it  at  hand.  It  resembled  the  epg  of  a 
Chimney  Swift  in  siiajx',  bnt  was  somewhat  hirger. 

The  food  of  tlie  Hhick  Swift  consists  «M>tirely  of  insects,  vdiich  are  cauglit 
on  the  wi:ii},'i  ii'xl  't«  Hiffht  is,  if  i)08sible,  still  more  graceful  and  rapid  than  that 
of  the  ("hinmey  Swift.  It  is  a  rather  silent  bird,  and  seldom  utters  any  call 
notes  while  on  the  win<^  or  when  feedinjj.  I  believe  it  rarely,  if  ever,  lights  on 
the  ground. 

As  yet  there  is  nothing  positively  known  about  the  construction  of  the 
nest  of  tliis  species,  and  the  eggs  still  remain  unknown.  1  am  aware  that  an 
account  of  the  finding  of  the  supposed  nest  jvnd  eggs  has  been  published  in 
"The  Auk"  (V^ol.  V,  1888,  pp.  424,  425),  but  I  am  quite  positive  that  this  is  a 
case  of  misidentificatiou.  I  visited  the  same  region  in  May,  18!)4,  and  found 
the  Western  Martin,  Prof/m-  siihis  liesperia,  not  uncommon  in  that  very  locality, 
and  the  nest  and  eggs  described  as  those  of  the  Black  Swift  are  unquestionably 
referable  to  this  subspecies. 

63.     Chaetura  pelagica  (Linn.kus). 

CHIJINEY  SWIFT. 

H'-intlo  pelagica  LiNNvKrs,  Syateina  Natursp,  ed.  10,  1, 1758, 192. 
C"    '.ur-'  uduxyiu  Stki'UKNS,  Ueneriil  Zoology,  XIII,  part  ii,  1825,  70. 

(B  109,  C  271,  11  351,  C  405,  U  423.) 

GEOOUAPniOAi,  RANGE:  Eastern  North  America;  north  in  the  southern  portions  of 
the  Dominion  ofOanuhi  to  about  hititude  5(P;  in  the  interior,  in  northwestern  Manitoba 
to  about  latitude  52^  .JO' and  probalily  still  farther;  west  in  the  United  States  to  eastern 
North  and  Sontli  Dakota,  eastern  Nebraslva  and  Kansas,  the  Indian  Territory,  and  Texas; 
south  in  winter  to  Jalapa,  Vera  Ciuz,  Cozuiuel  Island,  and  Vueatan,  Mexico,  and  probably 
still  farther. 

Tile  l)re('ding  range  of  the  Chimney  Swift,  also  known  as  "Chimney 
Swallow"  and  "Chinuiey  Sweep,"  is  coextensive  with  its  distribution  in  the 
Ddiniuion  of  Canadii  and  tlic  I'nited  States,  it  being  oidy  a  summer  visitor, 
spending  the  winter  in  a  milder  climate.  It  usually  re-enters  the  I'liited  States 
fnim  the  south  in  the  latter  part  of  March  or  early  in  April,  and  its  retiu'ii 
migratitui  from  its  more  northern  breeding  grounds  begins  early  in  Sei)tember, 
while  in  oin*  Middle  States  it  lingers  sometimes  well  into  October.  The  north- 
eriinn)st  record  for  tiiis  species  which  I  have  been  able  to  find  is  Swan  Lake, 
in  northwestern  Manitoba,  where  IVof  .F.  Macoun  met  with  it  on  .July  8,  1881. 
Its  western  range  apjjcars  to  i»e  gradually  extending,  and  at  present  includes 
aitout  tlie  eastern  half  of  the  States  of  North  and  South  Dakota,  Nebraska, 
Kansas,  the  Indian  Territory,  and  Texas.  It  is  an  eminently  social  bird,  and 
with  the  settlement  of  the  country  has  changed  its  nesting  habits  very  mate- 
rially. Formerly  the  Chinmey  Swift  nested  exclusively  in  hollow  tree  trunks; 
now  it  generally  uses  chimneys  for  such  pur[)oses,  and  less  often  the  interior  of 
barns  and  other  outbuildings,  attaching  its  nest  to  the  rough,  unplaucd  boai'ds 

inside,  on  tlm  gal)le  end  and  near  the  peak  of  the  roof. 
1U81W— No.  3 — 12 


Ik' 


^11 


"\ 


? 


ni'l 


M 


,  T.  ?  lit 


^'•'f^ril 


178 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


In  a  letter  from  Dr.  WiUiniu  \j.  Ralph,  dated  San  Mateo,  Florida,  May  19, 
180'),  lie  says:  "One  of  my  men  l)ron<;lit  me  the  ejfjjs  of  a  Chimney  Swift  that 
he  said  he  took  from  a  nest  attached  to  the  sides  of  a  well,  4  feet  below  the  sur- 
face of  the  {i^round.  He  says  they  often  nest  in  such  places  iu  this  vicinity." 
I  consider  this  as  a  very  unustiai  nestiufjf  site*  for  this  species. 

The  Chinmey  Swift  is  both  diurnal  and  crepuscular  in  its  habits,  and  spends 
a  {yood  deal  of  time  on  the  win^f.  In  appearaiu'o  while  flyinjf  it  resembles  a  bat 
more  than  a  binl,  an  1  its  lonfr,  attenuated,  saber-sha[)ed  win<^s  look  entirely 
out  of  proportion  to  it.'  short,  stui)by  body.  Duriuff  the  mating  season  the 
Chimney  Swift  is  particularly  active,  and  small  j)ai1;ies  may  be  seen  chasing 
each  other  throughout  the  day,  and  even  after  the  birds  are  pairetl  they  are 
nearly  always  seen  in  parries  of  three  or  ujore,  pursuing  each  other  in  a  good- 
natured  way,  uttering  at  the  same  time  almost  continuously  their  twittering 
anil  sharp-sounding  call  notes  of  "zig-zig,"  or  "tzig-tzig,"  rajjidly  repeated  for 
minutes  at  a  time.  Few  binls  apjiear  to  be  more  sociable  and  more  devoted 
to  each  other  than  tlu*  Ciiimney  Swift,  and  as  they  consume  an  inmiense 
number  of  in.sect  pests,  anil  do  al)S(»lutely  no  harm,  they  deserve  our  fullest 
jirotection.  Their  food  consists  entirely  of  in.sects,  such  as  small  beetles,  flies, 
moscpiitoes,  etc. 

Mr.  Otto  Widmann,  of  Ohl  Orchard,  Mi.isouri,  who  is  well  known  as  one 
of  our  most  painstaking  and  relialjle  ornithologists  and  a  close  observer,  has 
kindly  furnished  me  with  the  following  observations  on  the  nesting  habits  of 
this  species,      lie  writes: 

"On  the  Hilt  roof  of  my  tower  1  set  up  a  wooden  shaft,  18  inches  square 
and  G  feet  high,  for  Swifts.  It  was  ready  for  occupancy  April  IS,  1891,  and  was 
entered  by  a  Swift  the  next  day.  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  one  pair  build  a 
nest  and  raise  a  broofl  in  the  sliaft  in  IMKI  and  again  in  1H!!2.  My  experience, 
thus  restricted  to  two  season.s,  is  too  limited  to  be  of  nuich  value,  but  some 
points  are  so  much  at  variance  with  current  statements  that  I  consider  them 
worthy  of  your  notice. 

"It  is  state<l  tluit  the  Swift  makes  two  broods  south  of  Peimsylvania.  This 
is  very  improbable,  since  the  successful  rearing  of  a  brood  of  Swifts  takes  not 
less  than  two  months,  which  is  much  longer  than  the  authors  who  make  the 
statement  allow  for  the  process. 

"Although  the  first  Swifts  ajtpear  in  our  latitude  (38°  40')  as  early  as  the 
begiiming  of  April,  and  are  seen  to  pair  and  select  a  chimney  soon  after  their 
arrival,  the  species  is  too  nnicli  tlependent  on  continuously  warm  weather  for  a 
regular  food  supply  to  begin  nest  building  l)efore  the  .second  week  in  May. 

"Ne.st  building,  too,  takes  more  time  than  is  generally  supposed.  Many 
birds  can  build  in  rainy  weather;  some  even  choo.se  such  times,  and  one  reason 
for  the  preference  of  the  early  morning  hours  for  buihling  is  certainly  the  cir- 
cumstance that  most  of  the  material  u.sed  has  the  necessary  itliability  only  when 
in  a  moist  state  With  our  Swift  it  is  (piite  different;  he  can  not  jtroceed  witii 
his  structure  while  the  atmosphere  remains  .saturated  with  moisture;  his  secre- 


THE  CHIMNEY  SWIFT. 


179 


tion  is  not  a  cement,  but  a  fjflue,  which  hardens  by  dryin;^,  and  our  warm  days 
in  early  suuuner  are  jrenorally  aixonipanied  by  more  or  less  rain. 

"It  tooic  my  Swifts  two  days  to  hiy  tlie  foun(hition;  that  is,  ttt  ))esmear  the 
wall  and  fasten  thereto  the  first  few  sticks.  On  the  tenth  day,  when  the  first 
I'irir  was  laid,  the  nest  was  only  half  done,  2  inches  wide,  2.J  lon^,  and  only  <»ne- 
half  inch  deep.  This  was  May  24.  In  the  eveninj^  the  e<j<^  was  lyinj,'  under  the 
nest,  on  the  bottom  of  the  shaft.  On  the  next  day  a  second  ('<•<;:  was  lyinj^-  on 
tlie  bottom.  Then  came  a  cold,  rainy  day  and  no  eg<f  was  laid.  After  this  they 
went  on  building  and  laying  until  May  30,  when  four  eggs  were  in  the  nest  and 
its  dimensions  were  now  3  by  3^  inches  and  1  inch  deej).  Incul)ati(in  lasted 
luitil  .June  18,  when  one  egg  was  hatched  in  the  forenoon  and  the  other  three  in 
the  afternoon. 

"The  ytmug  remained  in  the  shaft  initil  July  17,  after  which  they  were 
brought  back  by  the  parents  several  nights,  and  then  roosted  elsewhere  in  the 
luighborhoud.  During  the  first  week  the  blind  and  almcist  naked  young  were 
placed  so  that  the  four  heads  came  together  in  the  center  of  tlu^  nest  and  the 
antil  regions  were  near  to  its  rim;  t\i\t;  arrangement  is  im]»ortant  for  tiie  cleanli- 
ness of  the  home,  since  the  parents  do  not  seem  to  trouble  thems(dves  with 
removing  the  excrement.  The  secrond  week,  when  the  yoiuig  were  fast  outgrow- 
ing tlui  little  home,  a  different  arrangement  was  necessary;  all  four  iieads  were 
iMtw  lying  flat  against  the  shaft,  the  anterior  i)art  of  the  body  covering  and  pro- 
tecting tlu!  i)as(*  of  the  nest  and  the  posterior  j)art  protruding  over  its  rim.  At 
the  l)cginning  of  the;  third  week  I  was  greatly  astoni.shed  to  find  my  yoimg 
Swifts  gone;  tlui  nest  was  empty  and  no  Swift  to  be  se(;n  in  the  shaft.  I  was 
still  wondering  what  had  liecome  of  them  when  the  parent  came  to  feed.  Young- 
Swifts  are  very  noisy  when  fed,  and  I  was  glad  to  hear  that  they  were  still 
inside;  all  f<»in"  were  huddling  side  by  side  hanging  on  the  wall  immediately 
l)elow  the  nest  and  entirely  hidden  from  view  ab(tve.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
fotu'th  week  I  was  still  more  surprised  when,  bending  my  head  over  the  siiaft, 
the  young.sters  jumped  right  against  my  face  with  a  strong,  hissing  noise,  wliich 
1  i)elieve  nuist  be  a  very  eH'et^tive  means  of  frightening  inisuspccting  visitors. 
Tile  fourth  week  was  spent  entirely  inside  the  shaft,  hanging  against  its  sides, 
but  not  higher  up  than  the  nest,  that  is,  iih  feet  from  the  mouth;  so  the  clamlicr- 
iiig  up  to  the  top  of  the  chimney  does  not  seem  to  be  the  style  any  more. 

"Last  year's  experien(^e  was  es.sentially  the  same, with  the  following  varia- 
tions: May  being  rainy  throughout,  they  did  not  begin  to  build  until  the  first 
we(fk  of  June.  They  attaclu'd  the  nest  to  the  same  spot  where  tiie  nest  of  tlie 
previous  year  had  been  washed  off,  and  deposited  five  eggs,  all  of  which  were 
iiatched  and  all  five  young  bnmght  up.  Three  left  the  shaft  for  the  first  time  on 
.\ugu8t  1,  and  the  others  the  next  day.  The  whole  process  occupie<l  eight  weeks 
and  two  days,  which  is  six  days  less  than  in  IHlll,  in  conscipience  of  the  more 
favorable  weather  while  building.  The  family  roosted  in  the  shaft  until  ( )ctol)er 
14,  when  the  last  left. 

"Taking  all  together,  my  observations  may,  in  brief,  be  set  forth  ns  follows: 
In  spite  of  preceding  favorable  weather,  the  Swift  of  St.  Louis  County,  Missouri, 


.  <     •,   N 


-Tf- 


180 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


lib- 


' 


^^-M 


does  not  begin  nest  building  before  the  second  week  of  May,  and  unfavorable 
weather  may  delay  it  until  the  1st  of  June.  Oidy  a  small  quantity  of  glue  is 
secreted  daily,  and  therefore  the  completion  of  the  entire  structure  requires 
about  eighteen  days.  After  two-fifths  of  the  nest  is  completed  (the  work  of  one 
week)  the  laying  of  eggs  begins.  The  process  of  construction  may  be  retarded 
by  cool  weather  (lack  of  food)  and  by  continued  rains  (softening  of  glue).  The 
bird  can  control  the  laying  of  eggs;  can  discontinue  for  one  or  more  days,  if  she 
thinks  necessary.  Incubation  begins  before  the  last  egg  is  laid  and  lasts  eighteen 
days.  The  setting  parent  shields  the  structure  by  habitually  covering  its  base 
with  the  breiist  and  pressing  the  head  against  tlie  wall  above.  After  the  young 
are  eight  days  old  they  arrange  themselves  in  the  same  manner.  When  the 
sitting  bird  is  disturbed,  it  at  tir.st  seeks  to  frighten  the  intruder  by  fluttering 
and  then  hides  below  the  nest.  The  young,  when  a  iortnight  old,  also  hide  under 
the  nest,  where  they  can  not  be  seen  fi'om  aliove.  When  three  weeks  old,  they 
flutter  and  try  to  frighten  the  intruder  with  a  hissing  noise,  and  always  remain 
2  to  3  feet  below  the  mouth  of  the  chiiriney  (shaft),  where  they  are  fed  by  the 
parents.  The  yt»ung  do  not  leave  the  chimney  before  they  are  four  weeks  old. 
Under  the  most  ftivorablo  conditions  a  late  brood  can  not  be  brought  to  a  suc- 
cessful end  in  less  than  fifty-eight  (five  eggs)  to  si.xty  (six  eggs)  days,  while  an 
early  brood  (begun  the  middle  of  May)  may  consume  from  sixty-five  to  seventy 
days." 

In  a  subsequent  letter,  dated  August  20,  1894,  Mr.  Widmaun  writes  me  as 
follows: 

"xVnother  season  confirmed  my  former  statements  in  regard  to  the  breeding 
habits  of  the  Swifts.  The  pair  began  building  and  laying  at  the  regular  time; 
but  after  the  second  eg<^  was  laid,  on  May  23,  some  misfortune  happened,  and 
next  day  the  eggs  were  found  on  the  floor  below,  and  no  more  were  laid  luitil 
June  10,  when  laying  1)egan  anew.  Within  eight  days  (June  10  to  17,  inclusive) 
five  eggs  were  laid.  On  the  14th,  after  the  third  egg  had  been  laid,  the  bird 
began  to  set.  On  the  24tli  one  eufg  had  rolled  out,  leaving  four  in  the  nest. 
.July  1,  on  the  eigiiteeutli  day  of  incubation,  the  eggs  began  to  hatch,  but  the  last 
of  the  foiu"  young  did  not  leave  the  shell  until  July  3.  This  bird  remained  much 
behind  in  development,  while  one  of  the  three  others  always  kept  a  little  in 
advance.  The  latter  left  the  shaft  for  the  first  time  July  26,  but  the  youngest  did 
not  get  ready  to  go  out  until  August  7,  a  difference  of  eleven  days. 

"The  event  of  a  young  Swift  leaving  the  chimney  for  the  first  time  is  made 
known  all  over  the  neighborhood  by  great  excitement  and  noise.  While  the 
species  for  some  weeks  before  have  been  quiet  and  inconspicuous,  great  activity 
and  noise  is  suddenly  noticed,  and  numbers  are  seen  cliasing  through  the  air.  Tiiis 
indicates  the  event,  and  it  occurred  for  the  first  time  again  o;  July  1 7  lieing  tlie  first 
young  raised  in  the  neighborhood.  It  was  ])articularly  noticed  that  the  young 
Swift  is  entirely  naked  when  it  leaves  the  shell,  and  not  only  the  eyes  but  also  the 
ears  are,  t)r  appear  to  be,  closed  for  the  first  few  days.  The  eyes  ojien  by  degrees. 
The  best  developed  specimen  of  the  four  had  the  eyes  open  for  occasional  brief 


TUB  OHIMNKY  SWIFT. 


181 


periods  on  July  11,  wliilo  two  otliers  had  them  partly  open,  and  the  eyes  of  the 
snialleHt  remained  entirely  cloHed  until  about  the  ir)th.  In  the  ca»e  of  tlie  youn<f- 
est  bird,  whi<'h  was  a  very  weak  creature  at  lirst  and  could  not  swallow  all  the 
parent  ])iit  in  its  throat,  1  saw  minute  winj^ed  insects  crawl  out  of  its  mouth.  This 
shows  that  some  of  ihe  insects  are  still  alive  v.'!:»...  brou}(ht,  and  accounts  fur  the 
peculiar  inouth-<'leaniii<(  motions  after  feedin<if.  What  the  misfortune  was  tliat 
befell  the  first  e<f}jfs,  and  why  they  made  a  jtause  of  seventeen  days  before  lajiu}'' 
a^^ain,  1  do  not  know.  It  was  not  the  weather,  but  it  may  possibly  have  been  the 
Ued-headed  Woodpeckers  and  Flickers,  which  did  a  {^freat  deal  of  drummin<>-  and 
jdaying  alxtut  the  shaft  in  those  days." 

While  at  Wihnurt,  New  York,  in  June,  1892,  I  found  a  nest  of  the  ("liim- 
ney  Swift  attached  to  a  board  in  a  hayloft,  about  2  feet  from  the  peak  of  the 
roof  One  of  the  birds  was  settiiifj  on  the  nest,  which  was  a  very  small  one, 
while  its  mate  hun<^  against  the  side  of  one  of  the  boards,  about  a  foot  below 
and  a  little  to  the  right  of  the  nest.  The  male  assists  in  incubation.  I  saw 
one  of  these  birds,  at  a  subsequent  visit,  fly  in  the  loft  whiht  I  was  there,  hook 
himself  to  the  boanl  below  the  nest,  and  shortly  afterwards  he  uttered  a  low 
twitter;  the  one  on  the  nest  left  at  once  on  hearing  the  note,  and  flew  out, 
while  the  newcomer  j)erched  on  the  rim  of  the  nest  and  rearranged  the  eggs 
tinst  before  covering  them.  It  changed  its  i)osition  tw'wo  before  it  seemed 
suited;  at  least  one-half  of  its  length  projected  outside  of  the  nest,  and  it  is 
cci'tainly  ])uzzling  to  know  how  they  manage  to  rear  .;  tiimily  of  four  or  five 
young  in  so  small  a  space. 

Their  semicircular,  half-saucer-shaped  nest  is  a  most  interesting  structure, 
and  varies  considerably  in  size  and  depth,  as  well  as  in  the  manner  in  which  it  is 
attached  to  the  wall  or  board  to  which  it  is  glued.  Some  are  exceedingly  shallow, 
i»arely  one-fourth  inch  in  depth,  while  others  are  nearly  an  inch  deep,  and 
also  much  more  roomy.  An  average  nest  is  about  3  inches  in  outer  diameter 
by  2  in(!hes  in  width.  One  of  the  handsomest  specimens  I  have  ever  seen 
was  taken  by  llr.  C.  J.  I'ennock,  at  Kennett  Square,  IVimsylvania,  on  June 
K),  1887,  an«l  presented  to  me.  This  measures  4.J  inches  in  outer  diameter  by 
;{  inches  in  width,  and  the  outer  edges,  where  attached  to  the  wall,  ai'e  canned 
completely  around  on  the  top,  so  that  it  can  be  hung  ui»on  a  ]K'g,  like  a  wall 
pocket;  this  naturally  gave  it  much  more  strength,  by  increasing  the  surface 
which  is  glued  to  the  wall,  and  lessened  tlie  chances  of  its  becoming  detaciied. 
Tiio  nests  are  entirely  built  up  of  small  dry  twigs,  averaging  from  one-tenth  to 
one-sixteenth  inch  in  diameter  and  from  1  to  2. J  inches  in  length.  One  or  two 
somewhat  longer  twigs  in'oject  usually  from  the  side,  possibly  to  Ije  used  as  a 
perch  while  the  young  are  being  fed. 

The  amount  of  saliva  used  to  glue  them  together  also  varies  greatly  in 
dlHerent  specimens;  in  some  this  is  very  plainly  percei)til)le,  and  <iccasionally 
forms  a  thin  coating  on  the  inside  of  the  nest;  in  others  hardly  a  tra<'e  can  be 
seen,  but  nevertheless  the  twigs  hold  well  together.  There  is  no  inner  lining  of 
any  kind  used,  the  eggs  lying  on  the  bare  twigs.     The  latter  are  gathered  on 


'M 


n 


..': ; 


.. .(. 


i 


'3  iLH 


''    "    .t      *■'        ■■  I 


182 


LIFE  HI8T0B:E8  OP  NORTH  AMEHICAN  BIRDS. 


the  Vf'intr,  tho  l)ird  breakiuff  tlicm  off  witli  itn  Jioak  wliilo  flying'  piiNt.  Before  tlio 
country  was  well  settled  tln^  (!hiinney  Swift  built  in  hollow  tn'es,  attachin<r  its 
nest  to  the  inside  walls,  und  in  sparsely  sotthfd  n^f^ions  it  does  so  still  to  some 
extent;  but  now,  wherever  they  ean  avail  theniselvefl  of  an  unused  ••hi inuey, 
no  uuitter  of  what  material  it  is  eonstructed,  they  do  so,  lioth  for  nestiu}^  and 
roostiny;  ])urj»oses.  It  s»'ems  to  nui  that  they  ar<*  j^nidually  ehan;j^iu<;' af^ain  mon* 
and  more  from  the  chinniey  to  the  inside  of  barns  and  (Uithouses,  atta('hin<^  their 
nests  to  the  sides  of  rou<;h,  nnplaned  boanls,  near  the  roof  Such  sites  are  more 
protected  from  storms,  and  certainly  much  cleaner,  and  the  birds  appear  to  have 
found  this  out,  and  act  accordingly. 

Several  pairs  fre(|iiently  nest  in  company,  and  it  is  amusinj,'  to  see  them, 
after  eii'diufj^  ov«'r  the  top  <if  the  chinmey,  suddeidy  droj)  down  ])eri»endicu- 
larly,  often  from  considerable  heights,  and  disappear  within.  Hundreds  are 
known  to  roost  in  the  taller  chinineyr,  of  some  abandoned  factories  in  many  of 
our  large  cities.  I  have  also  seen  it  stated  that  this  species  occasionally  nests 
in  chinnu'ys  which  are  in  use,  but  no  such  instance  has  come  luider  my  own 
ol)servations.  Throughout  the  more  northern  portions  of  its  range  the  (/him- 
ney  Swift  rarely  commences  laying  before  the  second  we«'k  in  June;  four  or 
five  eggs  are  generally  laid  t<.  a  set  (rarely  six)  and  usually  an  egg  is  deposited 
eai'h  day.  In  chinuieys  the  nests  are  ordinarily  glued  to  the  sides,  from  ft  to 
12  feet  below  the  top. 

Few  birds  are  more  devoted  to  their  young  than  the  (Chimney  Swift,  and 
instances  have  been  recorded  where  tlu*  ])arent  was  seen  to  enter  chimneys  in 
burning  houses,  even  after  the  entini  roof  was  a  mass  of  flames,  jireferring  to 
perish  with  its  offspring  rather  than  to  forsake  them.  1  have  recently  seen 
in  "Forest  and  Stream"  (September  IH,  18!)4,  p.  224),  another  most  remarkable 
proof  of  affection  for  its  young;  want  of  space  prevents  mo  from  (puiting  it 
entire.  Tlie  writer  states  that  fully  a  month  after  the  Chinniey  Swifts  had 
departed  on  their  scmthern  migration  he  heard  u  familiar  twitter  in  the  chimney, 
and  taking  out  the  old-fashionvd  fireboard  found  a  full-grown  bird  lying  npon 
the  hearth.  Looking  mi>re  cK>sely,  he  discovered  that  it  was  fastened  by  a 
horsehair  wrapjied  around  its  leg  to  the  nest,  which  had  fallen  (htwn  with  it. 
He  says:  "Tlis  anxious  mother,  who  had  cast  in  her  lot  with  him,  to  remain  and 
to  die  with  him,  for  the  time  of  insects  was  abimt  gone,  came  into  the  diimney 
and  actually  waited  beside  nie  while  I  snijiped  the  strong  hair  and  released  him. 
It  was  an  hour  or  more  before  he  gained  the  use  oi'  his  legs  and  learned  what  his 
mother  was  teaching  him  by  flying  up  and  down  in  the  chimney,  and  then  tliev 
ln)th  started  on  their  lonesome  flight  to  the  far  south."  This  instance  certainly 
shows  a  tender  side  of  bird  nature,  and  such  instances  are  far  more  common 
than  they  appear  to  be,  if  we  could  only  see  them.  The  young  are  fed  by 
regurgitation. 

The  eggs  of  the  Chimney  Swift  are  pure  white  in  color  and  unspotted: 
they  are  cylindrical  ovate  in  shape;  the  shell  is  fine  gi'ained,  rather  thin,  and 
moderately  glossy. 


■<        Jv' 


I  .■:    ■ 
"ii  .  ■ 


THE  CHIMNEY  8W1FT. 


183 


Tlie  averaj^e  muaMurement  of  fifty-six  e^jjifH  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  2().0!l  by  13.22  niillinietros,  or  ().7!(  by  <>.r)2  inch.  The  larj,''- 
est  egi^  of  the  series  nie;isures  21.34  by  13.72  millimetres,  or  0.84  by  0.64  inch; 
the  smallest,  lllt'd  by  13.72  millimetres,  or  O.dit  by  0.r)4  inch. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  2401!)  (PI.  1,  F\fr.  25),  from  a  set  of  four  c^rffs,  was 
taken  by  Mr.  J.  C  I'ennock,  near  Kennett  Sijuare,  Pennsylvania,  on  June  l(j, 
1887,  and  represents  about  an  avera<fe  eyy  of  this  species. 


64.     Chsetura  vauxii  (Townhend). 

VAUX'S  SWIFT. 

Cjipiielm  miixii  Townhend,  Journal  Actulemy  Natural  Scieiicos,  I'liila.,  VIII,  DiJl),  14S. 
Chatnra  raiuii  Dk  Kav,  Zoolofty  of  Now  York,  II,  1.S44,  36. 

(H  no,  (!  272,  K  .{52,  C  4(Mi,  U  424.) 

Oeoorapbical  bANOB:  Western  North  America;  cliieHy  west  of  the  Siemv  Nevada 
and  Casciule  mouiitnins;  north  in  British  (Johunhia  to  about  latitude  !i'2"^  and  probably 
farther;  east  to  western  Montana  and  southern  Ari/.ona;  south  to  northern  Lower  Cali- 
fornia, and  in  winter  through  Mexico  to  Honduras,  Central  America. 

Vaux's,  or  the  "Orej^on"  Swift,  a  somewhat  smaller  and  palcr-cohved  bird 
than  the  precedin<^,  is  principally  confined  to  the  Pacific  Coast  rco-ions,  and 
!i])pears  to  be  nuich  rarer  and  more  sporadically  distriltutetl  in  the  interior,  east 
of  the  SieiTa  Nevadas,  and  in  the  Cascade  mountains  of  California.  Orcjion, 
Washington,  and  Briti.sh  Columbia.  Thv  most  noi-thcrn  record  1  iiave  liceu 
able  to  find  is  one  by  Mr.  Samuel  N.  Uhoads,  publi.shed  in  the  "Proceedings 
of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia,  1893"  (p.  44),  where  he 
reports  seeing  this  species  near  Lac  la  Hache,  Hritisli  Columbia,  on  July  1,  1H!I2. 
He  also  met  with  it  at  Goldstream,  on  Vancouver  Lsland,  (»n  ^lay  13.  It  reaches 
the  ea.stern  limits  of  its  range,  as  far  as  it  at  ))resent  known,  in  western  Montana, 
where  Mr.  C.  P.  Streator  took  a  specimen  at  Silver,  in  Missoula  County,  <tn  June 
25,  181(1.  Mr.  \V.  E.  I).  Scott  met  with  it  early  iu  October,  18H4,  on  tiie  San 
Pecb'o  slojje  of  the  Santa  Catalina  Mountains,  iu  southern  Arizona,  at  an  altitude 
of  from  3,000  to  4,000  feet*  These  birds  were  pro))ably  migrating.  Mr.  K. 
Stephens  observed  it  daily,  and  .secured  a  specimen  at  Olanciia,  California,  on 
the  eastern  8h)[)es  of  the  Sierra  Nevadtis,  in  the  latter  part  of  May,  18U1.  lie 
believes  they  were  migrating.'"' 

The  limits  of  its  breeding  range  are  not  well  defineil  as  yet.  Mr.  F. 
Stephens  considers  it  only  a  migrant  iu  southern  California.  Tiie  oidy  breeding 
records  I  have  are  both  from  Santa  Cruz  County,  in  this  State,  in  almut  lati- 
tude 37°,  and  it  appears  reasonable  to  suppose  that  it  breeds  from  there  north- 
ward, liut  very  few  nests  and  eggs  of  Vaux's  Swift  luuc,  as  far  as  I  am  aware, 
found  their  way  into  collections.     It  possibly  breeds  also  in  tiie  more  moun- 

'The  Auk,  Vol.  Ill,  1880,  p.  429. 

>  Birds  uf  the  Death  Valley  Expoilitidu,  North  American  Kuima,  No.  7,  IStKI,  i*.  ^'>. 


m 

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184 


LIFE  UIHTOlilKS  OF  NUUTil  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


tHiiiouH  partH  (»f  northern  Lower  Caliroi'iiin.  T;>  all  of  my  travels  throup;li  our 
Xortliwewteiii  StateH  I  have  failed  to  see  thiH  species  excrcptiii^'  at  Fort  Klamath, 
( )reffoii,  where  it  was  fairly  common  near  Up|)er  Klamath  Lake.  Dr.  .lames  (I. 
Meirill,  United  States  Army,  who  also  met  with  this  species  at  the  same  Post, 
and  with  whose  observations  I  fully  ajfree,  says: 

"While  the  Hiffht  of  Vaux's  Swift  is  usually  hif'her  than  that  of  the  eastern 
species  and  it  is  <renerally  more  difficult  to  obtain,  yet  if  their  habits  are  closely 
studied  it  will  be  observed  that  there  are  times  and  places  where  they  may  bo 
shot  without  especial  difhculty.  The  heij^ht  at  which  they  fiy  depen<lin<;  on  that 
of  the  insects  up(Hi  which  they  feed,  they  may  be  most  readily  seiun-ed  soon 
after  sunrise;  as  the  day  ^rows  warmer  and  the  in.sects  tly  higjier,  they  follow 
them  and  are  soon  out  of  {runsliot  ranjje  for  the  rest  of  the  (hiy,  unless  a  chan<ru 
in  the  weather  should  occur.  Had  1  matle  a  specialty  of  collectinjif  the.se  Swifts, 
I  could  readily  have  shot  several  dozen  durinjj  the  season.  As  observed  at  F'ort 
Klamath,  this  bird  is  not  at  all  crepuscular.  The  notes  differ  somewhat  from 
those  of  Cli(etura  pelayica,  tliou<^h  of  the  same  character,  and  are  less  fre(juently 
uttered." ' 

Vaux's  Swift  usually  reenters  the  United  States  from  its  winter  home  in 
Central  America  about  the  mi<ldle  of  Ajiril,  and  <,'oes  south  aj^ain  during 
October.  Although  j)ortions  of  California  where  this  Swift  is  known  to  be  a 
summer  resident  have  been  well  settle<l  for  some  time,  it  does  not  appear  that  it 
has  changed  its  breeding  habits  to  any  extent,  like  the  (Jhinmc^y  Swift  has  in 
the  East,  as  it  still  seems  to  ne.st  entirely  in  hollow  trees,  smd  it  is  ])rincipally 
due  to  this  reason  that  so  few  of  the  nests  and  eggs  have  yet  been  taken. 

Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony,  in  his  jmper  on  "  Birds  of  Washington  County,  ( )regon," 
writes  of  Vaux's  Swift  as  follows:  "(Common  summer  resident;  hunts  in  flocks 
of  lifteen  to  twenty.  A  pair  were  found  nesting  in  a  very  large  stub  late  in 
May;  the  nest,  however,  was  inaccessible.  The  birds  would  circle;  about,  fully 
2(H)  feet  above  the  stub,  initil  directly  over  the  opening;  then,  darting  down 
like  a  flash,  would  disappear  with  a  sharp  twitter."  - 

A  letter  received  from  Mr.  (Miase  Littlejohn,  of  Redwood  City,  (!alifon\ia, 
dated  August  8,  1803,  says:  "I  took  a  pair  of  Swifts  in  town,  birds  I  had 
never  seen  here  until  last  fall,  and  from  their  very  strong,  smoky  odor,  there 
can  be  little  doubt  that  they  were  living  in  some  diimney,  something  they  are 
not  known  to  do."  Mr.  Littlejohn  has  since  then  sent  me  one  of  the  .skins  for 
examination,  which  proved  to  b«;  Vaux's  Swift,  as  he  surmised,  and  it  is  |)ossible 
that  this  species  is  just  beginning  to  resort  to  cliiinneys  for  nesting  ]»urposes. 

Dr.  ('.  T.  (!ooke  writes  me  from  Salem,  Oregon,  that  on  May  •-*!»,  1891,  he 
discovered  one  of  their  ro<»sting  and  prol)altly  also  breeding  trees  in  the  Wil- 
lamette Valh^v — a  large,  inaccessible,  dead,  and  hollow  cottonwood,  >vlii<di  also 
contained  a  Wood-duck's  nest  lower  (h)wn,  but  likewise  inaccessible.  The  oidy 
eggs  of  Vaux's  Swift  I  have  seen  were  taken  in  .fune,  1874,  near  Santa  Cruz, 


'  The  Auk,  Vol.  V,  ISHS,  iiji.  L'.">«>,  1!.")7. 
■'The  Auk,  Vol.  111.  188C,  pp.  165, 166. 


VAUX'8  SWIFT. 


185 


( 'iilifVtriiia.  Tlio  U(«t  is  doHcrihiMl  tin  coiiiiMmod  of  «nmll  twifTH,  jrhu'd  tt»j>ctli»'r 
witli  tli«  Hiiliva  of  tlu!  hinl,  and  fanioiu'd  to  tlio  milo  (tf  a  Imriicd-oiit  and  luillow 
sy«"anior«  treo.  It  waH  not  linud,  and  nvidi-ntly  wan  «|iiitt'  Hiinilar  to  tlio  nost  of 
tlic  Cliininny  Swift.  I  have  nover  hhimi  jv  i*|H'('inK'n,  and  tlicrefon-  can  not  jfiv«< 
MU'aHurcniiuitH.  From  threu  to  five  effffH  arc  dcponitcd  to  a  sot,  and  oidy  one 
lirood  apjicars  to  Itc  rained  in  a  Huanon.  'rim  cfr<,'H  r«s«Mid)U^  tlioHc  of  the  Cliiin- 
ncv  Swifts  hotii  in  sliapo  and  color,  init  tliey  are  consideraltly  sinailer. 

The  only  specimens  in  the  I'nited  States  National  Mnscnm  collection 
measnro  1H.29  l»y  I'J.I!!,  17.7«  by  12,70,  and  Mluihy  12.4")  millimetres,  or  0.72 
hy  0.48,  0.70  by  0.50,  and  0.<)!»  by  0.4!t  inch,  respectively. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  210or)  (I'l.  1,  Fij.''.  2(1,  a  sinjile  efry),  was  taken  near 
Santa  ("rnz,  (California,  in  .hnie,  1K74,  and  presented  to  the  collection  by  iJr. 
tJaines  C.  Merrill,  United  StateH  Army. 

65.     Atironautes  melanoleucus  (Haiku). 

WHITK-TIIKOATEU  SWIFT. 

CypHeluH    melanoleucm    liAiBO,    ProcecdiiiKs    Academy   Natural    ycitMU'cs,    I'liila.  .June, 

lH.-»4,   118. 
A'nonauUii  meluuokucuii  IIartekt,  CataloKue  Hirds  in  Hritish  Museuiu,  XVI,  181)2,  4<j1>. 

(B  107,  0  2«»,  It  349,  0  40.1,  U  425.) 

OKoonAPiiiCAi.  ran(}K:  Mountain  rcjfions  of  tlic  wostcrn  United  States;  north  to 
Montanii;  east  to  western  Soatli  Dakota  (lUaek  Hills),  west4'ra  Nebraska,  and  Colonido; 
south  throuKh  Arizona,  New  Me.xico,  western  Texas,  and  I^ower  Calironiiii  tu  (iinttenntla, 
(.'entral  America. 

The  raiiffe  of  the  Whito-tliroated  or  "Rock"  Swift  does  not  appear  to  extend 
nearly  as  far  north  in  the  monntains  of  the  I'acitic  Coast  districts  as  it  does  in 
the  Kocky  Monntain  re<,'ion,  where  it  is  <ren«'rally  distribnted,  thron}>hout  snit- 
ablt^  localities,  from  s.tnthern  Arizona  and  New  Mexico  northward  thronjih  (Colo- 
rado and  Wyomiiiff  to  Montana,  which,  as  far  as  known,  marks  the  northern  limits 
of  its  range,  lien;  Mr.  \l.  S.  Williams  fonnd  this  species  bree<lin<i'  in  small 
nnmbers  in  holes  in  a  limestone  difl"  on  Melt  iiiver,  alumt  tla^  middle  of  tJnly, 
ISSl.  lie  says:  "A  small  openinff  in  the  rock,  which  a  bird  of  this  species  was 
seen  t<;  enter  and  rea])pear  from  several  times,  I  ap)»roached  nearcnongh  to  hear 
a  vijrorous  twitterin<>;  at  each  visit  of  the  parent  bird,  from  which  I  presume  the 
younff  were  well  advanced."' 

On  the  Pacific  coast  in  (California  I  have  not  l)een  aide  to  trace  it  north  of 
Alameda,  ( "ontra  (Costa,  and  Mariposa  counties,  in  about  latitude  iJS",  and 
somewhat  farther  north  in  Nevada,  where  Mr.  Robert  Hid<rway  fomnl  this 
'jiecies  extremely  numerous  in  the  Ruby  Mountains,  about  the  hi;ih  limestone 
dirts,  as  well  as  in  the  Kast  Ilumlxddt  ranjie,  in  about  latitude  40^,  and  le.ss 
ai)undantly  in  the  Wasatch  Mountains  in  Utah.  1  have  been  unable  to  find  a 
siufile  record  of  its  cajjfure  in  either  Oregon  or  Washington,  and  this  is  the  more 

'  Uiillotin  of  the  Nuttall  Ornithological  Club,  vol.  7,  1S82,  p.  U>3. 


ft-, 

M 

■I 

■;    * 

• 

ii 


1- 


H* 


186 


LIFK  III8TOUIK8  OF  NOKTH  AMKHICAN  HIIM>«. 


^^mw 


fltrani^o  wn  theue  HtatoH  iilNtiiiul  in  Huifiil>)o  rlitlk,  anil  tlu'  Wliitc-tliroatt'il  Swift 
appcai-H  to  Ite  the  lianlieHt  iiioniber  <>('  tliiM  t'auiily  totiii)!  in  tliu  IJiiitotI  Htatfs  and 
wintvi'M  to  Hoino  cxtont  within  our  lutnltTH.  Tlirouirliout  tiiu  inoru  northern  |»or- 
tionH  ot'  itH  ran^ri*  it  iH  only  a  Htunnu'r  virtitor,  i)ut  in  Hontlit'rn  (Jalit'ornia  and 
Arisiona  it  is  t'onnd  throu;rhont  the  year.     Mr.  K.  St('|ili<'im  writoH  nic: 

"'I'lio  White-throated  Swift  in  a  ratiier  eonnnon  resident  in  sontliern  (!)iU- 
fornia.  In  winter  it  is  soniewliat  less  conniioii,  and  disappears  in  stormy 
weather.  In  th(<  Colorado  Desert,  however,  it  is  usnally  eoinnion  all  winter.  It 
breeds  in  small  colonies  in  elitl's,  nsnally  in  the  lower  parts  of  the  mountainH, 
durinjr  May  and  .Fnne.  On  March  •_*H>,  IS'.tO,  at  Horegfas  Sjirinj,',  on  the  border 
»if  the  (!olorado  l>esert,  I  saw  stncral  White-throated  Swifts  flyinjf  in  and  out  «d' 
(•r«'vices  of  a  santlstone  cliH".  I  succeeded  in  clind»in}f  to  on«*  of  these  «'revicps, 
and  chopiM'd  away  u  part  of  the  soft  sandstone  or  indnrattMl  clay  and  found  two 
liirds,  evidently  a  pair,  in  tin*  extreme  hack  end  of  a  narrow  crevico.  They 
were  sittinji  on  a  small  hunch  of  short  twijijs  and  weed  stems,  ;flued  to};«'ther 
into  a  nearly  solid  mass,  evi<lently  an  old  nest.  The  female,  on  dis.section, 
proved  to  be  not  nearly  ready  for  layinfr,  as  the  ovaries  were  in  the  normal 
winter  condition." 

There  ar(^  nmneroiis  records  of  the  occurreiu-e  of  the  White-throated  Swift 
in  Arizona,  New  Mexico,  and  Colorado.  I  have  seen  hundreds  of  these  birds 
near  Tut-son,  Arizona,  some  throujihout  nearly  every  month  in  the  year,  and 
they  evidently  breed  in  the  vicinity,  in  the  numerous  clilVs  in  the  Catalina  and 
Uiiicon  mountains.  Mr.  W.  (S.  Smith  and  Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony  uwt  witli  it  in 
CoKira(h>,  where  it  was  (|uite  coimnon  in  suitable  localities,  'i'he  latter  writes 
me:  "A  few  nest  in  the  hi<rh  dirts  above  Silverton,  Cohirado,  with  ('i/iisrliiidrs 
tiiffir.  A  female  was  shot  by  Mr.  V.  M.  Drew  on  dune  2(t,  at  an  elevation  of 
about  13,000  feet,  and  upon  skinniii};-  her  an  ejjff  was  found  ready  for  extrusion, 
but  it  was  unfortunately  broken.  A  Hock  of  these  Swifts  weic  apparently  tryinj^ 
to  winter  at  llatchita,  New  Mexico,  as  1  saw  them  «'onstantly  as  late  as  Decem- 
ber 15.  At  San  Diejfo,  California,  they  winter  in  abumlance,  and  are  fre(iuently 
seen  feeding  along  the  beach  north  of  I'oint  Loma.  A  cidony  was  also  found 
by  me  nesting  on  ('oronado  Island  on  May  20,  but  the  nests  wen*  inaccessible; 
they  were  jjlacetl  behind  loose  slabs  of  rock  that  had  become  partly  detached 
from  the  face  of  the  cliff,  and  from  20  to  30  feet  above  the  water  level.  At 
(Inadalupe  Island  this  Swift  was  very  abundant;  tin*  ragged,  jirecipitons  sides 
of  tlu*  i.sland,  composed  of  lava  and  perforated  with  thousands  of  holes  and 
crevices,  furnish  an  abundance  of  nesting  sites,  and  it  is  (piite  proljable  that  this 
s])ecies  is  resident  there  throughout  the  year.  At  tin-  time  of  my  visit,  in  May, 
I  found  White-throated  Swifts  everywhere,  from  the  top  of  the  island,  at  4,000 
feet  elevation,  to  the  beach,  and  birds  were  ('onstantly  seen  to  enter  holes  in  the 
crags;  but  in  every  case  the  ne.sts  were  as  inaccessible  as  it  is  possible  for  a  nest 
to  be.  t)n  May  18  a  Swift  was  seen  to  enter  a  hole  in  the  face  of  a  bluff,  within  8 
feet  of  its  base;  even  this  proved  to  be  as  safe  as  any  of  the  rest,  as  the  nest  was 
found  to  be  out  of  sight  and  several  feet  back,  in  a  narrow  crack  in  the  lava.    I 


TIIK  WlHTKTIIHOATKl)  HWIFT. 


187 


also  (uiiiiil  it  iicHtiiifr  at  San  K<'niaii<lo,  Lower  ( 'alit'oriiia,  iioarly  at  Hca  level, 
untl  on  top  of  San  I'edro  Martir,  at  l(l,0(H»  feet  elevation,  in  May." 

MuMHrt*.  Vernon  liailey  and  J.  A.  Ijorin^f,  while  eolleetin^  for  the  I'liited 
States  |)(>|)artinent  of  A^rrieulture,  met  with  the  \Vhite-throat«'i|  Swift  in  the 
Wind  Hiver  and  Sweet  Water  nionntains,  Wyoming,',  dnrinj;  Aujrnst  am!  Sep- 
teniher,  '.6\)3,  and  Mr.  •!.  It.  White  has  taken  it  at  Harrison,  Neltraska,  whieh 
marks  the  eastern  limits  of  its  known  ran^fe. 

Its  jrciieral  haltits,  food,  et<'.,  <lo  not  uitler  much  from  those  of  the  other 
memliersof  this  family  fonnd  within  the  Tnitetl  States,  and,  like  them,  it  nsiinlly 
tlies  hiH:h  din'in};  ch'ar,  sunny  weather,  while  on  elondy  days,  as  well  as  in  the 
early  mornin;;s  and  a;;ain  aixmt  sun<lown,  it  hinits  lower  down,  and  is  then 
more  reailily  obtained.  in  its  mutle  of  niditieation  it  differs  from  Itoth  the 
Chimney  and  Vau.\'s  Swift,  while  the  Hlaek  Swift  prohaidy  nests  in  a  similar 
manner.  Mr.  F.  Stephens's  des<-rii»tion  of  its  n«'stin(r  hal)its  are  fully  eon- 
firmed  l»y  more  reeent  ol)servations  made  l»y  Mr.  W.  it.  .ludson  in  Kos  An^jeles 
County,  California,  who  found  a  nest  of  this  species  during:  the  sunnner  of 
IK!I4.  lie  writes  me:  "It  was  situated  ahout  80  feet  from  the  top  of  a  lar<jfo 
cliff  and  about  12')  feet  from  the  {froinid,  in  a  cave  about  7  feet  hi^ili,  10  feot 
wide,  and  extendiuff  some  7  fe«)t  in  the  face  of  the  cliff.  '1  he  nest  wsis  placed 
in  a  small  hide  in  the  roof  of  the  cave,  almost  too  small  to  ^:et  my  hand  in 
without  enlar;>°in^'  it,  and  extended  about  a  foot  up  in  the  rock,  and  then  there 
was  a  small  cleft  in  which  it  was  |)laced.  It  was  .so  firmly  ^Ined  to  the  rock 
that  it  could  not  be  pulled  off  without  tearin<j  it  to  pieces.  The  materials  of 
which  it  was  constrin-ted  felt  soft  and  sponjjy;  there  were  apparently  no  stickH 
or  twifi's  in  it,  and  it  was  lined  with  a  few  feathers."  White-throated  Swifts 
were  seen  to  enter  this  cave  in  May.  but  Mr.  .ludson  did  not  visit  the  locality 
a<>'ain  tnitil  late  in  sunnner,  by  which  time  the  birds  had  reared  their  youn<>- 
and  left  the  vicinity. 

Since  the  above  was  written,  Mr.  .ludson  has  kindly  obtained  this  nest  for 
me,  and  1  am  able,  therefore,  to  {(ive  a  fuller  description,  as  well  as  measurements 
of  it.  Kvidently  it  has  been  in  use  duriufj  more  than  one  season,  as  the  ve<ro- 
table  matter  composiuff  the  base  of  the  nest  is  ipiite  disintegrated;  while  a 
number  of  jjood-sized  feather.s,  includiii<i'  some  of  the  California  and  Turkey 
Vulture,  Ked-shafted  Flicker,  anil  other  species,  which  are  mixed  throujihout 
the  walls  of  the  structure,  are  in  a  somewhat  better  state  of  ])reservation.  It 
measures  ^  inches  in  outer  diamettu'  by  2  inches  in  depth.  The  inner  cuji  is 
shallow  and  ajjpears  not  to  have  been  over  three-fourths  of  an  inch  deep. 
.Mixed  throughout  the  nestinjj  material  an^  small  pieces  of  the  winy-  coverts  of 
beetles.  The  skeleton  of  a  youiiji'  Swift  was  also  found  in  the  nest.  The 
inner  linin|.f  consists  of  tine  bark  fiber  and  a  few  feathers,  and  apparently  no 
twijrs  enter  into  its  composition;  the  shafts  of  the  feathers  used,  evidently  took 
tlu>  jdaee  of  the  ordinary  small  twij^s  and  weed  stems.  I'he  call  notes  of  this 
sjjecies  are  rather  louder  and  shriller  than  those  of  the  Chinnu^y  Swift,  but 
otherwise  resenvble  the  ruttliujr  twitter  of  the  latter.     In  speaking  of  theii-  song 


■I '  I. 


11 
i1 


.•■f: 


:J 


?;.) 


188 


LIFH  UI8TOUIKS  OF  NORTH  AMKKIOAN  IUHD8. 


.i-' 


Dr.  Fisher  says:  "Tlio  mules  uttered  at  short  iiit(M'vals  a  series  of  notes 
whieh,  when  a  imniber  joined  in  tlie  j)ertornianee,  pnuUieed  a  not  unpleasant 
impression." 

'I'he  e<fjjs  of  this  species  still  remain  amou}''  the  special  desiderata  in 
oJllojfical  ctdlec  Hons.  I  have  never  sei-n  any,  and  thi^re  are  none*  in  fiie  United 
States  National  Museum.  Mr.  Walter  Iv  Urvant  <jives  the  following  description 
of  them:  ".More  tiian  a  dozen  years  a^o  an  imjx'rfect  set  of  live  fresii,  unblown 
♦'f-j^s  of  the  Whitt'-throated  Swift  were  presented  to  me  by  a  younjr  man  in 
CJoiitia  '  "osta  ("oiuity,  Calilornia.  'I'liey  \\vi\-  taken  from  a  nest  in  a  crevice 
in  the  liaciv  of  a  tunnel-shaped  cave  in  the  side  of  a  clitf,  alxmt  20  feet  above 
the  base,  lu  cidor  tlie  ejif^s  are  |)ure  white,  narrowly  elli|)tical  in  form,  but 
rather  smaller  at  one  end.  They  measured  OS?  l>y  ().."i;},  ().8S  by  O.o.'J,  O.SS  by 
(»..■)•_>,  and  O.Sd  by  (!..->()  inch  (or  -ilMO  by  l.l-K;,  2l'.3.")  by  13.4(;,  2±;{.")  l)y  UV_»1, 
and  21.84  by  12.70  millimetres);  the  fifth  was  too  mncli  dama<ied  to  measure 
accuiately.     Tin'  e<f^s  were  collected  on  .hine  <!,  lS7(i."' 

K'om  four  to  five  ef;};s  appear  to  be  laid  to  a  set,  and  probably  oidy  a 
siny^lo  brood  is  reared  in  a  season. 


Family  THOCUILID.K.     lluMMix.iitiRDs. 


^■•nill. 


66.     Eugenes  fulgens  (Swain.son). 

lilVUI.I    IirMMINOIUIil). 

Trochihtn/itlpenn  SWAINSON.  Philosophical  Mii^jn/.inc.  ISL'7.  Itl. 

KnijeniH  falifi'HH  (iouLU,  Moiio<;ra|>h  of  tlic  Trochiiidii',  Part  XII.  l.S.Vi,  PI.  7,  iind  Vol.  II, 

is(!:.  PI.  .-.<►. 

(H  — ,  C  1.'74  his,  U  att,  0  I.  i,  V  i'H\.) 

(iKO(!RAi»iiiCAL  RANGK:  Monntiiins  of  soiilhoasti>rii  Ari/.ouiV,  .soathwestorn  New 
.Mexico,  iiiiil  over  the  tiiltli'-lantls  of  Mexico;  south  to  Nlciir:i};iia,  Ci'iitriil  America. 

'['he  Kivoli  ihnnmin}il)ird,  also  known  as  " Ivefuljicnt  llunmiin;j;l)ir(l,"  one 
of  the  iarji'est  as  well  as  one  of  tlie  handsomest  iiiend»ers  of  tiiis  family  found 
witiiin  tlie  limits  of  the  riiiteii  States,  is  a  iiiod(>rately  common  summer  resi- 
dent ill  suitaliie  localities,  liiit  has  as  yet  lieen  oiitained  only  in  the  mountains 
near  the  Mexican  Itorder,  in  southea.stern  Arizona,  and  in  the  extreme  south- 
western comer  of  New  Mexico,  in  the  San  Liiis  raiio'e.  it  was  tirst  addi-d  to 
our  fauna  b\-  Mr.  II.  W.  lienshaw,  who  took  a  sinjile  s]»ecimeii  in  the  vicinity  of 
Camp  (»r;iiit,  .\rizona,  on  September  2t,  ISTJi;  lie  also  met  with  others  in  tlm 
following'  year.  Since  then  it  has  lieeii  ascertained  to  be  a  summer  resident 
tliroiiohout  all  the  higher  pine-clad  mountains  in  soiitiieasti'm  .\ri/,oua.  Mr.  F. 
Stephens  met  witli  it  in  tiie  Santa  Hita  and  Santa  Cataliiia  iiimuitain.s.  Dr.  A.  K. 
Fisher,  Messrs.  F.  II.  Fowler,  W.  \V.  I'rice,  and  others  took  specimens  in  the 
('hirieahua  and  lluachuca  raiii.;ts,  wliile  Dr.  Ivl^jar  \.  .Meariis  obtained  it  in  the 


'Tliu  NiiliuloKUt,  Vi>l.  II,  Sipt.  IS!P1,  pp.  7,  s. 


THE  BIVOLI  IIUMMINOHIUl). 


189 


Snn  Luis  Mountains,  N(fw  M(<xic<>.  I  holiovo  Mr.  Ilonshaw's  ivronl  from  near 
Ktirt  Grant  still  nMnains  tlu'  most  northern  ono,  and  it  is  not  likt-ly  that  it  will 
ho  found  nuicli  beyond  latitude  l\3".  Its  ranfjo  seems  to  ho  restricted  to  the 
mountain  rej^ions  hetweeu  altitudes  of  from  5,00l>  to  10,000  feet,  and  it  hroods 
throufrhout  its  siunmej"  ranjje  in  tiuf  United  States. 

l>r.  A.  K.  Kislier  has  kindly  furnii*hed  me  with  the  followiu}^  notes  on  this 
handsome  llummin<rl)inl: 

"The  Kivoli  Hummer  was  not  met  witli  by  us  in  the  Chirieahua  Mountains 
until  we  made  camp  in  the  upper  part  of  liuckers  Cany(»n,  amon<f  tiie  yellow 
pines  (/Vwfw  imtiilrrosti).  On  tiio  morning  of  ,Iune  ft,  18!t4,  an  adult  male 
dashed  throujih  the  eam]>,  paused  a  moment  over  a  flower  spike  of  a  scarlet 
I'fiil^tcmoH,  and  then  disappeareil  up  the  canyon  as  rapitUy  as  it  had  come.  No 
more  wi're  seen  until  we  reached  tlie  hijih  mountains  at  Fly  Park.  On  the 
eveniujj:  of  dune  7,  Mr.  Fred.  II.  Fowler  killed  an  adult  male,  and  on  the  fol- 
lowing- day  the  writer  secured  a  femah*  and  two  males,  and  suhse(|uently  others 
were  taken.  They  wi-re  usually  found  in  the  more  oi)en  parts  (sf  the  forest 
where  tin*  had  killed  a  portion  of  the  everjcreens,  and  a  deciduous  iniderjjrowtii 
of  aspens  and  shruhs  thrived  al)out  the  cool  spriuf^s  and  little  rivulets.  A 
horeal  honeysuckle  (hiiiicrnt  iiirolHcnitii)  was  ahundant  and  just  comin;^  into 
hloom.  All  the  Hummers  in  the  xii'inity,  the  Rivoli  Iluuuner  amou}'-  them, 
deli}>lited  to  ;;lean  from  the  flowers  and  to  sit  half  concealed  ainoufj;'  the  larjie 
leaves  of  this  shruh.  If  the  larjre  llunnner  was  startled  from  one  of  the  clumps, 
it  would  Hy  to  the  lower  hranches  of  a  nei<fhhorin};'  evergreen  and  settle  on  a 
dead  twijf  and  remain  motioidess.  They  wore  not  very  shy  and  could  he 
approached  within  20  feet. 

"  It  is  the  opinion  of  the  writer  that  all  tlii'  birds  seen  were  mifjrants,  for 
after  the  lirst  few  days  the  species  became  <piite  rare,  and  durinf"-  the  three  or 
four  days  sub.secpu'ut  to  dune  If)  none  were  seen.  Miu'eover,  the  testes  of  all 
the  niides  secured  were  still  undeveloped.  It  is  proliable  tliiit  they  spent  a  few 
days  after  their  miji'ration  in  feedinj'',  and  then  separated  and  n'tired  to  the  more 
secluded  forest  to  hunt  nj)  nesting  jtlaces.     No  note  was  heanl." 

They  are  said  to  he  es|>ecially  fond  of  hovering  about  the  idos.somsof  the 
mescal  (Aifarr  aiiirricdini);  these  are  generally  iidV'sted  by  numerous  small  in.xei-ts, 
on  which  they  feed,  and,  like  all  our  IlumMiiiigbirds,  they  are  exceedingly  greedy 
and  quarrelsome,  chasing  each  other  constantly  from  one  (lower  stalk  to  anotlu'r. 

Com|)arativi'ly  little  is  still  known  alKiut  the  breeding  habits  of  this  species. 
Mr.  O.  ('.  I'oling  published  an  account  of  its  supposed  nest  and  I'ggs  in  "The 
Auk"  (Vol.  VII,  18!l(),  pp.  402  and  KKJ),  but  the  measurements  of  tlu!  latter, 
as  given  by  him,  show  clearly  that  they  can  not  belong  to  this  bird,  and  are 
nmch  more*  likely  to  be  those  of  one  of  the  smaller  Hummers  bleeding  in  the 
same  locality.  Tim  Hivoli  Hnnnner  is  fully  as  large  as  the  succeeding  species, 
whose  eggs  are  known,  and  these  aic  consiilerably  larger  than  the  measurements 
given  by  Mr.  Poling,  and  there  are  ab.solutely  identified  eggs  of  the  b'nliy- 
throated  Hummingbird  now  in  the  United  States  National  Museum  collection 


H- 


;,! 


w 


•■i 


I  (I 


.1 


i 


i«: 


•'HMIII 


190 


LIFE  HI8TOK1ES  OF  NORTH  AMBKICAN  BIRDS. 


whicli  aro  ljir<^er  than  the  supposed  eggs  of  tliis  species.  The  great  diflference 
in  tlie  siz»(  of  these  two  birds  proves  coiichisively  that  tliere  must  he  a  mistake 
eitlier  in  identitication  or  in  tlie  measurements  of  the  eggs  as  described  by  l>im. 

I  am  indel)ted  to  Mr.  W.  W.  Price  for  a  couple  of  nests  of  this  species  and 
a  broken  v>i'f<;,  which,  however,  is  so  badly  crushed  that  it  is  impossible  to 
restore  it  and  give  accurate  measurements,  lioth  of  these  nests  were  taken  in 
the  lluachuca  Mountains,  in  soutiiern  Arizonii.  The  best  ])re.served  one  »»f  the 
two  measures  ■2\  inches  in  outer  diameter  by  2  inches  in  depth;  its  inner  diam- 
eter is  \fj  by  1  \  inches  in  depth.  It  is  composed  of  soft,  silky  plant  fibers,  and 
is  thickly  coated  exteriorly  with  small  pieces  of  lichen,  and  lined  with  fine 
down  and  one  or  two  soft.  Huffy  feathers,  apparently  those  of  a  species  of  Tit- 
mouse. It  lesembles  the  nest  of  the  Ruby-throated  Hummingbird  very  closely 
in  its  general  make  up,  but  is  naturally  c(uisiderably  larger.  It  was  found  by 
Mr.  L.  Miller  on  .lune  22,  1H!I4,  at  an  elevation  of  about  7,000  feet,  saddled  on 
a  walnut  branch  about  10  feet  from  the  ground,  and  ctmtained  «)ne  young  nearly 
able  to  Hy.  The  other,  which  is  not  cpiite  so  well  preserved,  was  found  by  Mr. 
Price  in  the  same  mountains  on  June  4,  18!>3,  placed  on  a  slender  branch  of  a 
maple  over  running  water,  in  a  deep,  narrow  canyon,  at  about  (!,0()0  feet  eleva- 
tion. The  male  was  seen  a  .short  distance  away  from  the  nest;  the  female  hovered 
about  while  the  i)ranch  was  being  cut  off,  and  was  secured.  The  single  fresii 
egg  tile  nest  contained  was  accidentally  broken. 

Mr.  Price  urites  me:  "  Kiif/cui's  fiilf/ciis  is  found  all  through  the  pine  regions 
of  southern  Arizona.  It  was  not  rare  in  the  lluachuca  and  Uiiiricahua  moun- 
tains, but  I  have  never  seen  it  below  6,500  feet  elevation,  and  I  have  found 
it  above  :i,r»()0  feet.  During  the  flowering  season  it  feeds  extensively  in  the 
flowers  of  the  Ai/drc  pitififl  in  the  lluachuca  Mountains.  In  the  Chiricahuas  I 
have  foiinil  it  early  in  the  mornings  in  open  gla<les,  feeding  on  tlu'  flowers  of  an 
iris.  It  delights  in  open  woods  more  than  in  damp  ones,  as  is  the  habit  of  the 
Blue-thi'oat,  (yivlif/ciia  rlciiii'ucirc." 

There  are  no  eggs  of  the  Itivoli  Hunnningbird  in  the  Unites  States  National 
Museum  collection. 


67.     Cceligena  clemenciae  Lks.son 

BLUE-THROATED  HUMMINGBIKI). 

Ornisiima  rlemniciw  Lesson,  Oi.seaux  Mouclies,  1820,  21(5,  PI.  80. 

Vtiliginid  clrmiiiciw  LESSON,  Index  (leneral  et  8ynopti(|ue  des  Oisoaux  du  Genre  Trocliilus, 
1832, 1).  XVllL 

(B  — ,  C  — ,  R  — ,  C  — ,  U  427.) 

rrKOORAPnicAL  RANGE:  Mountains  of  southeiistern  Arizona,  southwestern  Xew 
Mexico,  and  tlio  tablelands  of  Mexico;  south  to  Guerrero  and  Oaxaca. 

Tlu^  geograi)hical  range  of  the  lilue-throated  Hummingbird,  also  sometimes 
called  "  |{lu(^-throa1ed  Casi(pie,"  a  slightly  larger  species  than  the  preceding,  is 
very  similar,  and,  like  the  llivoli  llununer,  it  is  only  a  sununer  resident  in  the 


THK  BLUETHKOATED  IIUMMINGBIKD. 


191 


llnitod  States,  and  breeds  wherever  found.  As  far  as  known  it  arrives  within 
our  borders  early  in  jMay,  and  returns  south  a|rain  about  the  l)e<?innin{r  of 
October.  This  larf^e  and  rather  (hiU-coUired  Ilunniier  was  tirst  added  to  our 
fauna  by  Mr.  F.  Stephens,  who  secured  an  adult  male  in  the  Santa  C'atalina 
Mountains  on  May  14,  18H4.  Since  then  it  has  been  taken  by  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson 
in  the  Santa  Hita  Mountains;  by  Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher,  Messrs.  W.  W.  Price,  F.  II. 
Fowler,  and  others,  in  both  the  Chiricahua  and  lluachuca  nu>untains,  in  south- 
eastern Arizona,  and  by  Dr.  Fdj^ar  A.  Mearns,  United  States  Army,  in  the  San 
Luis  Mountains,  in  southwestern  New  Mexico.  Like  the  precedinjif,  it  is  a 
niountain-lovin<j  species,  fre«iuentinfr  similar  re<|^ions;  and,  jud<i:inj>'  from  the 
number  of  specimens  that  have  been  taken  within  our  borders,  it  appears  to  be 
more  common  than  the  Hivoli  ihnnmer. 

Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher  has  kindly  furiiish<;d  me  with  the  followitifj  notes: 

"Tlie  Hlue-throated  llummin<rbird  was  coimnon  in  the  hi<>her  Chiricahua 
Mountains,  wiicre  it  was  observed  at  Fly  Park  duriufi'  the  early  part  of  .June, 
1  S!(4.  Like  the  liivoli  Hummer,  it  was  very  partial  to  th(^  tlowers  of  the  shrubby 
honeysuckle  (Lonicera  fiivohicmhi),  amonj'-  which  six  were  secured  June  H  and 
three  on  June  10.  It  is  probable  tlie  flowers  attract  larj^e  numbers  of  insecti*, 
wliicli  in  tiieir  turn  attract  the  birds,  for  the  {^nUets  of  the  Ilununers  secured 
were  filled  with  them.  On  several  occasions  the  male  was  heard  to  utter  a  simple 
little  souj:>',  consistin<i^  of  three  or  four  syllables,  which  were  repeated  at  short 
intervals.  While  deliverin<r  this  souf;-  the  bird  sat  upri<;ht,  with  head  more  or 
less  thrown  l)ack.  No  si^ns  of  mating  were  observed,  and  the  ^('nitalia  of  the 
s})ecimens  secured  were  luideveloped.  From  .Tune  10  to  June  If)  the  species 
became  yriidually  rarer,  and  it  is  proltalile  they  had  dispersed  am()n<if  the  wilder 
parts  of  tlie  mountains,  prepiU'atory  to  nesting?." 

1  am  also  indebtetl  to  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  for  the  little  we  know  relatin<jto  the 
nestin<r  habits  of  the  Blue-throated  IIummin<>bird.     He  writes  me  as  follows: 

^' Ciiiif/rtia  clcmciiciic  is  a  sparin<>ly  distributed  sunniu'r  resident  of  all  thr 
mountain  re<>ions  of  .south  central  Mexico,  between  7,r»()()  and  12,()()()  feet.  They 
are  rather  quiet  birds,  often  found  [)erched  on  the  tips  of  lar<;e  maj^uey  leaves 
In  the  forests  of  pines  of  the  hif^her  slopes  they  are  not  often  seen  excejtt  as 
they  dash  by  amonj;-  the  trees.  On  the  !lth  of  Sei)tember,  1H!(3,  a  nest  contain- 
in}>'  two  egfjs  was  found  at  an  altitude  of  11,000  feet  on  the  north  slope  of  the 
volcano  of  Toluca,  in  the  State  of  Mexico.  At  this  time  the  nights  had  already 
become  quite  frosty  here.  The  nest  was  i)uilt  in  the  fork  of  a  small  shrub, 
•i'rowinji-  out  of  tlio  face  of  a  clili'  .about  IM)  feet  alxne  its  base,  on  tiie  side  of 
a  canyon,  in  the  pine  and  fir  forest.  The  nest  was  discovered  by  seein<r  the 
])arent  apja-oach  its  vicinity.  She  flew  (piietly  close  up  to  the  nest,  and  then, 
turninji' so  that  she  faced  out  from  the  cliff  and  away  from  the  nest,  siie  moved 
backward  several  inches  and  settled  lightly  on  the  eggs.  She  was  easily 
alarmed,  darting  away  through  the  forest,  and  was  not  seen  again.  The  nest 
was  nearly  inaccessible,  and  one  aix'^  was  thrown  out  and  broken  in  securing  it." 

This  nest,  No.  2(i.'{,'{2,  Fnited  States  National  ^luseum  collection,  now  before 
me,  is  a  handsome  and  rather  bulky  structure,  which  is  apparently  composed 


1  ^i! 


'f 


192 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NOKTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


entirely  of  fine  mosses,  the  whole  evenly  quilted  tojiether  into  a  smooth,  homo- 
geneous mass,  and  bound  firmly  tofj^ether  with  silk  from  cocoons  and  s])ider8' 
webs.  It  is  saddled  in  a  tripronjifed  fork  of  a  small  twig,  the  three  stems  being 
incorporated  in  the  walls  of  the  nest,  holding  it  firmly  in  position,  the  main  stem 
being  only  one-twelfth  of  an  inch  in  dinmeter.  It  measures  2;j  inches  in  outer 
diameter  by  3  inches  in  depth;  the  imier  cup  is  1^  inches  in  diameter  by  three- 
fourths  of  an  inch  deej).  The  walls  of  the  nest  are  three-fourths  of  an  inch 
thick,  and  the  inner  cup  appears  very  small  ft>r  the  large  size  of  the  nest.  It 
looks  like  a  warm  and  cozy  structure,  and  it  needs  to  be  so.  As  the  eggs  /ere 
only  slightly  incubated  when  found,  the  young  would  probably  have  hatched 
by  September  20,  and  would  scarcely  have  been  large  enoiigli  to  leave  the  nest 
before  Octolier  12,  by  which  time  one  might  rea.sonably  look  for  snowstorms  at 
such  an  altitude.  There  is  bi't  very  little  inner  lining,  not  enough  to  hide  tiie 
moss,  which  looks  to  me  like  tho  down  from  willow  catkins.  Two  eggs  are  laid 
to  a  sot,  and  probably  two  broods  are  raised  in  a  season. 

The  single  egg  before  me  is  elliptical  oval  in  shai)e,  dull  white  in  color. 
The  shell  is  close-grained  and  shows  no  luster.  It  measures  1(!.26  by  !).!»! 
millimetres,  or  0.64  l)y  U.3!)  inch.  As  there  is  but  a  trifling  difference  in  the  size 
of  most  of  our  Ilunnningbirds'  eggs,  and  apparently  none  in  their  slinpe  and 
color,  r  have,  therefore,  only  figured  the  egg  of  a  single  specie.s. 

The  type  s])ecimen.  No.  26332  (not  figured),  was  taken  by  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson 


c.i  e 


ja  . 


ptember  D,  18'J3,  as  already  described. 


68.     Trochilus  colubris  Linn.eus. 


HUBY-TUROATED  HUMMINfiBIKD. 

Trorhilu.1  coUtbris  LiNN^Et'S,  Sy.stema  Xatiini',  ed.  10,  I,  ITfiS,  120. 

(15101,  C  L'75,  U  .'Wo,  C  400,  U  428.) 

(iEoouAi'nicAi.  RANOE:  I'lasteni  Nortli  America;  north  in  the  more  southeni  paitM 
of  tlie  Doiiiiuion  <if  Canada  to  abont  latitude  52"^,  in  the  interior  in  the  Northwest  Territory 
to  about  latitude  .57^  and  probably  still  iivrtber;  we.st  in  the  United  States  to  eastein  North 
and  .South  I )aiiota,  eastern  Nebraska  and  Kansa.s,  the  Indian  Territcuy  ami  Texas;  south 
ill  winter  to  the  West  India  Islands  and  through  eastern  Mexico  to  Veragua,  Central 
America.     Casually  to  Labrador. 

'i'iie  Ruby-throated  or  Northern  Hummingbird,  the  sole  representative  of 
tiiis  family  in  eastern  North  America,  is  only  a  sunmier  visitor  in  the  Dominion 
of  Canada  and  througliout  the  greater  part  of  its  range  in  the  United  States,  except- 
ing the  soutliern  portions  of  tiie  Flttrida  peninsula,  where  it  winters  to  some 
t  -.tent.  Hy  far  the  greater  number  of  these  birds,  iiowever,  migrate  farther  south, 
sijcndinii'  the  winter  in  some  of  the  We.st  India  Islands,  while  others  pass 
tlin  stern   .Mexico  into  Central  America,  as  far  south  as  Veragua.     It 

usu  u'rives  along  our  soutlu'ini   border   in   the  latter  ))art  of  March,  and 

moves    leisurelv  northward,  rartsly   reaching  the   more  northern  States  before 
the  middle  of  May,  or  about  tiie  time  the  early  and  hardier  flowers  begin  to 


THE  KUBY  THROATKl)  HUMMINUUIUI). 

blossom,  and  it  usimlly  goos  soiitli  again  ahont  tlie  latter  j)art  of  ScptcnilM-r, 
tlui  males  |trece(liiig  the  t'emalt's,  I  believe,  in  both  migrations,  its  bi-ee<rmg 
range  is  c'oextensive  with  its  geographical  distribntion.  Along  the  .Vtlantie 
coast  it  has  been  met  with  by  Mr.  Lncieii  M.  'Pnrner  as  tar  north  as  Davis 
Inlet,  Labrutlor,  in  latitutle  [ih^  37',  but  this  may  have  been  only  a  casual 
stra^fgler,  as  few  birds  of  this  species  appear  to  breed  north  of  hititu<le  o'J". 
In  the  inte'. ''  r,  in  the  so-called  fur  countries,  it  reaches  farther  north,  however. 
Sir  John  Richardson  met  it  here  up  to  the  tifty-seventh  ])arallel,  which  appears 
to  be  the  northernmost  known  limits  of  its  range;  but  it  is  cpiite  possible  that 
it  reaches  still  higher  latitudes.  None  of  the  numerous  gentlemen  connected 
with  the  Hudson  liay  ("ompany,  interested  in  ornithological  investigations 
in  the  far  north,  appear  to  have  met  with  it  in  the  lower  Mackenzie  basin  or 
along  the  shores  of  Ureat  Slave  !.iake.  Westward  its  range  extends  well  into 
the  eastern  borders  of  the  CJreat  Plains;  it  is  a  fairly  common  sunnner  resident 
here  in  suital)le  localities,  in  eastern  Saskatchewan,  and  in  Manitoba,  as  well  as 
throughout  tlu;  eastern  parts  of  North  and  South  Dakota,  Nebraska,  Kansas, 
the  Indian  Territory,  and  about  the  eastern  half  of  To.xas.  In  many  parts  of 
Florida  it  seems  to  be  a  rather  rare  breeder,  but  north  of  this  State  it  is  mostly 
a  connnon  summer  resident. 

The  Ruby-throated  Ihnnmingbird  prefers  rather  open  and  cultivated  country, 
interspersed  here  and  there  with  mixed  or  deciduous  woods  overrim  with 
(lowering  masses  of  vines  and  creej)ers,  extensive  orchards,  etc.,  and  it  is  not  at 
all  adverse  to  taking  nj)  its  home  in  flower  gardens,  in  close  proximity  to  man. 
Its  flight  is  extremely  swift,  and  the  rapid  motions  of  its  wings  in  j)assing  back 
and  forth  from  one  cluster  of  flowers  to  another  causes  a  hunnnin"'  or  buzzinji- 
sound,  from  which  the  numerous  members  of  this  family  derive  their  name  of 
Ihnnmingbirds.  Notwithstanding  the  very  small  size  of  most  of  our  Hummers, 
they  are  all  extremely  j)ugnacious,  es]K'cially  the  males,  and  are  constantly  (|uar- 
rcling  and  chasing  each  other,  as  well  as  other  bii'ds,  some  of  which  are  many 
times  larger  than  themselves.  Mr.  Manly  Hardy  writes  me  that  he  once  saw  a 
male  Ixuby-throat  chasing  a  Robin  out  of  his  garden  and  following  it  up  until 
lost  to  sight. 

There  appears  to  bi'  considerable  difference  of  opinion  among  various 
observers  regarding  the  nature  of  their  foo<l,  .sonu^  contending  that  this  consists 
principally  of  nectar  sipped  !'  im  flowers,  as  well  as  the  swi-et  sap  of  certain 
trees,  to  which  tlu-y  hel])  themsehcs  at  the  drinking  i)laces  of  the  Yi^llow-bellied 
Sapsucker,  Siilii/r<ii)iti<s  rariiis,  while  others,  myself  includeil,  bi'lieve  that  they 
subsist  mainly  on  minuti^  insects  and  small  spiders,  tlie  latter  forming  quite  an 
iiii|iortant  article  of  food  with  them.  Mr.  Kdwin  II.  Kames,  of  Ihi  Igeport,  ( 'oii- 
necticnt,  mentions  finding  sixteen  young  spiders  of  iniiform  size  in  the  throat  of 
a  young  Ihnnmingbird  which  was  about  two  days  ohl.' 

■The  Auk,  Vol.  VII,  181)0,  pp.  286-288.  I  iiIbo  rul'iT  the  reixler  to  Mr.  Freili-rick  A.  Liir.is's  iiilin.st- 
iiiK  paper  in  tin-  siinio  periodicnl  (Vol.  X,  ISiK!,  ]ip.  311-.'nr)),  mikI  to  iinotlicr  liy  tlir  s:\mv  millior,  "On  the 
stnirtiirtMit' till*  toii^iK)  in  nnininiiigbinls,"  in  tin* '*  IVoci-udin^N  ut*  tlie  rnitiMl  staters  Natinii;il  MiiKtMini" 
(  \  111.  XIV,  ISiU,  jip.  l(>i)-1721,  all  of  wliiiU  lirur  mi  tliiH  »iili,ji'Ct,  liiit  want  of  spai  r  pievriils  mi'  lioin  i|iioting 
tlifin, 

ItWW— No.  3 13 


194 


LIFE  HiaTOHIES  OF  NORTH  AMEKICAN  HIBDS. 


,:'l 


"■'•< 


mil 


Tliat  our  Tluinininffhirds  live  to  «omo  extent  on  tlie  sap  of  certain  trees  is 
undoubtedly  true,  Imt  that  tlujv  couid  exist  for  any  len<rth  of  time  on  such  food 
alone  is  very  ([uestional)le,  to  say  th(^  least.  They  an?  particularly  fond  of  the  sap 
of  the  su<^ar  maple,  and  only  sli<^litly  less  so  of  that  of  ditlerent  species  of  oak, 
hirch,  poplar,  sycamore,  and  willow,  as  well  as  of  the  nectar  secreted  in  theilowers 
of  the  lilac,  honeysuckle,  jasmine,  l)e<,''onia,  horse  chestnut,  and  many  others 

Mr.  K.  A.  Mcllhenny  writes  me  from  Avery,  Louisiana:  "It  is  (juite  a  com- 
mon occurrence  here  for  the  Hul)y-tln'oated  Hummer  to  {^et  drunk  on  the  nectar 
of  the  flowers  of  the  cliinii  tree  {Mrlid  umldnich).  It  sometimes  indjibes  so 
much  of  the  nectar  that  it  i)fcoines  stupefied  and  falls  from  the  tree,  when  it 
can  be  readily  taken  in  the  hand,  and  oft'ers  no  resistance.  I  have  al.so  taken 
them  by  putting  a  little  brandy  and  honey  in  honeysu('kl(*  and  jasmine  blos.soms; 
they  rea<lily  take  this,  and  become  so  intoxicated  that  they  are  easily  caufrht." 

While  stationed  at  the  former  cavalry  depot  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  in 
1873-74,  I  occupied  a  set  of  quarters  that  wero  completely  overrun  witii  large 
trumpet  vines  (Ticoiiki  nnlicdiis),  an<l  when  theses  were  in  bloom  the  i)lace  fairly 
swarmed  with  l\ul)y-throats.  They  were  exceedingly  inquisitive,  and  often  jjoi.sed 
themselves  before  an  open  window  and  looked  in  my  rooms  full  of  curiosity, 
their  bright  little  eyes  sparkling  like  black  beads.  1  have  caught  several,  while 
busily  engaged  sipping  nectar  in  these  large,  showy  flowers,  by  simjdy  placing 
my  hand  over  them,  and  while  so  imprisoned  they  never  moved,  and  feignetl 
death,  but  as  soon  as  I  opened  my  hand  tiiey  were  oft'  like  a  flash.  They  seem  to 
be  especially  ])artial  to  anything  red. 

Mr.  ^lanly  Hardy  writes:  "I  was  oncecam])ing  (Hi  one  of  the  many  islands 
along  the  coast  of  Maine  di  ring  a  dense  fog,  which  hud  held  us  ])risoners  for 
several  days,  as  it  was  -■(.  thick  that  we  coidd  not  find  our  way.  We  had  been 
living  on  lobsters,  and  lots  )f  their  red  .shells  lay  near  the  fire  in  front  of  our 
tent,  when  suddeidy  a  llumnier  came  out  ol  the  fog  and  darted  down  at  the 
moving  from  one  to  another,  seeminglv  loath  to  leave  them." 


sue  I 


-Mr.  W.  N.  (.'lute,  of  Hinghamton,  New  York,  writes:  "The  swamp  thistle 
(^('irsiiiiii  Diiificiiiii),  which  blooms  in  August,  seems  to  have  great  attrai'tions  for 
the  Kuby-throated  Ilunnningbirds.  1  have  seen  more  than  a  hundred  birds 
about  these  plants  in  the  course  of  an  hour.  Since  it  has  been  .stated  that  the 
bee  gets  pollen  but  not  honey  from  the  t!  .stle,  it  would  appear  that  tlie.se  birds 
visit  these  flowers  foi-  insects.  There  is  scarcely  a  flower  that  contains  so  many 
minute  insects  as  a  thistle  head.  Examine  one  with  a  lens  and  it  will  be  tbund 
to  contain  many  insects  that  can  hardly  be  seen  with  the  unaided  eye,  and  if  the 
liuby-tln-oat  eats  insects  at  all,  these  are  the  ones  it  would  take;  and  because 
the  larger  tmes  remained  the  (»bserver  might  conclude  that  none  were  eaten. 
The  jewel  weed  {Iiiijiiiticitfi)  also  receives  nuudi  of  their  attention,  and  nowhere 
do  I  find  these  bii'ds  so  abundant  as  about  thes*'  two  flo\,ers." 

1  could  (piote  considei'able  more  testimony  showing  that  the  Hummingbirds 
live  to  a  great  extent  on  minute  spidt-rs  and  insects,  but  consider  it  unnecessary. 
Hummingbirds  are  readily  tamed  and  make  interesting  pet.s,  but  do  not  seem  to 


THK  RUBY-THROATKl)  UI^MMINGIUUD. 


195 


live  long  in  captivity.  Soiiiething  seems  to  Ito  lackiii;.'',  inoliahly  tiic  r(M|uirt'il 
quantity  ot"  insects  which  they  are  al)U)  ti>  ohtaiii  in  a  wihl  stat<',  and  sirup  alone 
does  not  appear  to  enable  them  to  survive  such  changed  cduditions  tor  any 
h'Ugth  of  time.  All  of  our  llununingbirds  are  very  fond  of  bathing,  and  I 
have  seen  one  fly  repeatedly  through  the  spray  of  a  fountain  in  one  of  the 
nunuirous  parks  in  Washington,  District  of  Cohnnbia. 

Mr.  Otto  Wi<lmaim,  of  Old  Orchard,  Missouri,  has  kindly  furnished  me 
with  the  following  notes  on  diis  species: 

"While  in  the  St.  Francis  region,  Mi.ssouri,  1  was  not  a  little  surprised  to 
meet,  on  the  forenoon  of  May  10,  a  great  nund)er  of  l{ul)y-throats  in  the  garb 
of  the  female,  but  with  beautiful  red  throats,  in  shape  e.xiictly  like  the  patch  of 
the  male,  i)ut  the  color  a  plain  solferhio,  without  any  metallic,  or  golden  hue.  At 
first  1  did  not  know  wliat  to  make  of  it,  until  1  found  out  that  the  pollen  of 
yEs(i(li(s  pariii,  the  rid  shrub  buckeye,  is  of  the  identical  ccdor  and  stains  the 
fingers  with  solferino  at  the  touch.  These  Ruby-throats  were  a  wandering  army 
of  femah's;  among  the  larg«!  number  of  birds  present  only  a  few  (one  or  two,  I 
think)  males  were  se(Mi,  and  tlu;y  were  prol)ably  sununer  sojor.rners  in  these 
woods.  Next  day  1  visite<l  the  same  forest  again  at  the  same  ':our,  liut  all  the 
female  Iluunners  were  gone. 

"The  first  Iluunners  appear  in  St.  Fiouis  County  .dxa.t  the  last  week  in 
Aia'il,  but  in  southeast  Missouri  (I'emiscot  County)  I  found  tiieiii  already  present 
on  April  11,  181)3.  Male  Hummers  do  not  become  n  iiierous  in  St.  Louis 
( 'Ounty  before  May  5,  and  females  about  May  1'2.  Fresh  eggs  are  to  be  looked 
for  about  the  1st  of  June.  Southward  migratitai  is  well  under  way  by  the 
middle  of  Septend)er,  when  Hummers  are  very  plentifid.  After  tlie  1st  of  Octo- 
ber they  are  leas  frcipiently  seen,  but  the  la.st  (uies  do  not  leave  us  before 
October  II  or  12.  Mijiration  in  this  species  has  uuudi  in  common  with  that  of 
the  Swift,  from  which  fact  1  conclude  that  their  insect  food  may  be  somewhat 
similar,  and  that  both  species  may  feed  on  nearly  related  insects.  A  peculiaritv 
of  the  Ivuby-tiu'oat,  which  1  have  only  onc(t  .seen  mentioned  in  print,  is  the  pendu- 
hun  play  of  tla^  male  llununer.  In  time  it  coincides  with  the  period  of  sexual 
excitement;  it  begins  here  about  May  12,  with  the  arrival  of  the  itulk  of  the 
feuiales,  and  lasts  until  ini'ubation  has  connnenced.  In  tliis  j)lay  the  i)ird  is 
swinging  to  and  fro,  as  if  suspended  from  a  fixed  point;  it  descril)es  one-fourth 
of  a  circle,  and  travels  about  a  rod.  This  j)endulum  movement  is  continued 
about  a  dozen  times,  the  bird  emitting  chirps  all  the  time." 

Shortly  after  their  arrival  in  the  s])ring  they  are  continually  chasing  eacli 
other  about;  considerable  of  this  is  luidoubtedly  done  in  play,  Init  occasionally 
they  act  like  perfect  little  furies,  and  try  to  injure  ea<'h  other  as  much  as  pos- 
sii)le.  At  such  times  they  utter  rather  shrill,  scpu'aling  sounds,  like  "chic-we- 
we-a,"  which  are  freiiuently  and  ra](idly  repeated;  at  other  times  they  utter 
low,  chipperiug  simnds  that  can  oidy  be  heard  when  close  l)y,  intermixed  now 
and  then  with  a  somewhat  louder  chirp.  After  one  has  driven  its  rival  away  it 
generally  returns  to  one  of  its  favorites  jierches,  some  little  dry  twig  of  a  shrub 
or  tree,  from  where  it  couunands  a  g-ood  outlook,  and  couunences  at  once  to 


'i":i 


I- 


■m. 


•'•'»    ,!^ 


I:i 


W. 


i; 


t : 


M 


,H. 


i 


r 


d: 


>''.h]ir 


196 


MFK  UlSTOHIKa  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


reaiTiinjjo  and  smooth  out  its  |tluinii;r«',  usually  Imffinuiufj  with  tho  itriniarit's, 
which  an*  doxtfTously  ])ass('(l  tlu'oiif^h  its  hill  hy  raisiuff  and  I'xtcudinjj'  the  wiuj;' 
oM  a  level  with  the  head.  It  is  rarely  seen  entindy  at  rest  for  any  huifjth  of 
time,  and,  when  not  husy  j»reeuin<;  its  feathers,  it  darts  about  from  one  place  to 


au( 


ither.     .\lthou<di  sutdi  a  small,  tinv  creature,  it  is  fidl  of  «Mier"v, 


and  never 


seems  to  tire.  Din'inj;'  the  niatin<f  season  the  male  is  very  devoted  to  his  mate, 
foUowin^r  her  constantly  about,  and  liereely  attacks  any  rival  that  may  approach 
too  near  her. 


1 


n  our 


Southern  States  nidification  lie"in 


yi 


av,  occasionallv  a 


littl 


e  earner  or   later,  acconhn 


s  usua 


ly  about  the  first  week 
to  tl 


ui 


le  sea.son,  and  corre- 


spondinffly  later  in  the  more  northern  |)ortions  of  its  ranji-e.  A  suitable  nestin<j; 
site  havin;;'  lieen  selected  (and  this  apjjcars  to  l)e  an  easy  task),  pn^parations  for 
liuildinji'  are  soon  be^un.  Durinj;'  this  tinu'  the  male  may  tVe(|Uently  be  noticed 
indulj;in;i'  in  the  |)endulum  ])lay  already  described,  and  both  .sexes  will  frecpu-ntly 
dart  straijiht  u|>  into  tiie  air  for  some  50  feet,  and  as  (piickly  drop  down  a<iaiu 


in  the  vicinity  of  the  cliosen  nestinu'  site. 


'I'i 


le  nest  is  "cneralh'  saddled  on  a 


horizontal  or  a  somewhat  droopinj;'  limb  of  a  tree,  about  half  an  inch  or  a  little 
more  in  thickness,  or  it  may  lie  |dace<l  at  tlie  junction  of  a  little  fork  where  one 
sido  of  the  nest  is  supported  by  one  of  the  branches,  and  less  often  in  bushes 
or  vines,  \ar\in"'  from  (5  to  fill  feet  hij-h,  usually  from   10  to  20  feet  from  the 


srronnc 


1.      Its    f; 


Ivor 


ite   I 


treediu"-   resorts  are  second-yrowth    tindiei-   alou"-  river 


blutVs,  hillsides,  the  borders  of  forests,  in  shade  trciesalou}";  country  roads,  orchards, 
o-ardeiis,  etc.  I  belicne  the  different  species  of  oak,  where  they  are  found,  are 
preferrecl  for  nesting  sites  to  all  other  trees,  while  hicktay,  tulip,  poplar,  maple, 
horse-chestnut,  1»eech,  sycamore,  do<>wood,  black  yum,  buckeye,  bindi,  apple, 


lear,  oran< 


■e,  ])ine,  red  cedar.  ,mil  other  trees,  rose  bushes,  and  cree| 


lui"'  vnu's  are 


also  more  or  less  used.  In  the  Adirondacks,  in  New  York,  1  lu'lieve  birch  frees 
are  the  favorites.  1  have  si-en  oiu'  of  its  nests  sad<lled  on  the  top  of  and  between 
two  <dd  |)ine  cones,  on  a  slender,  dry  lind),  which  1  c(aisidei'  a  rather  unusiud 
nesting  site  for  tliis  species. 

The  nest  of  our  Uuby-throated  Ilummiiifibird  is  one  of  the  most  extjuisite 
pieces  of  bird  architectiu'e  to  be  found  anywhere,  'i'he  circular  foundation  is 
composed  of  bits  of  licdiens,  mixed  with  fine  veyetabh'  fibers,  which  are  appar- 


ently iirnd\-  "lued  to  the  twiy  on  wliicdi  the  nest  i 


s  sa( 


hlled. 


bb 


presiimaDly  witn 


ith 


.saliva  secreted  by  tlu;  bird  for  this  purjiose,  and  the  structure  is  built  upon  this, 
the  inner  portions  of  it  beiuy  com])osed  of  soft,  downy  ])lant  fibers,  such  as  the 


ilk 


sUkv  d()wn  o 


f  dilh 


erent  species  of  willows  and  poplars,  that  f 


ound  on 


th 


youny 


and  unex|)anded  leaves  of  the  oaks  ami  viu"ious  kinds  of  ferns  (/''/V/Vv.s),  especially 
that  from  the  youny  stalks  of  the  common  brake  (I'tcris  aqiiiVniti),  the  silky 
down  of  the  n)ilkweed  (.lstlf/)i<is),  and   similar  materials   from  other  sources. 


After  these  have  bee 


n  well  wor 


ked  together  in 


irt  of  vejictable  felt,  the  outer 


walls  of  the  nest  are  profu.sely  covered  with  a  coatiny  of  bits  of  lichens  obtaincKl 
from  the  trunks  and  lindw  of  trees  in  the  vicinity,  and  then  are  firmly  fastened 
in  ])lac(^  with  spider  w«'bs,  yi\iny  the  nest  the  appearance  of  a  small,  lichen- 
covered  knot,  which  for  tiiis  reason  is  rather  dillicult  to  detect.     In  nearly  every 


THE  ItUlJV  TIlUOATKh  IIIIMM1N(;IUU1). 


197 


iiistiuuc  tlic  lU'st  is  ]iliu'»'(l  so  tliiit  itw  t'ontciits  nri'  protected  tVdiii  ii))(>vc  liv  tlio 
loaves  (»t'  tlie  tree  or  ii  limit  direetly  over  it,  tiiiil  it  is  rare  to  tinil  one  in  a  per- 
feetly  open  and  unsheltered  situation.  The  loeation  of  the  lieaiitit'ul  little 
structure  eertainly  shows  eonsi<leral»le  intelli;ienee  on  the  part  ot"  the  huilder. 

The  nests  vary  somewhat  in  size  and  iinlk,  arrordin^i'  to  the  thickness  ot"  the 
linil)  or  twi^r  <"'  which  they  are  sadilled.  An  avera^^-e-sized  specimen  nieasurert 
about  lA  inches  in  outer  diameter  liy  1  \  inches  in  tiepth.  The  inner  cup  is  aitout 
an  inch  in  width  i)y  tive-eij;liths  of  an  inch  in  de|tth.  I  iudieve  that  the  female 
performs  altout  all  tin*  labor  recpiired  in  th(^  construction  of  the  nest,  the  male 
simply  f(dlowin}>-  her  around  while  she  is  jiatherinji-  the  necessary  materials  and 
protectin^^•  her,  although  he  may  oc<'asionally  assist  to  some  extent.  .\s  nearlv 
as  1  can  jud<ie,  it  takes  about  ten  days  to  complete  the  structure. 

Mr.  II.  W.  Flint,  of  New  Haven,  ("oniiecticiit,  sends  me  the  f(dlowin}r 
interesting;  note  on  this  subject: 

"(hi  May  'M),  iSilO,  I  noticed  an  interestinj;'  fact  in  connection  with  this 
species.  I  was  watchin<r  a  Downy  Woodpecker  (fxcavatiu;-'  a  home  in  the  to|) 
of  a  lofty  inaph*  on  the  edjje  of  heavy  timber,  when  sutldeidy  a  male  Ilmnmer, 
clo.sely  followed  l)y  his  mate,  darted  toward  the  trimk  of  a  larf^-e  oak,  at  the 
heifi'lit  of  at  least  lin  feet  from  the  j;round,  and  were  inunediately  attackc  d  by 
some  kind  of  beetle,  which  attempted  to  drive  them  from  the  tree.  The  birds 
would,  after  an  apparent  stru^iji'le  with  the  beetle,  clinj;'  to  the  trunk  of  the  ti-e(! 
a  moment,  ])ull  oil' a  bit  of  lichen,  and  then  suddenly  leave  tlu^  spot  like  a  flash. 
I  watched  this  jtair  overtw<)  hours  before  1  succeeiled  in  locating;' the  nest,  which 
wa.H  at  least  10  rods  distant,  and  each  time  they  returned  to  the  tree  the  beetle 
met  them  and  foujiht  them  off,  fre(piently  driving;-  them  from  the  trunk  after  they 
had  succeeded  in  alij^htinjj-.  The  male  showed  jireat  anjier,  and  his  sharp,  rapid 
chirpinff  was  almost  incessant  while  in  the  vicinity  of  the  tree.  The  Iteetle  <lid 
not  attempt  to  follow  the  birds,  but  tried  to  jtreveuf  their  alij^htinji'  upon  or 
approacliiiifi'  the  tree.  I  was  very  much  intcresti'd,  and  can  not  now  understand 
what  was  the  cause  of  the  anta<i'onism  existinji'  between  them.  The  nest,  which 
I  afterwards  secured,  was  beautifully  decorated,  and  the  cfiji's  somewhat  incu- 
bated, usually  the  case  where  the  nest  is  well  co\-ereil,  as  nunh  of  the  exterior 
decoration  is  done  after  the  eg^js  are  laid,  and  even  afterihe  youn^i- are  hatched." 

In  the  Southern  States  fresh  Offj^s  may  be  looked  for  durin;.;'  the  tirst  two 
weeks  in  ^lay,  in  tlie\icinity  of  Waslun<>ton,  ])i.>itrict  of  ( 'olumbia,  about.linie  10, 
and  in  New  Knjiland  ami  our  Northern  States  in  the  latter  part  of  this  month  or 
during;' the  first  half  of  .Inly.  Two  e<i<;s  are  laid  to  a  set, one  every  otherday, and 
these  are  frecpiently  deposited  before  the  nest  is  more  than  half  completed,  the 
femahi  finishin';'  it  ;;radually  after  incubation  has  connnenced,  and  sometimes 
addin}>-  additional  licdiens  on  the  outside,  even  after  the  youufi'  have  been  hatched. 
Incubation  lasts  about  fourteen  days,  and  the  female  not  oidy  attends  to  this 
duty  alone,  but  also  appears  to  care  for  the  younj;  exclusixfly,  which  iwv  larj;e 
en(ui"h  to  leave  the  nest  in  about  sixteen  day; 


Th 


lev  are  liorn  l)Mn(l,  ami  no 


bli 


not  oiH'U  their  eves  initil  they  are  alxmt  a  week  old.     As  soon  as  in<id)ation 
connnenees  the  nude  appears  to  lose  all  interest  in  his  spouse  for  the  time  bein<^, 


J'; 

t 

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.'.•r 


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I 


i 


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■HuM 


198 


LIKK  1I18T01UES  OF  NOUTll  AMKIUCAN  IIIUDS. 


•f 


mM 


^■H\]\\\ 


and  l»'tH  lior  iitteiul  to  licr  family  tlutuis  aluiu-,  l<'M(liii)f  iiii  i  ;isy,  carclrHM  lite  in  the 
nu'initinio.  Altliongli  1  liavci  watclu'd  Hovoral  nests  nt'  Iliiinniinf^hirds  (^mtainin^ 
yonnj;  for  hours  at  a  tiin«',  1  liavo  never  yet  seen  a  inalr  feeilinjf  them.  They 
}jrow  aiuii/.inji'ly  fast,  and  when  about  ten  days  old  tli<v  an*  altout  as  larfje  as 
the  parents.  Their  hills,  however,  f^^row  |troj)ortionally  nnicli  slower  than  their 
l)()dies.  The  y(mn}^  are  fed  hy  re<rurjritation.  1  have  satisfied  myself  fully  on 
this  point,  and  have  seen  the  female  insert  her  hill  ilmost  for  its  full  length  in 
the  throat  of  the  nestlinjfs,  and  watched  her,  with  the  aiil  of  a  strong-  jfla.ss,  doiuff 
so  repeatedly.  When  not  in  search  of  food  h1m3  broods  the  younff  or  sits  on  the 
rimof  the  nest  preenin;r  her  feathers.  I  believt*  two  broods  are  freipientlv  rai.sed 
in  a  season,  occasionally  three  perhaps,  as  fre.sh  e<fgs  have  been  found  as  late  as 
Au{just  7.  An  old  ne.>*t  is  sometimes  occupied  for  several  seasons  and  remodeled 
each  year;  and  should  the  nest  and  eggs  be  taken  or  destroyed,  a  second  and 
occasionally  even  a  third  and  fourth  attempt  at  nesting  is  matle  within  about  a 
week,  and  sometimes  th.-se  sid)se<|uent  nests  are  built  in  the  same  tree  again, 
or  in  others  close  by.  The  birds  become  very  much  attached  to  a  locality  once 
chosen  for  a  home,  and  will  return  to  it  from  year  to  year,  not  iidrecpientlv 
l>uilding  a  new  nest  on  the  top  of  the  last  year's  one,  or  alongside  of  it.  The 
female  is  very  devoted  to  her  young,  and  will  occasionally  resent  an  intruder's 
presence  by  darting  at  his  face. 

The  eggs  of  the  Hubv-throated  Hummingbird  are  pure  white  in  color;  the 
shell  is  close-grained,  rather  frail,  and  witlmut  luster.  They  are  mostly  elliptical 
oval  in  shape,  but  occasionally  a  specimen  a|»proaches  an  elliptical  ovate,  one 
end  l»eing  somewhat  smaller  than  tlut  other. 

The  average  measurement  of  twenty-nine  specimens  in  the  I'nited  States 
National  Museum  collection  is  VIM)  by  XI){)  millimetres,  or  altout  Of)!  by  ().i{.'{ 
inch.  The  largest  oixii:  of  this  .series  measures  14.4H  by  !I.14  millimetres,  or  0.57 
by  O.iiG  inch;  the  smallest,  12.1 !»  by  S..'{H  millimetres,  or  ().4S  by  ().;{,'{  inch. 

The  tyi)e  specimen,  No.  2G1I14  (I'l.  1,  Kig.  27),  from  a  set  of  two  <'ggs,  was 
taken  by  Dr.  William  L.  Ralph,  near  Holland  Patent,  New  York,  on  June  21, 
1888,  and  represents  an  average  egg  of  this  species. 


69.     Trochilus  alexandri  Hoircikk  and  Mclsant. 

IU,.\tK-ClIINNKD  HUMMINGIIIIM). 
TrochiluH  nli:riintJri  l{oi'n<!iKB  and  Mulsant,  Aiiiiali's  Hdcicti'  d'Agricaltiiie  Uc  Jjyoii,  IX, 

iMd,  3;  JO. 

(1?  102,0  1370,  It  330,  (!  410,  U  429.) 

(iEOfiKAl'nicAL  BANiiK:  Western  North  Anu'ricn;  from  tlie  Pacific  coast  to  tlic 
Rocky  Mountains;  north  to  soutliera  Uritisli  Columbia,  on  l)oth  sides  of  tlu>  (Jiiscadcs  and 
S(mthern  Alberta  ?;  cast  to  western  Montana,  western  ("olorado,  New  .Mexico,  and  western 
Texas;  sontii  tlirouKh  <'alifoniia  and  Arizona  into  northern  Mexico;  in  winter  to  Lower 
California,  tlio  valley  of  Mexico,  aiul  the  State  of  (luerrero,  Mexico. 

The  Hlack-chinn"d  !lumming})ird,  also  known  as  the  "l'in])le-throated"and 
"Alexandre's"  Hummingbird,  is  rather  irregularly  distributeil  throughout  the 
western  L'nited  States,  and,  while  exceedingly  abundant  in  some  localities,  in 


THE  ilLACKUlUNNJiU  ULMMlNUlilUD. 


lUJ) 


otliej*s,  apimroiitly  o(|iially  well  siiitcil.  it  is  compnrativcly  rare.  It  lum  not  yet 
homi  ruconled,  so  tar  as  !  aiii  aware,  t'nim  any  point  went  ot"  the  Casciiilc  NFonn- 
tuinH  in  ()ri«jfon  an<l  Washington,  and,  in  fact,  it  nnist  bo  considuruil  as  niiluT 
ran'  tiirou^rliout  tlic  eastern  |)ortion  of  tliese  States  and  Idaiio. 

Mr.  .lolin  Kaiuiin.  ein'ator  of  the  Provincial  Museum  at  Victoria,  Hritish 
CohiMiliia,  in  liis  "Clieck  List  ol'  IJritish  ('oinnd)ia  Birds,"  says:  "Conlined  to 
the  mainland:   lioth  slopes  of  the  Cascades." 

Mr.  |{.  S.  Williams  took  a  sinj^ie  specimen  at  dolnmhia  Falls,  Montana,  on 
May  27,  18ll.'i,  and  a  few  others  were  seen  snitseipiently.  lie  writes  me:  "In 
this  State  they  do  not  appear  to  breed  east  of  the  Kocky  .Momitains." 

Mr.  Frank  .M.  Drew  p'cords  it  from  Colorado,  where  it  has  i)een  observed 
U|»  to  (1,000  feer,  and  .Mr.  C.  F.  .Morrison,  in  a  list  of  birds  of  La  I'lata  County, 
in  the  same  State,  reports  it  as  connnon  and  l»reediu},',  sayiufj;:  ".V  nest  shown 
ino  contained  three  efij^s."' 

There  are  specimens  in  the  I'liited  States  National  Museinn  collection  from 
Now  Mexico,  Arizona,  (California,  Nevada,  I'tali,  and  Texas.  In  the  latter  State 
Mr.  IL  I*.  Attwater  has  found  it  nestinj;  at  San  .\ntonio,  and  Mr.  William  Lloyd 
in  Tom  (Jreen  and  Concho  comities,  which  places  mark  about  the  eastern  limits 
of  its  breediufi'  ran^c.  It  is  oidy  a  snnnner  visitor  in  the  I'nited  States  and 
Mritisli  Columbia,  and  breeds  wherever  found.  Throujihout  the  jfreatei  pca-tions 
of  .Arizona,  southern  I 'tali,  and  .southern  and  southeastern  California  it  breeds 
abundantly,  ami  is  apparently  as  much  at  home  in  the  hot  valleys  border! iij;'  the 
Colorado  Desert  as  in  the  higher  Sierra  Nexadas,  where  Lieut.  II.  C.  lieiison. 
Fourth  Cavalry,  I'nited  States  .Vrniy,  took  four  of  its  nests  and  e^-Mis  on  .May 
■2!t,  1S!C_',  in  the  Seipioia  National  I'ark,  at  an  altitude  of  over  !»,(I0()  feet:  while 
ill  semitroiiical  San  Dicfi'o  County,  ( 'aliforiiia,iiidf;inji- from  the  number  of  l)reed- 
inj"'  records  I  have,  it  is,  if  anytliiiifi',  still  more  common. 

.Mr.  F.  Steiihens  writes  mo:  "I  have  taken  the  nest  and  effffs  of  the  Mlack- 
chiimed  Ilummiuf'bird  near  Fort  Hayard,  New  Mexico,  in  1S7(!,  where  this 
s]tecies  is  rather  common,  and  it  is  an  aliundant  summer  resident  of  southern 
California,  below  the  pine  zone.  1  have  also  found  a  set  of  efifis  of  this  species 
near  San  Bernardino,  California,  laid  in  a  nest  of  the  House  Finch,  ('(irinnliirus 
iiitjicKHKs/roHidlis.  No  lining  had  lieen  added,  or  any  other  chaiijics  made;  tlii^ 
bird  evidently  was  in  haste  to  lay,  her  nest,  perhaps,  having  Ijceii  suddenly 
destroyed." 

The  general  habits  of  the  Black-chinned  Hummingbird  are  very  similar  tft 
those  of  the  eastern  Huity-tliroat.  Ordinarily  it  makes  its  jipjiearance  along 
our  southern  border  early  in  March,  n'tnrning  south  about  the  1st  ot  (►ctoi)er. 
Its  call  notes  and  actions  during  the  mating  season  resemble  those  of  the  former, 
and,  like  it,  the  bulk  of  its  food  con.si.sts  of  minute  insects. 

Mr.  H.  II.  Lawrence  writes  me:  "On  June  IS  and  IK,  lS!t4,  in  Los  Angeles 
County,  California,  the  Black-cliinned  as  well  as  Anna's  and  Costa's  Iluinming- 
birds  were  very  connnon  in  a  little  tract  of  wild  tobacco,  Xirofiana  i/lauai,  of 

'TlieOrnitlioloKist  iiml  OolngiHt.  Vol.  XIII,  1888.  |>.  1(17. 


!?•'  ■■'  ' 


=?  ? 


it!! 


200 


LIKE  illUTUUlEH  OF  NOKTU  A.MKBIl;A^  Jtll(l>H. 


h 


M 


M'lJ^lijl. 


nboiit  2^  iicn's  in  extent,  Hitiiat«'rl  at  tlio  noutlicrn  hIoju'  of  a  swal«^  or  draw 
on  Anffclano  llciijflit.-*.  'I'lu'Mf  trocK  licar  cliiHtM'H  of  NlcnfliT,  yellow,  tiilK<- 
Nliapcil  HowtM'K,  and  an*  tVom  1.*  to  'JO  t(>et  in  In-i^'lit;  tlic  tract  is  known  aH 
'llninMH-r's  I'ati-li.'  I  saw  train  seventy  to  eiirhty  llunnniii'/hirds  liero  in  KfHH 
than  two  lionrs,  dnnn<r  the  hottest  jtart  of  the  day.  Many  are  kille«l  liy  tin; 
hoVH  with  sprinir  and  uir  ;j;nns  in  |)nre  wantonnesH.  No  nests  wore  found,  and 
mules  appeared  to  he  more  aliiuidant  than  females.  I  also  found  these  three 
species  very  conunoii  in  the  dry  wash  of  Saw-I*it  Uiver,  in  the  same  county. 
Here  tiiey  were  attrai'ted  hy  a  l»ri<rht  red  Hower  {Dilphhiiiiiii  ciinliimlis)  jTrowinji- 
on  a  clean,  slender,  juicy  stalk,  from  "J  to  (!  feet  hi;;h  This  jtiant  was  altundantly 
scattere(l  amon^  the  low  hushes  of  a  level  tract  ot  a  few  acres,  and  appeared  to 
be  a  favorite  feedin;;  phu-e  for  different  species." 

In  the  vicinity  of  Tucson,  Arizona,  where  this  species  is  rnnimon.  1  have 
frequently  seen  it  feodinff  in  the  flowers  of  the  niescal  (Afinir  (nntririni(i),  as 
well  as  in  those  of  several  species  of  yuccas,  und(ml)tedly  attracted  hy  the 
numerous  small  insects  liarltortMl  l»y  them.  Two  nests,  with  youn;;-,  prolialil\ 
three  or  four  days  old,  were  foiuid  hy  me  saddled  on  willow  branches,  on  the 
banks  of  Rillito  Ih'eek,  on  May  3(1,  187'2,  one  4,  the  other  7  feel  from  the 
(fround. 

In  southern  California  nidification  (M)nunences  ordinarily  about  the  latter 
])art  of  .Vpril  or  the  Itej^innin^  of  .May,  liut  I  have  seen  it  stated  tiiat  a  s«'t  of  e<;}fs 
has  been  found  near  Los  Angeles,  California,  as  early  as  Fei)ruary  (J,  possildy 
a  misidentilication,  the  nest  really  btdon}>in;;'  to  C(//////^  (imni,  which  is  well 
known  to  M.cjisionally  breed  this  early.  Throu-fhout  the  f^reater  |)art  of  their 
ran^fe,  iiowever,  it  rarely  bcffins  layinji'  before  .May  I,  and  the  season  is  at  its 
liei;;;ht  through  this  Muaitii,  while  secoml  or  possil)ly  third  sets  an;  found  up 
to  the  latter  part  of  .Inly,  anil  occasionally  still  later.  The  nest  is  readily 
distini^^uishable  from  that  of  the  Uuby-throated  llummin;i'bird  l>y  not  bein;>- 
covered  on  the  outside  with  lichens.  It  is  composed  of  plant  down,  varyinjf  in 
color  from  white  to  iiutf:  the  latter  is  ol»tained  from  the  under  side  of  the  youn^' 
leaves  of  the  sycamore,  the  former  piol»al>ly  from  willows,  milkweed,  or 
thistles.  These  materials  are  wdl  worked  to-icther,  and  the  outside  of  the  nest 
is  thickly  coated  with  s|)ider  wel),  li\  an  occasional  s|(ecimen  a  small  leaf  or 
two,  or  a  few  flower  blossoms  of  the  oak  aii;  worked  in  the  outer  walls.  In  a 
specimen  from  .Maria,  Texas,  the  outside  is  well  I'overed  with  small  flower 
Hj)ikes,  the  male  aments  of  a  species  of  oak,  hidinji'  the  inner  liniu}''  completely. 

A  Iteautiful  nest  now  before  me,  taken  by  Mr.  \'\  Stt^jihens,  near  Owens 
Lake,  Inyo  County,  California,  No.  24.'J"2!I,  Tnited  Statics  Natitaud  Mu.seum 
collection,  is  mainly  comjjosed  of  whih;  willow  down,  mixed  on  the  outside  with 
a  few  small  leaves  and  tile  scales  from  the  willow  buds;  these  are  firmly  held  in 
place  by  an  abundance  of  spider  web,  with  which  it  is  also  securely  attached  to 
the  little  fork  in  which  it  is  saddled.  The  (Uiter  diameter  of  this  nest  is  about 
1^'  inches  by  I  inch  in  depth;  the  inner  cup  is  1  inch  in  diameter  by  five- 
ei<;hths  of  an  inch  deep;  and  while  some  specimens  before  me  are  a  trifle  larj>;er, 
others  are  considerably  smaller.     Nests  taken  in  the  !Se<iuoia  National  Park,  in 


TiiK  liLACKCIIINNKn  IIUMMINrilllKH. 


SOI 


'riilarc  roiiiity,  Ciilit'ornia,  liiivc  |icri'('|.til)ly  iliickcr  whIIh  timn  those  tVom  tlio 
waiiiuT  IowIuiiiIk,  ami  an<  also  corrt'spoiKlinjfK'  lar<f«'r.  Tlic  iicHtH  arc  citluT 
Ha<l<lli'(l  oil  a  Hiiiall,  (lr(io|iiii^'  Itraiicli  or  on  a  fork,  oni>  or  two  ot'  tlu-  Hiiiallci'  t\vi<rM 
i'om|io«iujr  this  iiHiially  Immiij^  iiicor|torat('il  in  tin-  walls  and  lioldiny'  it  sccincly 
in  placv.  Many  ot°  tli<>  lu'sts  rcsfnihlc  Hinall,  tine  Hpon^rcM,  ami  ai-r  (■(pially 
(■lastif,  rcailiiy  ri';iainin<i'  their  shape  after  iiein;;-  scpieezed  to;rether.  'I'liey  are 
generally  plac«'(l  from  4  to  H  feet  from  tlie  fjrouml,  mostly  in  the  shrultltery 
foiual  iiein"  small  creeks  or  sprin^fs,  and  fre«|nently  their  nests  oxerlian;;-  the 
water  oi-  the  dry  ciHU'k  bed.  Alders,  cottonwoods,  oak,  sycaintirc,  lannd,  and 
willows  are  most  often  mthtcted  for  ncstinjf  sites,  as  well  as  yoiiny  orchards, 
especially  apple  and  oninjro  trctes,  where  they  are  availahle. 

In  the  more  soutluTii  portions  of  tlu^  ranp-  of  the  Mlack-chiinied  Ilum- 
miiiffliird  fresh  t'HTffs  are  occasionally  found  by  May  1,  and  as  late  as  the 
lH'}.nnnin<r  of  Anffust.  Altlioujrh  most  (»f  oiu"  Ilunnninjrhirds  invariably  lay  but 
two  e^fjjs  to  a  set,  nests  of  this  species  now  ami  then  contain  three,  all  evidently 
laid  l>y  the  same  female,  and  such  instances  do  not  a|ipear  to  Ite  especiidly  rare. 
Three  such  cases  have  cointt  to  my  knowlefljje  within  the  last  few  years.  Dr. 
('.  Hart  .Mt'rriam  found  a  set  of  three  in  tlm  lower  Santa  (Mara  N'alley,  I'tali,  in 
May,  1H!)1.  Mr.  K.  Stephens  took  another  at  Olancha,  Inyo  County,  (California, 
on  May  It!,  iHltl,  which  i?^  now  in  the  Tnited  States  National  Museum  collec- 
tion, and  Mr.  Fred.  II.  Fowler  obtained  still  another  near  Fort  Howie,  Arizona, 
in  the  sprin^i'  of  lS!t;{. 

The  ejiffs  of  the  Hlack-chinned  Ihnnminjrbird  resend)le  tliose  of  the  IJiiliy- 
throat  in  shape  and  <'olor,  but  avcraj^'e  a  trifle  smaller. 

The  averaji'e  mtNisuremunt  (»f  fifty-three  speciuuuis  in  tlie  I'nited  States 
National  Museum  collection  is  12.67  by  K.JJt  millimetres,  or  about  (!..'>(»  i)y  (l.;53 
incli.  The  lar;!est  ^'}>;<r  of  the  series  measures  Ki.T'i  l)y  H.()4  millimetres,  or  0.04 
by  H.,*{4  inch;  the  snndlest,  ll.!»4  by  HAS  millimetres,  or  0.47  by  0.,'{2  inch. 

The  type  specinu'U,  No.  24"ir)7  (not  ti<rured),  from  a  set  of  three  eji';is,  was 
taken  by  Mr.  F.  St(>phens,  on  .May  1(1,  IHIH,  near  Olancha,  Inyo  County.  Cali- 
fornia, the  ne.st  bein<r  sad<lled  on  a  small  twig  of  an  apple  free  in  a  young 
orchard,  about  7  feet  from  the  ground. 

70.     Trochilus  violajugulum  .Jefkkiks. 

VInl.KT-rilHOATKK  niM.\II.\(iBllil). 

'I'riwhUiiH  rioliijutjiiliim  .IKI'KKIKS,  Auk,  V,  April,  1.S8.S,  KW. 

(H  _,('_,  |{  _,  (J  _,  U  429.1.) 

<ii',o(ii{AiMiii'Ai.  UANoi::  Houtluu'ii  ('aliforuia  (Haata  Harbara  Coaaty). 

The  Viol((t-throated  Hunnningbird  was  first  described  by  the  lute  J.  Am<u'y 
.lefi'ries  in  "The  Auk"  (\'ol.  V,  IHHK,  pp.  KJM,  lfi;»),  from  a  specimen,  a  male, 
sla>t  near  Santa  Harbara,  California,  on  April  .0,  1HH;5,  and  Mie  type,  1  believe, 
still  remains  uni({Uo.  Nothing  whatever  is  known  regarding  its  haiiits  or  the 
(!xtent(i'  A  range.  It  appears  to  be  a  perfectly  good  species,  and  was  i)robubly 
a  straggler  from  the  south. 


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202 


LIFE  HISTOltlES  OF  NOltTU  AMERICAN  BlUDS. 


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Hllii- 


71.     Calypte  costae  (liouKciKK). 

COSTA'S  1 1  tlM M  1N(  1  IlIUD. 

Oriiismya  vo»Ut  Boi'RCiEB,  Ueviie  Zoologiiiiie,  ii,  18.'J1),  2!t4. 

Culyple  cos/w Gould,  MoiioKiapli  of  the  Tiocliilidu-,  Part  XI,  1850,  and  Vol.  111,1801,  IM.  134. 

(H  KM),  ('  l.'.S(»,  l{  ;i;{7,C  U5,  i:  43(».) 

(rKooKAi>Hi«JAL  UANOK:  Western  North  America;  north  to  southern  C^alifonii.i, 
southern  Nevada,  r  \  southwestern  I'tah;  east  to  western  and  thron};h  southern  Arixiina 
to  southwestern  New  Mexico;  soutli  to  Lower  California  and  northwestern  Mexico  to 
ALuatian.  8inah)a,  Mexico. 

Tlio  northern  limits  of  tlie  range  of  Costa's  IIinnnnn<>l)ir(l  luive  recently 
been  considerably  extended,  and  it  is  now  known  to  be  a  conunon  siunnier 
resident  in  southeastern  California,  at  least  as  far  north  as  Owens  Valley,  Inyo 
C'onnty,  in  about  latitude  3f!°  20';  it  reaches  a  slightly  higher  latitude  in 
southern  Nevada,  while  the  nortlu^rninost  ])oint  of  its  range,  iis  far  as  known,  is 
to  ))('  found  in  the  extreme  southwestern  corner  of  t'tah,  on  the  eastern  slopes 
of  the  lieaverdam  Mountains,  where  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam  found  it  conunon 
among  the  junipers,  somewhat  north  of  th(!  thirty-seventh  j)arallel.' 

On  the  west  coast  of  California  it  has  as  yet  ouly  been  taken  as  fai-  north 
as  Ventura  County,  and  it  is  evidently  lare  there,  in  Arizona  it  seems  to  be 
distributed  over  the  western  half  of  the  territory,  as  well  as  oxer  most  of  the 
southern  sections.  Its  breeding  rang(!  is  coexteiisixi'  with  its  geographical  dis- 
tribution in  the  United  States.  'V\w  majority  of  Costa's  Hummingbirds  appear 
to  be  only  summer  residents  within  the  United  States.  Mr.  W.  W.  Price,  a 
careful  and  reliable  observer,  states,  howevei',  that  it  winters  in  limited  nund)ers 
in  southern  California;  and  the  fa(!t  that  he  found  a  nest  of  this  Iliunmingbird 
containing  young  as  early  as  January  28,  1><87,  near  Riverside,  in  San 
liernardino  County,  seems  to  contirm  this,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  other 
si)ecies  also  winter  in  suitable  localities  in  the  Coloi-ado  Desert,  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  few  s])rings  and  water  holes  found  there.  Dr.  Edgar  A.  Mearns,  United 
States  Army,  found  this  Ilununer  (piite  conunon  at  Tinachas,  in  southwestern 
Arizona,  neiu-  the  head  of  the  (Julf  of  California,  l)etween  February  l(i  and  21, 
1S1)4,  aufl  collected  a  number  of  specimens  there.  Its  general  habits  do  not 
ditfi'r  much  from  those  of  the  other  members  of  this  family  found  within  our 
borders,  excepting  that  it  is  somewhat  more  of  a  desert-loving  species,  and  it 
seems  to  show  a  special  prefci'ence  for  the  few  water  holes  and  sjjrings  in  the 
liarren  mountain  ranges  in  southeastern  California  east  of  the  Sierra  Xe\adas. 
In  such  localities  it  appears  to  be  far  more  common  thiui  in  the  better  watered 
and  more  fertile  p(trtions  of  the  southwestern  ]iarts  of  the  State. 

Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher  says:  "Costa's  Hummingbird  is  the  common  species  of 
the  desert  valleys  and  mountains  of  southern  California  and  Nevada.  »  »  * 
In  the  Argus  K;inge,  California,  the  sjiecies  was  very  conunon  at  Maturango 


'  Nortb  AmiTli'au  Fivuuii,  No.  7,  ISiW,  pp.  56-58. 


COSTA'S  HUMMINGBIRD. 


203 


Spriufj,  and  in  Slioplienl  Canyon,  wliere  several  nests  were  found  in  low  buslies 
alonf^  the  edjjes  of  the  canyon.  *  *  *  At  Coso  the  species  was  also  very 
abundant,  and  several  of  its  nests  were  found.  Various  kinds  of  plants  were 
used  as  nestinj?  sites,  thou<;h  the  branchintf  cactus  (Opiiiitia  rrhiiintiirpd)  was 
most  cotnnionly  chosen.  CJsually  the  structure  was  placed  on  the  top  of  a 
lower  branch,  a  foot  or  so  from  the  {ground,  and  under  an  overiuuiffiii^-  mass  of 
thick,  spiny  l)rauches,  which  formed  a  protection  for  the  parent  bird  from  tlie 
sun  and  weatlicr  as  well  as  its  enemies.  At  Coso  one  of  these  Ilunnncrs  was 
seen  on  a  bright  moonlight  evening  hovering  about  a  l)nnch  of  flowers,  and 
was  heard  again  later  in  the  same  night.  «  »  *  Just  at  daylight,  on  the 
morning  of  June  2."),  before  the  shadow  had  risen  out  of  Wild  Rose  (,'anyon,  a 
Costa's  Hummingbird  came  and  hovered  within  a  foot  of  our  camp  fire,  prob- 
ably mistaV  iiig  it,  from  the  distance,  for  a  bunch  of  bright-colored  flowers.  It 
was  observed  on  several  occasions  that  any  bright-colored  object  placed  in  a 
conspicuous  position  attracted  this  bird.'" 

^[r.  V.  Stephens  writes  me  regarding  Costa's  Hummer  as  follows:  "I  have 
found  this  species  breeding  in  a  gulch  at  the  edge  of  the  river  bottom  near  the 
(jrila  River,  New  ^lexico,  a  few  miles  below  old  F<>»  I  West.  In  this  case  I  saw 
the  male  as.sisting  in  Imilding  the  nest.  I  distinctly  saw  him  fly  to  a  .spider  web 
and  gather  it  in  or  on  his  bill  while  on  the  wing.  He  appeareil  to  l)e  winding 
it  about  his  bill,  but  I  can  not  be  certain  of  this.  Wiien  no  more  of  the  web 
was  left  in  sight,  he  Hew  a  few  yards  across  tli(>  gulch,  and  I  saw  he  was  l)usy 
at  the  nest,  which  I  had  not  seen  before.  The  date  was  about  the  em!  of  May, 
1S7().  In  southern  (Jalifornia  this  species  breeds  on  the  (les(!rt  side  as  early  as 
Fel)ruary,  but  on  the  coast  side  not  until  May.  'I'lu-y  range  and  nest  up  into 
the  ))ines,  l)ut  are  most  common  in  the  foothills.  Tiiey  prefer  certain  canyons  for 
nesting,  and  I  know  at  least  one  canyon  whi-re  I  could  l)e  rt'asonably  certain  of 
getting  half  a  dozen  or  more  sets  in  two  hours'  search  in  the  latter  ])art  of  May. 
The  nests  of  this  species  are  not  as  compactly  l)uilt  as  those  of  Trochiliis  (ilcraiidri." 
Mr.  R.  II.  Lawrence  writes  me  from  Los  Angeles,  California,  as  follows: 
"On  May  21,  IH'.IS,  I  f  »und  a  half-finished  nest  of  wliat  I  took  to  be  Cnlifjifr 
rnsfrr,  with  the  female  working  on  it.  On  the  25tli,  at  II  a.  m.,  it  contained  one 
i'li}!:,  and  on  May  2(i,  at  dusk,  it  held  two.  On  .June  1)  the  eggs  were  slill 
mdiatclied;  the  young  hatched  on  the  iltli.  On  Juni!  2.'5,  1S!(4,  in  tlie  moutii 
of  Saw-Pit  Canyon,  1  found  a  nest  of  this  Hnimner  on  tlie  end  of  the  lower 
branch  of  a  sycamore.  It  was  about  4  fi-et  from  the  ground  ami  near  I'unning 
water,  well  hidden  under  a  thick  canopy  of  sycamore  leaves,  which  came  down 
to  within  2  inches  of  it,  so  close  as  to  .several  times  give  tlie  female  some 
ti'onl)l('  to  percii  upon  the  nest.  The  nest  was  jilaced  on  the  forks  of  a  branch, 
anil  made  of  the  down  of  svcainon^  lea,ves  and  of  cobwebs.  It  held  two  ver\' 
young  liirds.  On  .hine  2;")  I  again  visited  it,  and  waite(l  to  see  tlie  mother  feed 
the  young  ones.  I  finally  foniid  I  could  stand  witliin  4  feet  of  the  nest,  and 
removed  several  of  the  leaves  of  the  canopy  for  a  better  \iew.     It  was  then 

'North  Aiiifriraii  Kaiiim.  No.  7,  ISiKl,  \>]>.  TM-oX. 


t'h^ 


in^- 


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204 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OP  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIHDS. 


about  12.45  p.  m.;  the  day  was  warm.  Tl»e  parent's  trips  were  not  frequent. 
Slie  fed  the  young  by  touching  the  poin  t  of  lier  bill  to  the  tips  and  sides  of  the 
bills  of  her  youngsters,  as  if  to  urge  or  invite  them  to  stir  and  open  their 
mouths,  not  inserting  her  bill  over  one-fifth  or  one-fourth  of  its  length.  Once 
she  thrust  it  down  half  its  length  into  the  throat  of  one  nestling,  who  then  dung 
to  it  to  the  very  last  moment  of  its  withdrawal,  apparently  reluctant  to  let  the 
very  smallest  i)article  of  tin*  regurgitated  food  miss  its  way  or  remain  on  the 
parent's  bill.  Tiie  jierformance  was  rather  iu<li('rous,  as  both  old  and  young, 
especially  the  youngsters,  went  through  many  wriggling  and  sfpiirming  motions. 
The  |)arent  certainly  once,  upon  returning  to  tlie  nest,  brooded  the  young  ones 
for  a  little  wliilc,  and  then  fed  one  before  leaving  the  nest.  It  was  interesting 
to  watch  the  female  raise  her  crown  feathers  when  settled  into  a  more  comfort- 
able jjosition  in  the  nest,  and  then,  upon  being  alarmed  by  me,  flatten  the 
feathers  down,  her  eyes  sparkling  with  fright.  If  I  winked  an  eye  she  was 
startliMl,  as  I  stood  so  near.  Once,  uj)on  her  return,  settling  down  to  brood  the 
youngsters,  she  kept  up  for  some  moments  a  kind  of  paddling  motion,  as  if  she 
were  giving  them  a  little  massage  treatment.  Her  respiration  was  very  rapid 
after  this  exertion.  Life  with  these  atoms  of  sensitiveness  mu.st  be  at  white 
heat  always.  The  young  were  lying  side  by  side,  but  headed  in  opposite  direc- 
tions. Both  liad  voided  excrement  in  one  case,  but  the  parent  did  not  remove 
either  deposit  while  I  was  there.  Except  for  this  and  a  ])iece  of  eggshell,  the 
ne.st  apjieared  clean.  The  young  had  a  narrow  strip  of  long  hairs  down  the 
center  of  their  backs.  Their  skins  were  a  dark,  dirty  brown;  bills  were  very 
short,  tipped  with  a  point,  and  light  colored;  eyes  were  shut.  No  male  parent 
was  seen.  The  nest  and  contents  were  left  undisturbed  for  future  observations, 
if  it  is  possible  to  visit  it  soon  again." 

Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony  found  Costa's  Hununingbird  common  in  Lower  Califor- 
nia, and  writes  me:  "Just  before  I  left  the  higher  l)enclies  of  the  San  Pedro 
Martir  ^lountains,  on  May  2D,  18!)3,  CaliipU'  iiiiiki  became  rather  i-ommon,  and 
Calijptc  cosUe  still  more  so;  both  showed  signs  of  early  breeding.  Valley  birds 
had  rai.sed  one  or  more  broods  by  that  time.  Could  it  be  that  the.se  had  l)red  in 
lower  altitudes  before  coming  here?"  Mr.  Anthony's  surmise  that  these  birds 
might  have  already  reared  one  or  even  two  broods  in  the  lower  and  hotter 
valley  regions  i.:  undoubtedly  correct,  as  Mr.  Walter  K.  Hryant,  in  his  paper  on 
the  "  Binls  of  Lower  California,"  mentions  finding  a  nest  of  this  species  on  Santa 
Margarita  Island,  on  January  17,  188S.  This  was  placed  on  an  almost  leafless 
branch,  3  feet  high,  far  from  the  water,  and  ctaitained  large  young. 

Mr.  H.  T.  Gault,  in  a  recent  letter  says:  "It  may  be  a  peculiarity  of 
ILnnmers  in  general,  but  I  found  these  birds  to  i)e  (!xceedingly  tame;  indeed, 
it  was  almost  impossible  to  keep  them  off  their  nests  after  they  had  been 
frightened  from  them;  the  female  would  ))ersi.st  in  alighting  on  the  nest  even 
when  an  attempt  was  being  made  to  sever  flu*  twig  on  which  it  was  ])lac(Ml  from 
the  larger  branch.  Their  extreme  disregard  for  the  presence  of  man  wat  a  little 
ahead  of  anything  I  had  exj)ected  to  see.'" 


'For II  mom  (letniliHl  acrniint  nf  the  ueiiting  liabiUnrCiiHtn's  Hiiniinorl  ruler  tlii'  render  t<i  Mr.  Uault's 
article  ill  Tlie  Auk,  Vol.  II,  IHtk'i,  pp.  309-311. 


COSTA'S  UUMMINGBIltl). 


205 


In  Inyo  Oonnty,  ('alifurnia,  Costa's  Hunnner  secerns  to  be  very  eoinnionly 
fonnfl  ahont  the  flowers  of  the  squaw  calibage,  a  species  of  Stanleyii,  also  about 
wild  rose,  jjluni,  or  cherry  bushes  (PrunKs)  growing  in  the  canyons,  as  well  as 
about  other  shrubs  and  plants  found  in  these  desert  regions.  Nidiflcation  com- 
mences sonictinies  early  in  .January;  several  of  its  nests  and  eggs  have  been 
taken  in  l^os  Angeles  County,  California,  in  February;  throughout  the  greater 
portion  of  its  range,  however,  it  is  at  its  height  during  April  and  May,  and  at 
least  two  bi'oixls  are  regularly  raised  in  a  season.  Considering  the  small  size 
of  most  of  our  Hummingbirds,  sixteen  days,  or  even  fourteen  only,  appears  to 
be  an  unusually  iong  time  to  be  recjuired  to  hatch  such  a  small  egg,  and  it 
.seems  to  l)e  entirely  out  of  pro])ortion  when  compared  with  many  larger  birds, 
and  in  this  respec^t  this  family  shows  its  close  relationship  to  the  Swifts 
(Cypm'U),  where  incubation  lasts  still  longer. 

The  nests  of  (!osta's  Hummingbird  do  not  compare  favorably  in  architec- 
tural bec.uty  with  those  of  the  preceding  species;  the  materials  used  an;  not  so 
thoroughly  felted  or  (piilted  together,  and  the  inner  cup  has  ordinarily  a  rather 
slov<  nly  api)earance.  It  is  externally  composed  of  jilant  down  or  fine  shreds 
of  j)lant  fiber;  the  outer  walls  are  thatched  more  or  less  profusely,  in  dift'erent 
specimens  before  me,  with  bits  of  gray  lichens,  fine  shreds  of  bark,  and  small 
dry  leaves,  and  these  are  securely  fa.stened  in  place  by  spider  web  and  silk 
obtained  from  cocoons.  The  inside  is  lined  with  j)lant  down,  and  occasionally 
with  finely  shredded  plant  fibers  and  small,  fluffy  feathers.  In  some  examples 
feathers  are  very  prominent  among  the  inner  lining.  An  average  specimen 
measures  lj|  inches  in  outer  diameter  by  1  inch  in  depth.  The  inner  cup  is 
altout  seven-eighths  of  an  inch  in  diameter  by  one-half  inch  in  dej)th.  They 
are  usually  placed  in  low  situations,  from  1  to  G  feet  from  the  ground,  rarely 
higher,  although  Mr  W.  K.  I).  Scott  records  one  taken  on  May  ;">,  18X2,  near 
Hiverside,  in  southern  Arizona,  from  tlu*  extremity  of  a  cottonwood  branch  ;{;"> 
feet  from  the  ground.  In  the  desert  regions  of  southeastern  California  various 
cacti,  tlu^  different  species  of  sagi'  (^Artciiiisia^  and  greasewood  bushes  (Larrca), 
while  in  the  canyons  ash,  sycamoi'e,  scrul)  oak,  paU)  vcrde,  cottonwoods,  and 
willows,  fiu'nish  their  favorite  nesting  sites.  The  eggs  resemble  thos(^  of  the 
jireceding  species  in  .sha|)e  and  color,  but  they  are  somewhat  smaller. 

The  average  measurement  of  twenty-three  spe<'imens  in  the  United  States 
National  iMuseum  collection  is  12.1  K  by  7.S7  millimetres,  or  <).4H  l)y  0.31  inch. 
The  largest  o,<!:{^  measures  12.!!;")  by  S.i;}  millimetres,  or  O.ol  by  (1.32  inch;  the 
smallest,  11. OK  by  7.<)2  millimetres,  or  ().4(;  by  0.30  inch. 

The  ty])e  specimen,  No.  2  12r)0  (not  figured),  from  a  set  of  two  eggs,  was 
taken  by  Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher  in  Shephenl  ('anyon,  in  the  Argus  Mountains, 
California,  on  May  7,  lS!tl,  and  the  nest  from  whic.i  these  eggs  were  obtained 
was  placed  on  a  little  fork  of  a  greasewood  bush,  2  feet  from  the  ground,  very 
poorly  built,  and  probably  an  o\d  one  from  the  previous  year. 


«'■-•'?  *• 
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206  LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 

7a.     Calypte  anna  (Lesson) 

ANNA'S  IIUMMINGBIKU. 

Ornismyn  anna  Lesson,  Supplement  des  Oisoaux  Moiiclios,  1831,  115,  PI.  7. 
Calypte  anna  Gould,  Mouograph  of  the  Trochilidiu,  Pt.  XI,  1850,  PI.  5;  iiud  Vol.  Ill,  18(51, 
PI.  135. 

(B  105,  O  27!),  R  338,  C  415,  U  431.) 

Geographical  RANGE:  Western  North  Anierii'H;  north  thronsh  southerii  and 
middle  California  to  abont  latitude  41°;  east  to  the  Si>.ira  Nevada;  south  to  northern 
Lower  California  and  Cerros  Island,  and  throu^ii  southern  Arizona;  in  winter  to  northern 
Mexico.    Casually !  to  Guadalupe  Island,  Mexico. 

The  breediiifif  raajye  of  Anna's  lliimnnn<fl)ir(l,  one  of  tlio  linndsoniost  species 
found  in  the  United  States,  appears  to  be  a  rather  restricted  one,  and,  as  far  as 
kn(»\vn  at  present,  seems  to  be  confined  to  those  regions  of  Cahfornia  situated 
between  the  coast  and  the  Sierra  Nevaxhis,  and  to  the  northern  half  of  Lower  Cali- 
fornia. Quite  a  nundier  of  the.se  birds  winter  regularly  in  southern  Californiii, 
while  others  j)ass,  during  their  fall  migration,  through  southern  Arizona,  and  likely 
also  through  southwestern  New  A[e.\ico,  en  route  to  their  winter  haunts  in  north- 
ern Mexico.  Mr.  H.  W.  Hen.shaw  met  with  Anna's  Hunnningbird  in  the  vicinity 
of  Camp  Grant,  Arizona,  during  the  last  week  of  Sej)tend)er,  1873,  while  they 
were  evidently  migrating,  and  Mr.  W.  E.  1).  Scott  obtained  a  single  speciu'en 
in  the  Santa  C.ttalina  Mountains,  in  the  same  territory,  on  October  1,  1883. 
If  it  sliould  prove  to  be  a  sununer  resident  in  Arizona,  its  nests  and  eggs  must 
be  looked  for  in  the  canyons  of  the  mountains  at  altitudes  of  from  .^),0()0  to 
7,000  feet.  It  usually  returns  to  its  breeding  grounds  very  early  in  the  spring. 
Its  general  habits,  food,  etc.,  resemble  those  of  the  other  si)ecies  already  rather 
fully  described,  ai\d  the  breeding-  season  begins  occasionally  in  February  antl 
lasts  into  .Fuly,  during  which  time  two,  if  not  three  broods  are  raised. 

Mr.  Charles  A.  Allen,  of  Nicasio,  California,  writ«'s  me:  "The  male  Anna's 
Hunnningbird  has  a  very  nice  little  song;  it  may  often  be  seen  perched  on  some 
prominent  twig  or  a  telegra})h  wire  singing  away  for  tlear  life.  Its  simi)le 
little  lay  sounds  like  'te-uit,  te-uit,  te-wieu,  wieu,  wieu,'  repeated  over  and  over 
again,  and  when  angry  it  utters  a  very  harsh,  rasping  screech.  In  this  vi(!inity 
it  is  migratory,  usually  arriving  about  the  second  week  in  February." 

Mr.  F.  Stephens  se-it  me  the  following  notes  on  this  species:  "When  I  first 
came  to  California  1  confused  the  females  of  this  species  with  those  of  Trorhihifi 
(ilcjraudri,  and  thought  that  Caliiptc  (iiiiiii  was  a  sunmier  resident  in  the  valleys. 
Others  appear  to  have  made  the  same  mistake.  My  |tresent  belief  is  that  <'alf)j)tc 
anna  seldom  oriun'er  breeds  below  the  j)ine  region  of  the  mountains  of  southern 
California,  excej)t  jjossibly  immeiliately  along  the  coast,  and  of  this  I  have  no 
certain  knowledge.  I  do  know  the  species  is  found,  though  rather  rarely,  in 
the  pines  iu  May  and  June.     It  is  an  abundant  winter  resident  in   the  valleys. 


*  '     .  '^  .'     * 


ANNA'S  HUMMINGBUtD. 


207 


Lately  (September  27,  1892,  at  San  Diego)  I  heard  the  song  of  this  si)ecie8. 
It  was  harsher  than  tlie  song  (»f  Trorhilus  ulcxnndii  or  Califj'te  costte  and  eould 
be  lieard  further." 

Mr.  RoUolI.  Heck,  of  Henyessa,  California,  says:  "Anna's  Iluniniingbird  is 
acoiinnon  sunnner  resident  here,  and  a  few  remain  through  the  winter.  1  often 
notice  these  birds  hunting  for  spiders  among  the  evergreen  trees  near  my  home; 
they  frecjnently  visit  the  Howers  about  the  houses  in  the  valleys,  and  they  also 
have  an  abundance  of  wild  ones  to  select  from  in  the  hills,  from  the  time  they 
arrive  in  the  spring  until  they  leavcf  in  the  fall.  In  March,  when  the  Australian  or 
blue  gum  trees  begin  to  blossom,  this  Ilunnner  and  the  Rufus  are  very  numer- 
ous, chasing  each  other  from  tree  to  tree  all  day  long;  all  the  time  uttering  their 
notes  of  defiance  or  hatred.  Altlumgh  somewhat  larger  in  size  than  the  liufus, 
I  believe  the  latter  generally  gets  the  best  of  it." 

Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony  has  kindly  sent  me  the  fcdlowing  notes  on  Cali/pte 
(tiuiii:  "A  nest  of  this  species  was  found  tat  San  Quentin,  Lower  California,  in  a 
cliolla  cactus  growing  witlnn  a  few  feet  of  the  bay.  A  piece  of  cotton  was 
pushed  (h)wn  over  the  eggs  to  i)revent  their  rolling  out,  and  nest  and  all  trans- 
ferred to  a  box  in  my  game  bag.  Upon  arriving  at  my  tent,  an  hour  later,  I  was 
somewhat  disgusted  to  find  one  of  tlie  eggs  pi})ped,  and  realizing  the  difticulty 
of  making  a  presentable  specimen  of  it,  was  on  the  point  of  throwing  it  away, 
when  a  movement  on  the  part  of  the  tiny  creature  within  the  shell  suggested  to 
my  mind  that  I  hatch  the  egg  and  tind  out  for  myself  how  baljy  llununingbirds 
conui  into  the  world.  So  far  there  was  but  a  phi  point  broken,  the  rest  of  tiie 
shell  being  intact;  and  it  was  several  minutes  before  the  warmth  of  my  hand, 
aided  by  my  breath,  produced  another  movement  upon  the  part  of  the  prospective 
Ihnumcr;  first  a  feeble  struggle,  followed  by  an  interval  of  rest;  another  scpiirm, 
and  tiie  j)oint  of  the  bill  came  in  view  and  was  withdrawn;  after  a  moment's 
rest  a  new  system  was  adopted,  which  consisted  of  turning  around  in  the  shell 
from  right  to  left,  and  cutting  a  clean,  smooth  opening  with  the  sharp,  liorny  tip 
on  the  upper  mandible;  this  ojx^ration  was  evidently  hard  work,  and  re<|uired 
all  the  stnfugtli  of  the  little  mite,  and  fr(!(pu'nt  rests  were  iKH'essary  to  recruit. 
S<»metimes  an  interval  of  twisting  seenu'd  to  accomplish  nothing,  and  it  woidd 
look  as  if  all  its  struggles  would  be  in  vain,  and  T  wondered  whether  \\w.  partait 
would  not  render  a  little  much-needed  assistance  at  this  stage;  but  after  an 
interval  of  rest  the  work  would  be  continued  Avith  renewed  vigor  and  another 
millimetre  cut  ti>ward  the  outer  world.  The  cutting  was  all  done  in  the  same 
direction,  and  after  about  ten  minutes  1  was  oblige<l  to  turn  the  egg  ovor  in  my 
hand  in  onh'r  to  watch  the  proceedings,  as  by  that  time  the  opening  had  l)een 
cut  al)ouf  half  way  around,  bringing  the  chick's  bill  nearly  underneath  and  in 


the  palm  of  my  hand.      When  the  shell  had  been  cut  f 


our 


-fiftl 


IS  aroun< 


1,  th^ 


chick  succeeded  in  getting  o\w  claw  hooked  over  the  edge  of  tiie  bresik,  and  by 
one  or  two  vigorous  pushes  broke  the  remaining  shell,  leaving  in  my  hand  two 
nearly  ecpial  jmrts  of  what  had  been  a  Ilunnningbird's  egg,  and  a  sipiinning 
something  that  bore  no  semblance  whctever  to  one  of  the  peerless  mendiers  of 


■4 

4 


1 3 


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u 


11 


w 
1 1 

w 


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It 


■in 


208 


LIFK  UISTOlUKa  OF  NORTH  AMEUICAN  RIHD8. 


n: 


-JM'^lit: 


tlio  ffcims  rrt////>/r.  Tlin  (fiitire  operation  of  liatcliing^,  from  tlio  tinu'  I  diHcovcied 
that  tho  M<i;4'  was  pipped,  consuinod  about  fifteen  iniuuteH. 

"  In  Lower  ('alifornia  the  nestinj?  season  extended  from  .lanunrv  to  June, 
and  perhaps  hinjjer.  One  of  tho  nests  found  by  mo  near  my  camp  at  VaUadares, 
Lower  California,  was  built  within  8  feet  of  a  blacksmith's  torjre,  where  the 
smoke  constantly  obscured  nest,  bird,  and  all;  but  tho  structure  was  finished 
and  the  eiyi's  laid  in  spito  of  the  noise  and  confusion." 

Besides  spiders,  small  insects,  etc.,  and  tho  nectar  of  difToront  kinds  of  flow- 
ers, Anna's  IIunnnin<rbird  is  said  to  bo  extremely  fond  of  the  sap  of  tho  willow 
(Salix  larioh'pis),  and  it  has  also  been  observed  hoverinj^  about  tho  punctures 
made  by  the  Rod-breasted  Sai)su(!ker  (Sphi/rapicu.s  nihvr)  in  fruit  orchards. 

Nidification,  as  already  stated,  bejfins  very  early  in  (/'alifornia,  occasicmally 
in  .January,  but  more  often  in  February,  and,  as  a  rule,  but  few  of  the  first  nests 
are  found.  The  second  setf  find  their  way  into  collections  more  fre<]Uently, 
however,  and  tho  seas(m  for  these  is  at  its  liei<;ht  in  April  or  the  first  half  of 
May.  At  this  time  they  retire  farther  into  tho  foothills  and  nest  mostly  amonj;' 
the  shrubbery  along  tho  numerous  small  creeks  found  in  the  canyons  of  the 
mountains,  followin<r  uj*  tho  flowers,  in  which  they  find  a  con.siderablo  portion 
of  their  daily  food,  and  wiiicli  usually  bloom  somewhat  later  in  such  localities. 

The  nests  of  Amia's  Hummin<ibird  also  differ  somewhat  from  those  of  tho 
previously  described  species  in  their  jifeneral  make-up,  and  can  in  most  cases 
be  readily  di.stin<>uisiied  from  them.  The  inner  walls  are  likewise  composed  of 
various  kinds  of  plant  (h>wn,  that  found  on  the  under  side  of  the  leaves  of 
sycamore  being-  jjcrhaps  most  frequentl)'  used,  while  willow  and  thistle  down 
enters  less  often  into  their  composititm.  Some  of  the  early  nests  are  almost 
entirely  compt)sed  of  tho  flowers  of  the  J^uvali/pfioi,  the  Australian  gum  tree. 
Tho  outer  walls  are  covered  with  soft  green  tree  mosses  and  lichens,  principally 
the  former,  and  these  are  held  firmly  in  place  l)y  sjtider  webs  and  cocoons.  The 
inner  cup  is  lined  with  fine;  plant  down  and  a  few  soft,  fluffy  foatlu-rs  (apparently 
those  of  the  fi'male)  and  occasionally  with  fur.  A  well-preserved,  average-sized 
s}tecimen,  taken  near  8anta  Cruz,  CalifV>rnia,  on  May  14,  1872,  measures  about 
1§  inches  in  outer  diameter  by  11  inches  in  height;  the  imier  cu}>  is  I  inch  in 
diameter  by  five-eigiiths  of  an  inch  in  depth;  while  one  khul'v  sent  me  by  Mr. 
C.  Barlow,  of  Santa  Clara,  CJalifornia,  t«ken  by  him  on  February  11,  1894, 
containing  two  slightly  incubated  eggs,  has  much  thicker  walls  and  is  profusely 
lined  with  soft  feathers  of  the  Western  Bluebird.  It  was  saddled  on  u  hori- 
zontal twig  of  a  cypress  altout  half  an  inch  thick  and  15  feet  from  tlu^  ground. 
He  writes:  "This  was  the  first  Anna's  Ilununiugljird's  nest  found  by  me  in 
1S!I4.  On  the  same  day  several  pairs  were  seen  and  one  pair  was  found  to  be 
building  on  the  remains  of  a  last  year's  nest,  which  contained  fresh  eggs  on 
February  21.  At  this  season  of  the  year  it  is  usuall  •  rainy;  the  smi  generally 
rises  bright,  but  is  soon  obscured  by  clouds.  1  noticed  that  a  large  majority  of 
these  early  nests  were  built  on  the  east  side  of  the  trees,  which  aj)peared  to  mo 
as  being  done  perhaps  so  as  to  catch  the  rays  of  the  sun  while  it  shone  for  por- 


f.    ,•' 


ANNA'S  JIUMMINGBIUD. 


209 


liapa  fill  hour.  Lat«'r  on  tlie  iwntH  wore  I'liilt  uliiiost  iinywlion\  As  a  nilo,  the 
early  iriiiiiniorH  liero  l)uil<l  in  (•y|)rl'^ss  (ottcii  i-alloil  'ci'dar')  troes,  and  the  nosts 
aro  usually  linod  with  Icatlu-rs.  1  suiJixiso  this  is  due  to  tho  lack  !)t  voffutahh) 
down,  whi<'h  is  ])h*ntit'ul  later,  for  I  have  never  found  a  late  nest  lined  with 
feathers.  A  nest  found  on  February  22  was  linetl  wih  red  cow  hair  and  looked 
(juite  odd.  Other  of  tlie.sc  early  ni-sts  were  lined  with  Western  Hhuthird's  or 
Western  Holtin's  feathers,  while  one  i-ontained  a  large  feather  of  some  Owl." 

The  nests  are  most  often  i)laced  on  low  branches  or  twifjs  overhan<fin}^ 
watercourses,  in  sycamore,  mai)l»!,  cottonwood,  alder,  or  sumach  trees  or  Itushes, 
at  no  great  di.staiu-e  from  the  water;  and  again  they  may  be  found  in  cypress, 
Australian  blue  gum,  elder,  box  elder,  and  in  orciiard  trees,  such  as  orange,  peach, 
and  plum.  In  I^twer  California  Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony  found  it  also  nesting  in 
(holla  cactus.  Nests  are  sometimes  placed  within  a  foot  of  the  ground,  and 
others  fully  l\'t  feet  up,  the  average  being  from  S  to  If)  feet.  They  may  be 
saddled  on  a  small,  drooping  limb,  or  jdaced  in  the  forks  of  small  twigs;  in 
eitiier  case  they  are  substantially  built  structures  and  well  secured  to  theii 
surroundings. 

Only  two  eggs  are  laid  to  a  stt,  and  these,  likt^  all  Ilununingbird's  eggs, 
are  (lull  white  in  color  and  elliptical  oval  in  shape.  Incubation  lasts  from  four- 
teen to  si.\tt'en    days,  and  the  mal;'  'Iocs  not  assist  in  this  duty. 

The  averag(?  measurement  of  twenty-foin-  specimens  is  l,'i.21l  by  S.7(!  milli- 
metres, or  alxait  0.52  by  0.34  inch.  The  largest  egg  measures  14.2:.!  by  H.H!( 
niillinn'tres,  or  O.ot!  by  0.3")  inch;  the  smallest,  12.70  by  8..'5S  millimetres,  or 
O.i'jU  Ity  0.33  inch. 

Tiicf  type  specimen.  No.  21748  (not  figured),  from  a  set  of  two  eggs,  Hen- 
dire  collection,  was  taken  l)y  llr.  William  A.  Coi>per,  near  Santa  Cruz,  ( "ali- 
fornia,  on  May  14,  1872. 


73.     Selasphorus  floresii  (rouLu. 

FIA)ltKSrs  nUMMlN(iblKI). 

iSvlanphonts  ^liorcHiHiovt,n,  Moiiogra)ili  of  the  Trocliilidic,  Tt.  XXlll,  Si-ptember  1,  1801, 
JM.  iu;  and  Vol.  3,  1801,  I'l.  Kt!t. 

(H  — ,  C  — .  n  — ,  C  — ,  U  4.U.I.) 

Oegokai'IIICAI,  RAN(fE:  8oii  til  Western  Mexico,  Jalisco,  and  Oa.xaea;  a('ci(U,'iital  to 
Calit'urnia. 

Floresi's  I[uinmingl)ird  or  Flame-bearer,  an  ex([uisitely  jilumaged  species, 
can  be  considered  only  as  an  accidental  .straggler  within  tlu^  liorders  of  the 
Unit(Ml  States,  and  still  remains  very  rare  in  collections.  It  was  olitained  at 
iJolanos,  Oaxaca,  Mexico,  in  184.5,  and  remained  unicpie  for  .-some  time.  More 
recently  it  has  been  reported  from  the  State  *"  Jalisco,  and  Mr.  Walter  K. 
Bryant  found  a  specimen  in  a  taxidermist's  shop  in  San  Francisco,  Califoniia, 

ItiSyU-No.  3 U 


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210 


I.ilE  lilSTOUiEa  OF  JJfOKTll  A.MKKICAN  IJlltUS. 


wliicli  IiimI  hi'L^i  iiKmutod  as  a  hat  bird;  lie  waw  assured  that  it  lia<l  boon  killed 
lu'ar  tiiat  city,  wliii-li  eiititles  it  to  a  place  in  otir  fauna.' 

Notliinji'  a[)j)ear8  to  be  known  as  yet  reyardinjf  the  lite  histiay  of  this  luuul- 
some  Hpecios. 


74.     Selasphorus  platycercus  (Swainson). 

HROAD-TAll-Kl)  Hl'MMINCiltlKD. 

Trochiliiit  plntjivetoiiH  HwAlNsoN,  Philosopliical  Magazine,  I,  18^7,  441. 
ScliinplioruK  plati/cercuM  BoNAi'ARTK,  Conspo^tus  Avium,  I,  IH,")(»,  p.  H'2. 

(W  104,  O  278,  1{  a;j»,  (J  413,  I •  4;{l'.) 

(iEociUAriiirAL  KANGE:  Mouiitaiu  reRions  of  wi'stcrn  Xortli  America;  iiortli  in  tlip 
railed  Stales  to  Wyoniiiijf  and  Idaiio;  east  to  tlie  eastern  slojies  of  Die  lioeiiy  .Mountains 
iuid  iidjiieeat  ranges  in  Colorado  inid  New  .Mi^xico;  we.^t  to  the  Sierra  Nevada  and  western 
Ari/.iina,  as  well  as  in  the  intervening  regions;  south  througii  Ari/.inia,  southern  New  Mex- 
ico, and  western  Texas,  over  the  Mexican  tublelantls  to  Uuateuuilu,  Central  Auieriea. 

Tile  iiroad-tailed  or  Hocky  Mountain  Huiiiiiiiii<|i)ird  is  pretty  peiienilly 
distributed  tiiroufiliout  the  various  iiiountain  .systems  bc^tweeii  the  eastern  .slopes 
of  the  Hocky  Mountiiins  and  the  Sierra  Nevadas.  It  can  only  be  considered 
as  a  suiniiier  resident  in  the  United  States,  retiriiiji'  over  the  table-lands  of 
Aloxico  southward  to  (Juateinala  in  winter.  It  usually  iiuikes  its  appearance 
aloiiji"  our  sdutliern  border  in  Arizona  and  Xew  .Mexico  early  in  March,  and 
returns  south  in  tla^  lattcM-  part  of  Septeinlier  or  the  l)e<fiiinin<i'  of  October. 
As  far  as  yet  known,  it  reaches  tlu^  northern  limits  of  its  ranji'e  in  southern 
Wyomiuj;'  and  Malio,  and  is  an  exceedin<>'ly  aliundant  species  throufihoiit  the 
mountains  of  Nevada,  Utah,  (J<dorado,  New  .Mexico,  and  .Arizona.  Tlie  Sierra 
Nevadas  seem  to  form  the  western  boundary  of  its  raii<i(',  and  it  apparently  does 
not  occur  west  of  these  mountains  in  ("alifornia.  In  .hiiie,  lcS7(>,  while  eu  route 
from  Camp  .McDermit,  Nevada,  to  Camp  Harney,  Orefion,  I  oliserved  several 
IIuinmiii<>birds  aiiion<?the  willows  beside  a  little  brook  aloiiji"  the  southern  slopes 
of  Steen's  .Mountain,  in  southern  Oreji'on,  which  I  am  almost  certain  belonged  to 
this  species,  but  not  l)ein<;'  jirepared  for  collectinji-,  I  was  unaiile  to  sectiire  speci- 
mens. Dr.  ( !  Hart  .Merriam  records  a  specimen  taken  at  liiji'  Hutte,  Idaho,  which 
is  located  in  alioiit  the  same  latitude,  on  July  1!>,  ISIK),  and  1  have  no  (haibt 
that  its  raiific  will  yet  be  extended  into  southeastern  Ori'^i-on.  I  also  met  with 
this  species  as  a  rare  summer  resident  in  the  foothills  of  the  Santa  Catalina 
Mountains,  in  scaithern  Arizona,  and  obtained  a  siiii>le  nest  contaiiiiiiu'  two 
nearly  fresli  eji'ji's,  placed  on  a  small  c<ittonwood  twij>'  in  a  caii\oii,  alioiit  I)  feet 
from  the  j;Tound,  at  an  altitude  of  about  4,<S(H)  fcMst,  on  .hiiie  11,  1872.  It  did 
not  apjiear  to  breed  in  the  valley  of  Hillito  Creek. 

In  eastern  Colorado  it  appears  to  be  the  only  representative  of  this  familv, 
and  is  exceedingly  almndant.  Mr.  W.  (1.  Smith  writes  me  from  Larimer  ( 'oiiiit\', 
in  this  State:   "The   Broad-tailed  Hummer  is  couimon   in  the  mountains  from 


'Foiest  iiiid  Strcimi,  Veil.  'M,  p.  120. 


":;;•■  r- 


THE  BKOADTAILED  HUMMINUUIRI). 


211 


7,000  fiset  up  to  timber  lino,  uowtinpf  almost  ovcrywlu'ro  lK*t\v(>t'ii  tliose  i)ointH; 
ami  a  \ar<i:(i  \niw  truo  srcMiis  to  answer  ecjiially  well  lor  a  nestiii;,''  site  as  a  small 
hush.  Ill  tre((s  the  nest  is  frequently  saddled  on  a  larj^i^  lind>,  hut  it  is  more 
often  placed  in  low  bushes,  particularly  on  willow  branches  overhan;;injr  water. 
The  male  has  a  curious  hal)it  of  tlyin<(  up  almost  perpendicularly,  100  feet  or 
more,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  selected  nestin<»'  sit»!,  and  he  fn^piently  repeats  this 
|)erformance  three  or  four  times  in  succession  before  alijfhtinff  on  some  dead 
limb.  The  female  is  very  loath  to  leave  her  e<ifgs,  and  if  driven  off  will  return 
a<iain  directly,  even  thou<ifh  the  intruder's  hand  is  placed  within  a  few  inches  of 
the  nest." 

As  far  as  my  limited  ob-servations  go,  all  of  our  llunnninjrbirds  in<lul<;e  in 
this  p('r[)endicidar  tlif^ht  durin<r  the  nestin<f  .season,  and  not  a  few  of  the  nests 
were  found  by  me  while  watchin<f  these  birds  <;-o  throu;ih  this  peH'ormance, 
which  is  ni>t  ahme  confined  to  the  male;  the  femah^  also  does  it.  On  the  first 
arrival  of  this  species  in  the  sprinjr  it  is  comparatively  couunon  in  the  lower 
foothills  and  valleys,  and  nn(|uestionably  breeds  here.  I5y  the  time  the  yonnf;^ 
;wv  hw'^v  (Miouji'h  to  leave  the  nest  tlu-  majoi-ity  of  the  Howers  have  ceased 
liloiiminj"',  and  as  the  c(»untry  bej^ins  to  dry  up  more  and  morethe.se  Hunmiiuj'- 
i)irds  retire  to  lii(>her  altitudes  in  the  mountain  parks,  where  everythin<;'  is  now 
as  j-reen  ami  ia'ight  hiokinji'  as  it  was  in  the  lower  valleys  two  or  three  months 
earlier.  Here  they  raise  their  second  broods  inidi"'  nearly  similar  conditions  as 
the  first;  the  former  are  by  this  time  well  able  to  take  care  of  themselves  and 
can  be  seen  frolicking'  about  everywhere,  'i'hese  vertical  mijirations,  if  they  can 
be  called  such,  frecjuently  account  for  the  entire  disappearance  of  certain  species 
in  summer  from  localities  where  they  may  have  been  exceedin<r|y  numerous  a. 
couple  of  months  earlier,  and  the  {j'radnal  dimiiuition  or  actual  scarcity  of  fiie 
food  supjilv  plainly  accounts  for  the  sudden  chanj;(^  in  tiieir  lial)itat. 

Mr.  Kobert  Uidji-way  writes:  "'rheHit>ht  of  this  Hmn!iiinjil)inl  is  unusually 
rapid,  and  that  of  the  male  is  accompanied  l)V  a  curious  screechini"-  buzz  while 
it  is  followed  throujih  an  nndulatinj>'  course.  \j(t\\<r  before  the  author  of  this 
curious  sound  was  detected  its  source  was  a  Tnvster\-  to  us.  This  shrill,  scri'cch- 
inji'  note  is  heard  only  when  the  l)ird  is  passinji'  rapidly  throuyli  tlu^  air,  for 
when  hiiverin<>-  amon<i'  the  Howers  its  Hiijlit  is  accomi)aiiied  liy  oiiiy  tlie  usual 
umrtled  hum  couunon  to  all  the  sj)ecics  of  tin*  family."' 

Accordinjj- to  Dr.  C  Hart  Merriam,  the  Ihoad-tailed  lluiiniiei'  is  very  al)un- 
dant  in  the  balsam  belt  and  the  upper  jjarts  of  tluf  pine  belt  in  the  San  Francisco 
I\Iouiitain  re}>ion  in  Arizona.  In  "North  America  Fauna,"  No.  15,  18!t()  (p.  !l,'{), 
he  says;  ".\  nest  containing-  two  nearly  tledgeil  yoiuig  was  found  on  the  linili  of 
a  I)(mi>las  fir,  abcmt  4  feet  from  the  ground,  July  31.  The  ])rincipal  food  plant 
of  this  Hummingbird  is  the  beautiful  scarlet  trumpet  flower  of  I'liitstcmoii 
liiiihiitiifi  torrci/i.  During  the  latter  part  of  August  and  early  September,  after  it 
had  ceased  tlowering,  these  birds  were  most  often  seen  in  the  beds  of  the  large 
lUue  Larkspur  (^l)clphhtiiiin  scopulorum).     They  wake  up  early  in  the  morning 

'I'.  .S.  Oi'uloKlcal  KxplorotiouN  of  tlie  4()(li  I'aiallol,  1K77.  p.  Ml. 


r 


'm 


• .   „ » ■ 


:* 


!  !  i,  ■ 


■■3 


I! 
I 


i 


I 


It' 


fi' 


•11 


'  -i 


w 


i 

.'Hi 
It 

m 


ii 


t  u 
•'HI 


i.l 


if.:-; 


212 


LIFK  UISTOUIES  Ol'  J(OUTU  AMIiKlCJAN  UlUDH. 


iiiid  jii>  to  water  lit  iliiylitjlit,  in>  iiiutter  liuw  rold  the  wi^iitlicr  in.  I)iiriii<i'  tlio 
iiiiiiitli  of  Aii^riiHt,  and  partii-iilarly  tlic  Hi'Ht  lialt'  oi'  the  iiioiitli,  wlicii  llic  iiioni- 
iiiji'H  were  often  froHty,  liumlrodH  of  tlioin  I'linio  to  tlit-  s|)riii<f  to  drink  and  Imtlici 
at  lircak  of  day.  Tlicy  were  liko  a  hwiiiiii  of  hccs,  Imzziii};  iilioiit  one's  head 
and  dartiii}{-  to  and  fro  in  every  dircetion.  'I'lie  air  wiih  full  of  tliem.  Tliey 
would  drop  down  to  the  water,  dip  their  feet  and  iiellies,  and  rise  and  shoot 
away  as  if  propelled  by  an  unseen  power.  'I'liey  would  often  dart  at  the  face 
of  an  intruder  as  if  lient  on  piercinj^  the  eye  with  their  needle-like  Jiill,  and 
then  poise  for  a  moment  almost  within  reach  hefore  turniiifj',  when  they  were 
iij^ain  lost  in  the  busy  thronj;'.  Whether  this  net  was  prompted  by  curiosity  or 
resentment  I  was  notable  to  aseertain.  Several  were  seen  at  the  summit  of  the 
mountain  duriii;{'  the  latter  part  of  Auf^ust.  I'hoy  were  found  also  at  the  (Jriiiul 
I'anynn  of  the  (Joloriido  September  12  to  15.  They  bej^aii  to  leaxi?  the  moun- 
tain diiriiifj  the  first  week  in  September,  and  none  were  seen  after  the  middle  of 
the  month." 

The  Howers  of  the  St i()i>hiil(tiiii,  (kotilla,  Af/iirr  itiiivtinnid,  miv'  numerous 
others,  have  {j^reat  attractions  for  them  owin<f  to  the  iiuantities  ot  small  insects 
which  they  harbor.  In  the  more  southern  portions  of  their  ran^e  nidilicatiini 
comineiices  late  ill  April  or  the  be<rinuin},''of  May,  but  most  of  thes;  early  sets  are 
j;enerally  overlooked,  while  the  second  sets  are  usually  laid  alMtiit  the  first  two 
weeks  in  dune,  and  nestiii<i;  continues  tlirou<f|iout  duly  in  portions  of  their  ranji'e. 
Mr.  Kobert  Hidgway  obtained  two  nests  of  this  species  with  e^';is  in  I'arley's 
I'ark,  I'tah,  on  .Fuly  23,  18(!9;  they  were  }daced  in  willows  •••rowiny  beside  a 
stream. 

Nests  from  diHerent  lo.-alities  vary  considerably  in  make-up  as  widl  ..-  in 
size.  Nests  saddled  on  <>'ood-si/,ed  limbs,  like  those  often  found  in  the  moun- 
tains of  (Colorado,  are  occasionally  almost  as  larjic  aj^ain  as  others  ]»lac('(|  on 
.small  twifjfs.  One  now  before  me.  from  the  Halpli  collection,  taken  by  Mr. 
William  (i.  Smith,  at  Pinmvood,  ('olorado,  on  dune  2.'!,  181)2,  measures  2  inches 
in  outer  iliameter  by  lj|  inches  in  depth,  while  one  taken  liy  Mr.  Hidgway,  in 
I'iirh'v's  I*ark,  Utah,  on  July  23,  18(51),  measures  cmly  1§  by  1  inch  outside 
measurement.  The  difference  in  size  of  the  inner  cu[)s  of  these  two  nests  is  even 
more  noticeable,  the  former  measuriii}''  1  inch  by  three-fourths  of  an  inch,  the 
latter  threi'-fourths  by  one-half  of  an  iiudi.  While  the  walls  of  both  of  these 
nests  are  mainly  composed  of  willow  or  cottonwood  down,  their  outer  covering- 
is  entirely  dissimilar.  The  outside  of  the  largcM'  one  is  profusely  coNcrecl  with 
small  bits  of  li(dieiis,  like  the  ne.st  of  the  Ruby-throat;  the  smaller  one  is  deco- 
rated with  shreds  of  bark,  fine  leaves,  and  dry  plant  fibers,  reseiiiblin<;-  more 
the  nests  of  (Costa's  llumminjifbird  in  this  respect.  The  radical  difference  in  the 
ap])earance  of  the  nests  is  far  {>reater  than  my  simple  description  would  indicate, 
and  the  specimens  themselves  must  be  seen  to  have  this  diffei-ence  fully  appre- 
ciated. There  is  no  dou1)t  whatever  of  the  correct  identification  of  both,  but 
their  ne.sts  evidently  vary  j,^reatly  in  diflereut  localities,  and  while  frequently 
one  can  form  a  pretty  yood  guess  as  to  what  sjiecies  certain   llummingbird.s' 


TIIK  iniOAlJ-TAlLUn  IIUMMINOJUUI). 


213 


iu>stM  lit'loiij;,  in  tliis  iiist.'iic*-  iii  IciiHt  it  wimiIiI  Ik-  iiii|iiissil)l)'  to  form  ji  curri'ct 
idcii  tVnin  tlif  iM'st  mill  c^^u's  ulonc,  without  olitiiiiiiii^  tlif  parnit.  'I'lic  iiiiu  r 
liiiiii;;'  ii|)|i*-ars  to  lie  i'oiii|io»(  il  entirely  of  willow  or  eottonwood  down,  and  none 
ot"  the  NpocimcnH  iu't'orc  nie  contain  even  a  siiij»'l<>  fcntlicr.  'I'lic  outer  covcrin^i' 
or  tliatcliiiifi'  is  lirndy  securcfl  to  the  walls  of  the  nest  with  spider  wei)s  or  silk 
fi<»ni  (H)coons.  'I'lie  majority  of  the  nests  of  tin-  Ih'oad-tailed  llunnnin;"i)ird  are 
placed  on  low,  horizontal  hrauches  of  willows,  ahlers,  cottonwoods,  etc,  at  no 
{^reat  lieij;ht  from  the  ji'iound,  or  overhanffinjf  small  mountain  streams,  while 
others  are  saildled  on  liouj^hs  or  lindts  of  pine,  fir,  spruce,  oi'  aspens,  from  4  to  l."» 
feet  fntni  the  }>rountl,  rarely  higher.  Occasionally  a  nest  may  Ite  placed  on  a 
curled-u]i  piece  of  hark  or  on  a  splinter  of  a  broken  lindi.  'i'he  lenjjth  of  incu- 
liation  is  proltahly  the  same  as  that  of  our  other  species  aliont  which  somewhat 
mor(^  is  known,  and  two  if  not  three  broods  are  rejiularly  raised  in  a  season. 
The  ejiffs,  two  in  lunuher,  reseudde  those  (»f  the  Uuhy-throat  in  every  respect, 
i)nt  are  a  trifle  shorter. 

'I'he  averaji'e  measurement  of  tifte<'n  specimens  in  the  liiiited  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  12.71)  by  H„'{3  millimetres,  or  about  O.oO  by  ().3.'{  inch. 
The  larj.(nst  ejjffjf  measures  18.21  by  H.iiS  millimetres,  or  0Iy2  by  ()..'i.'{  inch;  the 
smaUest,  12.1!)  by  S.l.'S  millimetres,  or  ().4H  by  ().;$2  inch. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  2<!71);J  (not  (iffured),  from  a  set  of  two  e;i';;s,  Italph 
collection,  was  taken  in  K.-tes  Park,  ('(dorado,  on  .June  It),  1S92.  The  nest  was 
placed  in  the  forks  of  .i  willow  twiji',  4  feet  from  the  jiround,  neai"  the  banks  of 
a  little  mountain  brook. 


75.     Selasphorus  rufus  ((Lmkun). 

KUKOl'S  lUMMlXOUIKO. 

Tntrliihis  nifun  (Imklin,  Systeinii  Natnrn'.  I,  i,  17.S8,  4!)7. 
fitUii<2>liuniii  riij'un  Goi'LU,  M<m();,'i'iiiili  of  tlii'Trocliilidii-,  III,  I.S."»2,  IM.  l.'!7. 

(|{  im,  C  U77,  K  .{40,  C  411,  IJ  I.W.) 

(ii'.ooHAl'HicAL  KANUK:  WcstiTii  North  AiiuMU'ii;  north  lhioii;>li  I'.ritish  Coluiniiia 
to  aliont  latitude  <il'  in  southern  Ahisiiii;  east,  in  t\u'.  rnited  Slates,  to  the  eastern  slopes 
of  tiie  lioeky  Mtanitains  I'loni  Montana  fhroufjli  ('ol(Hii*lo  to  New  Mi-.xieo,  us  well  as  in  the 
interveiiiii};-  ie}i;ioiis;  south  throa(;li  California,  Arizona,  .southern  New  Mexicct.  western 
'I'exas,  and  the  talile-lands  of  .Mexico;  in  winter  to  Vera  (Jruz  and  Oaxaea,  Mexico,  iind 
liower  California. 

The  Uufous  llunmiinffbird,  also  occasionally  calleil  "Hufous-backeil,"  "( 'in- 
nanion,"  and  "Xootka"  Udimniufibird,  ajipears  to  be  the  most  widely  distributed 
species  of  the  Trii(liili(l(c  fotnid  on  the  North  American  continent,  extending-  at 
least  over  4t)''  of  latitude.  It  reaches  somewhat  farther  north  than  the  b'liity- 
throated  Ilunniiinjibird,  and  apjiears  to  be  a  tolerably  common  summer  resi- 
dent in  .southern  Alaska,  where  Dr.  T.  II.  Hean  found  it  nestiii;^-  in  the  vicinity 
of  Sitka  on  .lune  !).  It  has  also  been  observed  somewhat  farther  north  on  the 
•Vlaskan  coast,  in  the  vicinity  of  Mcuuit  St.  Klias,  in  aiiout  latitude  til    ;   l)ut 


I 


■if 


■  i. 


■'Oil 


!-1  ;• 


".'■1^ 


214 


lilKK  mSTOUlKH  OF  NOUTll  AMKIfUAN  lUUDH. 


luiw  tar  it  n-iiclicH  irio  tlic  intcritir  dt'  tliin  tcmtury  is  Hfill  unknown.  In 
lli'itiHli  ('(iliinihin  it  nuifrcs  well  into  tlii'  central  partH  of  tliin  province.  Mr.  |{. 
Mac!' aria ne,  to  wlioni  vn>  are  iialeltteil  tor  ho  iiiitcli  int'orniation  re}rar<lin<>'Nortii 
Aineri<'an  ornitliolo^iv  in  tlie  tar  north,  forwarded  a  nest  and  ejijrs,  witli  tlie  parent, 


totlit^  I'nited  .States*  Nati 


.M 


iseinn.     Tliese  were  taken  1»\  liiin  in  llie  \icinit\ 


of  Kort  St.  .lames  on  .Inne  KS  iSMil,  wliile  en  route  to  the  llndson  Mavt'oni- 
pany's  I'ost,  on  Stewart's  Lake,  in  aliont  latitnde  .')4^'  40'.  It  is  (piite  likely  tliat  it 
also  reaches  tlie  province  of  Alixrta.as  it  is  a  moderately  con  nnon  sinnmer  resident 
in  northern  Idaho,  where  1  tonnd  it  iireedinfi' near  Fort  Lapwai  on  .lime 'JT,  1H71, 
and  Mr.  K.  S.  Williams  writes  me  from  ('oinmltia  Kails,  Montana,  that  lie  has 
fonnil  the  WiiJ'oiis  llnmmer  in  the  valley  of  the  upper  .Missouri  Hiver.  Aloii^'  the 
eastern  slopes  of  the  U'ocky  Moimtains  it  ai)pears  to  occur  somewhat  irrej;iilarly. 
Mr.  Oeiiis  (iaie  writes  me  that  he  saw  a  Hin^jle  specimen  of  this  lliimmer  in 
IJoulder  ( 'oiinty,  ( 'olorado,  while  Mr.  William  (J.  Smith  re|iorts  it  as  rare  in 
Larimer  ('oniity,  hnt  toleraltly  conmion  in  Arapahoe  County,  in  the  same  State. 
Mr.  Frank  M.  Drew  rejiorts  it  as  lireedinj;'  in  the  h'ocky  Mountains  up  to  altitudes 
of  1(),.')(>()  fei't,  while  in  the  southern  Sierra  Nevadas  it  is  e\-en  common  ahove 
timlier  line.  In  our  Northwestern  States,  in  Oregon  and  Washiii;itoii, especially 
west  of  the  Cascades,  as  well  as  in  some  of  the  mountain  ri'yioiis  of  ( 'alifornia, 
northern  Arizona,  and  New  Mexico,  the  Hufoiis  Iliimminjjltird  is  a  very  cominoii 
summer  resident.  I  have  never  seen  anythin;^  like  such  niimhers  of  lliimmin^- 
l)irds  as  I  met  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Klamath,  Ore^roii,  about  the  time  this 
species  and  the  ( 'alliope  Iliiumier  passed  throu<ih  there  on  their  spring;' mijrra- 
tion.     From  the  time  the  wild  currant  and  <;oosel)erry  Imslies  (Itihis)  lie^-in  to 


tl 


oW( 


V  (and  they  jii'ow  in  ;;reat  aiaindance  amoiifi'  the  ojieii   pii 


le  wo<M 


is  al 


on 


all  the  streams  in  Klamath  Valley)  they  swarm  everywhere,  ami  if  they  had 
only  stayed  quiet  lon^'  enoiij;li  to  count  them,  I  am  sure  as  many  as  a  thoii>.i'id 
to  the  acre  could   have   been  found  here;   they  remain  Ncry  abundant  as  Ion;;' 


til 


ese  llowers 


last.     I  never  saw  anNthiu"'  like  the 


numbers  anxwhere  else, 


Their  constant  iaizziu^'  while  tlyin^'  from  biisli  to  bush,  about  each  of  which  as 
many  as  a  dozer  were  perhajis  already  hovering,  and  the  jilitter  of  their  brilliant 


.1  1 


pinniii^ie  as  they  tiaslied    liy,  ciiasm;;'  eacli  other,  was  a  si<^lit  Ion; 


to  I 


le  remem- 


bered. Few  of  this  species  a])peared  to  remain  to  breed;  at  any  rate,  I  failed 
in  tindiii;^-  a  single  one  of  their  ne.sts  here,  altlion^h  I  searched  carefully  for 
them.  At  Camp  Harney,  ( )re^dii,  alon^'  \]h'  southern  slopes  of  the  Mine  Moun- 
tains, 1  found  this  species  a  rather  rare  summer  resident  ahm^-  the  outskirts  of 
the  nine  forests. 


Mi 


Rufous    Hummer  jiciu'rally  reenters  our  southern 
•1 


bord 


er  earlv  m 


ch,  passing'  leisurely  northward,  and  commences  its  winter  migration  a^^ain 


from  the  more  northern  ))arts  of  its  ran^'e  about  the  1st  of  September.      I  do  not 
believe  that  any  nfinaiu  within  our  borders  tliiou<ihoiit  the  yeur. 

In  Oregon  nidification  begins  occasionally  by  the  second  week  in  April, 
and  a  nest  containin<i'  slightly  incubated  v^r'^s  was  found  by  Dr.  Clinton  '\\ 
Cooke,  near  Salem,  Oregon,  on  April  18,  1H88,  whilo  iu  nii(hlle  Califoruiu  it 


TIIK  UUF«.»U8  HUMMINOUIUI). 


215 


nt'Hts  now  and  tlii'ii  iinii'ly  a  iiuiiitli  carlitT.  \  s|i«'ciiiicii  in  my  (-ollcctioii,  taken 
In  Mr.  (I.  il.  I{«'a(ly,  at  Woods  Ija^^oon,  ncai'  Santa  Crn/,,  ('aliloiiiin,  contiiincil 
trosli  i'iiinx  tai  March  -T),  lS7r».  'rin'on;,''lituit  tlio  ^n-atcr  part  ot'  tluir  ranjic, 
cxct'ptinji'  tile  niort'  nortlicrn  portions,  tin-  iirf('(lin;f  season  is  at  its  liei^ilit  <ltn'ini; 
the  lii'st  two  weeks  in  M:iy  and  lasts  well  into  .Inly,  and  two  Itioodsare  pmlndily 
raised  re^^tdaily,  e\('e|)tin;;'  perhaps  in  northern  itritish  Colinnliia  and  sontherii 
Alaska.  The  nesting'  haliits  of  the  Unions  llnniniin^i'liii'd  are  very  similar  to 
those  of  the  pret'edinjj-  species,  and  their  nostinj;'  sites  may  l»e  looked  tor  in  low 
hnshes  as  well  as  on   hori/oiital   lindm  of  trees  at  various  distances  from  tin* 


;rroun(l 


One  of  the  most  complete  and  intercstinj;'  articles  on  the  life  history  of  this 
species  is  that  of  Mr.  II.  W.  llenshaw,  in  "'I'lu^  Auk"  (Vol.  Ill,  Lssd.  pp.  7(!-7s), 
who  inclines  to  the  belief  that  the  majority  of  tht'so  birds  on  the  npper  I'ecos 
Uiver,  New  Mexico,  breed  in  the  upp<'r  lindis  of  the  pines,  and,  althon^jh  they 
were  e.\ceedinj;iy  abundant  there,  he  only  found  a  single  nest,  anil  this  only 
after  it  had  been  deserted.  I  am  also  of  the  belief  that  in  certain  localities 
thuy  nest  farther  from  the  jiTound  than  llnmmin;;'birds  usually  do.  The  only 
nest  found  by  me  in  the  West  was  at  Kort  I.apwai,  Idaho,  as  already  stated. 
'This  was  saddled  on  a  little. fork  of  a  dry  Cottonwood  twi>i",  overhanyin;^'  a  creek, 
about  1')  feet  above  the  water. 

Mr.  A.  W.  Aiithonv  writes' me:   "I  found  the   Rufous  llummini'bird  verv 


ibnndant  at   Ilea vi-rtoii.  Ore"' 


on. 


Hori'  thev  nesti'd   to  some  extent   in  oak.>^ 


blackberry  viiu'H,  and  on  dry  roots  projectinjj  from  upturned  trees.  One  nest 
liiini;'  fioin  the  end  of  a  bill  fern,  while  others,  droopiiifi'  over  it  from  aliove,  hid 
the  beautiful  structure  from  all  but  accidental  discovery, 
however,  seemed  to  be  the  loni'',  ti'ailiii"'  vines  overl 


Their  favorite  sites, 


in^i'in;;'  em 


liaiik 


meiits  iiiid 


upturned  trees.  A  number  were  found  in  railroad  cuts;  freipiently  several  nests 
were  situated  within  a  few  feet  of  i-ach  other,  a  slii;ht  jireference  lieiiiji'  slinwu 
to  iMiibankinents  havinj;'  a  soutlu'rn  exposure.  One  nest  was  foiuid  that  had 
been  placed  ou  top  of  a  last  year's  habitation,  a  mere  rim  beiii^i'  built  to  raiso 
the  sides,  and  a  flooring;'  beinji  added  to  cover  up  a  larji'e  jieblde  that  could  be 
]ilaiiily  felt  imder  the  cotton  lining-.     Fresh  e^jfjfs  were  found   here  from  .May  1 


tod 


line 


Hi 


Dr.  Cliiitoii  T.  Cooke  found  me  of  their  nosts,  near  Salem,  Orejron,  on  a 
droopin}"'  limb  of  an  ash   tree,  20  feet  from  the  f^round:  others  were  found  in 


wa> 


xberrv  and  blackberr\'  bushes.     At  Table   l{ock,  in  the  Cascade  Mouiiti 


iins, 


they  were  very  aliundaiit  on  .hily  ">,  1887,  feodin<>-  on  a  ('i)shllr/fii,  in  blos.soui 
at  the  time. 

Mr.  |{.  n.  Lawrence  met  with  the  Rufous  Tluminingbird  in  variiais  jiarts  of 
Washino'ton,  and  writes  me  that  it  is  very  co 


mnion 


tl 


WW. 


II 


IS  ear 


liest 


record 


was  March  J),  when  they  had  already  .reached   Ihvaco,  in  the  siaithwestern  part 
of  the   State.       [ii   southern    California  this   species   was  noticed    by    him    near 


Monrovia,  on   March   <S,   1S94,  and  at   Dnarte  lie  often  saw  K'lif 


oils 


II 


iimiiiers 


flitting'  about  the   blossom-laden   oranj>-e  trees,  in  company  with  other  llum- 
niers,  in  an  (achard  situated  near  the  foothills. 


n^ 


r 


I 

■  i 


I 


Jlill 


216 


LIFE  lllSTOlllES  OF  ^OUTII  AMERICAN  UlUDS. 


-::!*^-  ': 


li*- 


A(  fonliu'''  to  my  obscrviitidiis,  tliis  IIumnKM'  seems  to  he  especiiillv  jmjjmi- 
cions,  and  is  fi])i)iirently  more  tliiiii  a  iiiiitcli  for  the  f>tlier  species  witli  wliicli  it 
conies  in  eontiict,  even  it'  n  triile  lar-^cr  than  itself. 

The  nests  of  tlie  iiiifous  iruiini:!ii;>l»iril  reseml)le  tliose  of  Anna's  very 
closely  in  the  ^fenera!  miike-up,  heinji'  HikmI  insiile  with  cotton  down,  while  the 
outside  is  more  or  less  profusely  covercfl  with  fine*  mosses,  shreds  of  bark,  and 
occasionally  a  few  lichens.  An  avenijiM*  nest  measures  lA  inches  in  outer 
diameter  l)y  \\  inclu's  in  (h'pth;  the  imu'r  cuj)  is  alxiut  seveu-eijijiths  of  an 
iiu'h  in  wi<lth  by  one-half  inch  deep.  No  feathers,  howexcr,  are  used  in  the 
ini  er  linin<>'  in  any  of  the  specinu-ns  liefore  me,  as  is  frecpiently  the  ca.se  in 
the  nests  of  Anna's  Huunninjihirds.  Beside  the  trees,  siu'ul»s,  etc.,  alreadv 
mentioned,  they  are  also  occasionally  placecl  in  cypress,  iir,  and  other  conifers, 
wild  currant,  and  salmouherry  hushes.  Mr.  Clyde  \j.  KeMer,  of  Salem,  Ore<fon, 
rei)orts  takinjf  a  set  of  thrc-e  ejj'^j's  of  this  s])ecies  from  ii  nest  in  n  l»lackl)errv 
Itush,  the  only  otiier  instance  known  to  me  where  this  number  has  lu-en  found 
in  a  Ilununinfibird's  nest,  exceptinj;-  tho.sc  recorded  uiuler  TrurliUiin  iih'.raniJit. 

The  e^i'^i's  reseml)le  tiiose  of  our  other  IInmminiil)irds  in  color  and  sha|te. 
The  averaji'e  measurement  of  seventeen  specinu-ns  in  the  Unit<'il  States  Nationid 
Museum  collection  is  12. (!1  by  8.40  millimetres,  (tr  about  (>..")(•  by  (>.,"i3  inch. 
The  lar;.>('st  v'^\i  mciisures  13.4(!  by  S.G 4  millimetres,  or  ().");{  I)y  ().;{4  inch;  the 
smallest,  ll.!»4  l)y  H.l.'J  millimetres,  or  0.47  by  O.iV-'  inch. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  •2174,')  (not  lij^'ured),  from  a  set  of  two  eii'iis,  l?en- 
<lire  collection,  was  taken  by  the  writer  near  Fort  Lajjwai,  I(hUio,  on  Jiuie  :i7, 
1«71. 


01: 


76.     Selasphorus  alleni  IIknsiiaw. 


.\i.r,E\'s  in'MMiNciinKi). 


\l^\ 


'■■■m\\ 


Selanphorus  (illeiii  llENSllAW,  Itullctin  Nattnll  Oriiitholofiicnl  Club,  II,  1.S77,  5.!. 

(H  — ,  ('  — ,  I{  ;U1,  ('  Ul',  U  l.U.) 

(■F.oonAriiif'AL  ranoe:  Western  North  America ;  iiorih  to  soiitlieni  Uritisli  Coliiin- 
l)iii;  .soiUli  tlnoufili  Wiisliiiifitoii,  Orcpiii,  (.!alil'oniia,  and  soutlieni  Ari/.oim;  in  wnUor  to 
northern  Mexico  anil  Lower  ('alitbiiiia  ?. 

'{'he  rnuo'c  of  Allen's,  also  known  as  the  "(iroon-backed,"  Hununinfrblrd  is 
not  very  well  (h'tined  as  yet:  this  is  mainly  caused  l)y  its  stronjf  re.sendtlance  to 
the  ])nM'edinji'  species,  makin<i'  it  a  very  diflicult  matter  to  distinjiuish  it  positively 
on  the  wiufi',  and  Allen's  l!umininj;l>ird  is  und(ad)tedly  fre(|Uently  mistaken  for 
the  Uufous.  It  appears  to  be  only  a  suunner  resident  in  the  I'liited  States  and 
liritish  Colinnbia,  .and  its  i)reedinjf  I'anoc  is  coextensive  with  its  distribution. 
Alum's  Iluunninjibird  "was  iirst  discovered  by  Mr.  Charles  \.  Allen,  at  Nicasio, 
California,  and  was  sui).se(piently  described  by  Mr.  11.  W.  ilenshaw  in  the  "  Mul- 
letin  of  the  Nutt;dl  Ornitholojiical  Club"  (Vol.  II,  1877,  p.  h'.i).  It  is  apparently 
not  nearly  as  connnon  as  tlu*  Uufous  liummin^^liird,  and  comparatively  few  spc^'i- 
mens  liaxe  been  taken  outside  of  California.      Mr.  U.  il.  Lawrence  records  it 


Al.LKN'S  HUMMINdlUHn. 


217 


friuii  Orav's  Trarl)or,  Wiisliini^ton,  as  a  sumiiu'i-  resident,  perliajis  as  e<iniinon 
•,\s  Scl((si)lioni.s  raf'iis,  and  I'reinKMitiiij;'  similar  places.  He  first  noticed  it  on  tlu^ 
cast  lluniptnlips  River,  on  April  30, 1891,  ainou;^  salinonbeiTy  :uid  otlior  flowiT- 
inj;' bushes.  He  writes  me  that  tlie  Hdwards  IJrothers,  taxidermists,  of 'I'acoma, 
Wn.shin^ton,  e.xhilti'^ed  a  mounted  i)air  of  thesis  birds  and  tiieir  youuf^'  in  the 
nest,  taken  in  that  vicinity,  at  the  exposition  there  in  October,  iK'.ll.  He  also 
met  with  it  in  dilfereiit  localities  in  southei-n  California.  On  AujiMist  11,  1S!I4, 
he  shot  an  adult  female  about  (100  feet  below  flu^  sunnnil  of  Mount  Wilson, 
which  he  kinilly  forwarded  to  the  United  States  National  Museum,  and  it  wa.s 
noticed  by  him  as  early  as  March  S  in  the  \icinity  ol'  .Moinvivia,  Califoi'uia. 

In  sontheru  ("alitbrnia  it  appears  to  be  more  a  b'.i'd  of  the  coast  districts 
than  of  the  interior,  and  ivre  it  is  also  somewhat  irreji-ularly  distributed,  beln;^ 
fairly  abundant  in  some  localities  and  ap])arently  absent  in  others.  Mr.  W,  Iv  1). 
Scott  records  a  sinj^-le  specimen  (an  adult  male)  taken  in  the  Santa  Catalina 
^lonntains,  in  southern  Arizona,  on  July  -.'5,  1S,S4,  at  an  altitude  of  4,,")00  feet. 
How  far  s(»uth  it  raiij^cs  into  Mexico  or  Lower  California  durinj;'  its  mij^rations 
is  still  \mknown,  as  no  sjtecimens  \\;\\v  as  far  as  1  have  been  abh  to  ascertain, 
\ ct  been  obtained  trom  any  points  in  these  re^i-ions. 

In  its  f>-i'neral  habits,  food,  etc.,  it  resembles  oin-  otlu^r  Ilumminji-birds.  Mr. 
F.  Stephens  writes  me  from  San  Dieji'o  ("ounty,  California:  "The  niijiratinff 
season  of  Srlasplionis  alliiii  in  sprin;^'  is  rather  brief.  Possibly  a  few  of  these 
bii'ds  breed  in  the  ])ine  ''^ifion,  as  I  have  taken  adults  and  immature  birds  there 
at  the  end  of  June." 

Mr.  Charles  A.  Allen,  who  di.scovered  this  species,  and  in  who.se  honor  it 
has  been  named,  writes  me:  "Allen's  Ihnnmiufrbird  arrives  in  the  \icinity  of 
Nicasio,  California,  about  the  middle  of  February,  and  conunences  to  lu'st  soon 
after  arrival.  The  earliest  date  on  which  !  found  one  was  Feliruary  '-'7,  lS7!t; 
this  was  then  about  half  finished,  when  a  heavy  storm  set  in  which  lasted  about 
fi\t^  days,  an<l  I  did  not  visit  the  locality  aj^ain  until  March  S,  when  the  nest  was 
completed  and  contained  two  fresh  e^>fs.  I  have  taken  their  nests  as  late  as 
July  i5,  and  am  well  con\  iiiced  that  two  broods  are  rai.sed  in  a  season,  at  least  by 
all  of  the  earlier  brecdinjj;-  liird.s.  They  .select  all  sorts  of  situations  and  various 
kinds  of  trees  and  bushes  to  nest  in.  1  have  found  their  lu^sts  as  low  as  10 
inches  and  a^i'ain  as  hijih  as  IK)  feet  from  the  ^^I'ound.  Tlieii'  coui'a^^c  is  lieyond 
(pu'stion;  !  once  saw  two  of  tliesi'  little  \\arriors  start  aftei-  a  \Vestern  IJed-tailed 
Hawk,  and  they  attacked  it  .so  vii^orously  that  the  Hawk  was  "lad  to  j^ct  out  of 
their  way.  Hut  these  little  scamps  were  even  then  not  satisfied,  iiut  Indped  him 
alonfr  after  he  had  decided  to  }>'o.  Fach  male  seems  to  claim  a  particular  I'aufie, 
which  he  occupies  for  feedinji'  and  breeding-  purposes,  and  every  other  bird  seen 
1)\'  him  encroachiufi'  on  his  preserM'  is  at  once  so  detei'mineclly  set  upon  and 
harrassed  that  he  is  only  too  ^^lad  to  beat  a  hasty  retreat.  Durinji'  their  (piarrels 
tlii'se  birds  keej)  up  an  i'lcessant,  sharp  chir|iin<j',  and  a  liarsli,  raspin;^'  buz/.infr 
with  their  win^s,  whi(  ii  soiuids  very  difVcrent  from  the  low,  soft  huuunin;;'  they 
make  with  these  while  feeiliny.     Fverv  action  aud  motion  at  such  times  indicates 


,.vJ 


in 

7.     v'-ti 


sfl 


B 


* 


;l|il. 


'mi 


liJ 


■rf* 


Si 


218 


LIFE  HISTOBIES  OF  NORTH  AMKHK.'AN  BIUDS. 


that  tlioy  siro  as  mad  as  can  ])e;  this  poor  Anna  Uuinnicrs  havo  to  }^ut  out  of 
thoir  way  |)ri!tty  ([uickly  at  any  time,  l)Ut  ospocnally  wlioii  thoy  (Microach  on  th(nr 
l)ri;e(lin<;'  {frouiuls.  Tlic  males  very  ofton  have  (juarrcls  amon<r  tlienisiilvos,  and 
am  tlion  very  noisy,  while  the  females  are  more  onh'riy  and  ([iiiet;  hnt  even 
they  have  occasional  little  misunderstandinjfs  with  each  otlier,  especially  when 
a  ])air  meet  while  feedinj^'  on  the  same  bnsh;  ono  {fonerally  vacates  the  prem- 
ises v(!rv  ([nickly,  and  as  soon  as  sjie  «hies  all  Ijecomes  cpiiet  a<>ain.  DinMnj;'  the 
matinji'  and  Itreedinji'  season  the  mahf  fre(iuently  shoots  straijiht  n]>  into  the  air 
and  nearly  ont  of  siii'lit,  only  to  turn  suddeidy  and  rush  headlouf''  down  until 
within  a  few  foet  of  the  j^round.  The  win<^s  din'int>'  the  downward  rushes  cut 
the  air  and  cause  a  sharp,  whistlin<^'  screetOi,  as  they  descend  withfrifilitl'ul  veloc- 
ity, and  should  tiiey  strikt;  anythiu}''  on  their  downward  course  1  believe  they 
would  be  instantly  killed."' 

All  tlu^  n«;sts  and  ejijjs  of  tliis  species  in  the  United  States  National  Museum 
were  taken  by  Mr.  Allen  near  Nicasio,  California;  one  of  these,  now  before  me, 
is  attaciied  to  the  side  of  a  small  oak  lind)  which  turns  abi-u]itly  at  an  anjile  of 
about  4;")"  directly  over  the  cup  of  the  ne.st,  j»rotectin<jf  it  above;  another  is  like- 
wise attached  to  the  side  of  a  small  pendant  oak  twij;',  its  Itase  beinji'  supported 
by  a  bunch  of  moss.  Some  are  securely  saddled  on  small  twifi's  of  raspberry 
bushes,  and  several  of  these  are  usually  incorporated  in  the  walls  of  tlu>  nest. 
Occasionally  they  nest  in  hedges,  on  weed  stalks,  or  on  bushes  overhangiiiff 
water. 

The  nests  are  well  and  compactly  built,  tlu-  inside  beinj;'  line<l  with  ve<feta- 
ble  down,  while  the  outer  walls  are  com])osed  of  green  tree  mos.ses  and  a  tew 
))its  of  lichens,  securely  fastened  in  place  with  a  sjiider  web.  Nests  built  on 
trees  seem  to  be  generally  somewhat  larger  than  tho.se  found  in  l)uslies.  'I'he 
average  measurements  of  one  of  the  former  is  l.J  inches  outer  diameter  and  the 
same  hi  depth;  the  inner  cup  is  seven-eighths  of  an  inch  in  width  by  three- 
fourths  of  an  inch  in  depth.  On  th<'  whole  they  resemble  the  nests  of  Anna's 
Ilummingl)ird  more  than  th()se  of  the  Knfous,  and  appeiir  to  me  to  be  better  and 
more  neatly  built  than  either. 

The  vyi\}i!^  of  .Mien's  Hununingbird  re.-<end)l('  those  of  the  ot'ier  mendiers  of 
this  family  in  color  and  shajje,  and  are  a  triHe  larger  than  those  of  the  liufous 
Hummingbird. 

The  average  measurement  of  fifteen  specimens  in  the  Uniteil  States  National 
Mu.seum  collection  is  12.7(i  by  S.oO  millim(!tres,  or  about  O.oO  liy  (•.;{;!  inch. 
The  largest  egg  measures  i;j.'J7  by  8..S',I  milliuu'tres,  or  ().;").")  l)y  ((..'Jo  inch;  the 
smallest,  12.4")  by  S.i;}  millimetres,  or  0.4!)  by  O.iJl'  inch. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  27()l)!t  (not  figured),  Ualph  collection,  from  a  set 
of  two  eggs,  was  taken  near  Nicasio,  California,  on  April  13,  ISltJi. 

'  A  vnry  iiittircHtin)}  ncriimit  n(  tlie  Imliits  of  tliiH  specicfi  In  captivity  can  lie  rinmil  m  ;m  iirtirli'  by  Mrs. 
C.  M.  Crowt'U  in  the  Oiuitliulugist  mid  Uoluglat  ( Vul.  7,  1MK2,  pp.  12ti-l'28). 


TlIK  CALLlori!:  UUMMINGBIKI).  219 

77.     Stellula  calliope  (Oould). 

CAIJ.IOl'K  lUIMMINfiHIRI). 

Trorliilus  {Oalothoritj;)  calliope  (Iould,  I'nH'.eediiigs  Zoological  Society,  1847, 11. 
atelhilit  valliope  (rOULl),  liitrodiietioii  to  tlit;  Tioi^liilidii',  1801,  90. 

(J{  — ,  C  2.S2,  K  ;U.'?,  C  U7,  U  4;«i.) 

(rEOOiiAriiK^Ar,  UANOE :  Mountiilnoits  rcKioiis  of  western  North  Americiu;  nortli  (o 
Hrltisli  Coliiiiibia,  Idaho,  and  Molilalia;  oast  to  the  Kouky  Mountains;  soiitii,  llnoiigii  ('al- 
ifornia,  Arizona,  and  Now  Mexi('<t,  over  the  table-lands,  to  tliii  Valley  of  aMcxic^o  and  llu^ 
Htate  of  (liicrrero,  Alexico. 

'I'lic  Ciilliopi'  llumiiiinohird  is  tlic  sniallcst  of  tlin  Tmchilidfr  i'mmd  witliiii 
tlio  lliiit(!il  Statos;  Imt,  notwitlistimdinj;- its(liiiiiiuitiv(i  si/,i^,  it  is((uit<!  luinly,  mil, 
•  Ml  tlin  I'iiciiic  Coast  at  least,  it  is  toiiiul  ii^  or  4^  iioi'tli  of  our  hoiiniliiry.  In 
IJritisli  Coluniliiii,  acconling  to  Mr.  .lolm  Fiiuuiii,  it  is  said  to  occur  ou  liotli 
slopes  of  tlio  CascadoH,  and  it  will  uud(iul)t<Hlly  yot  Ix;  recorded  from  tlit*  Prov- 
ince of  Alberta,  as  it  is  found  liotli  in  nortliern  Wasliinj;ton,  Idaho,  and  Montana. 
1  have  taken  it  at  Fort  (!olville,  Washinjiton,  near  the  liiK?;  and  have  seen  it  on 
I'ond  d'Oreille  Lake,  in  Idaho;  while  Dr.  C.  H.art  Mcariain  took  an  adult  female 
near  Fort  Ellis,  Montana,  ou  July  3,  1872,  uliei'o  it  was  uudoubtt^dly  hreedino-. 
Jlossrs.  liichmoud  and  Knowlton  obtained  an  immature  bird  on  Au^-'ust  12,  1S88, 
at  Hear  CrtH'k,  and  j\Ir.  \l.  S.  Williams  recor'ls  a  specimen  from  (lold  Run,  in 
the  Belt  Mountairis,  ou  May  24,  1882;  he  writes  me  that  he  has  also  observed 
it  near  ('olumbia  Falls,  thus  showin;;-  that  tliis  species  is  jtretty  j^'enerally  dis- 
tributed over  the  more  mountainous  and  western  portions  of  tlus  State  of  Montana, 
'i'liese  points,  according  to  our  present  kiutwleilg<',  mark  the  northern  liiiiits  of 
its  known  raugcs.  1  have  been  unable  to  find  any  records  of  its  oc(!urrence  in 
either  Wyomiu"^'  or  CJolorado;  but  as  it  is  known  to  be  a  summer  resident 
in  various  parts  of  both  Utah  and  northern  New  Mexico,  it  will  probably  \et  lie 
found  along  the  western  slopes  of  the  Rocky  ilountains  in  these  two  States.  It 
is  known  to  oc(  .n-  in  the  nnanitains  of  California,  Arizona,  and  New  Mexico,  as 
well  as  in  suitable  localities  in  the  intervening  regions,  and  as  alreadv  stated 
extends  .southward  o\'er  the  taiile-lands  of  ^Iisxico.  Its  lireeiliug  I'ange  is  coex- 
tensive with  its  geographical  distrilintion  in  the  United  States. 

The  Calliope  ilummingliird  is  a  mountain-loving  species,  anil  during  the 
breeding  season  is  rarely  met  with  iielow  altitudes  of  4,(M»0  feet,  and  niiu'h 
more  freipieutly  iietween  (),'»()()  to  .S,00(l  feet.  Its  favorite  resorts  are  tin;  open 
timber  found  about  the  edges  of  mountain  meadows  and  parks,  and  the  ro(d\\' 
hillsides  covered  here  and  therewith  straggling  pines  and  small  aspen  groves. 

Mr.  F.  Stephens  writes  me:  ''Slr/liihi  idU'iojic  is  a  rare  summer  resident  in 
California,  at  least  as  far  south  as  the  San  Bernardino  Mountains,  where  I  found 
two  ne.sts  ill  IBS").  Kacli  contained  young  recently  hatched.  The  tirst  nest  was 
found  May  24,  in  the  canyon  of  the  Santa  Anna  River,  at  aiiout  3,000  feet  alti- 
tude, which  must  be  exceptionallv  low.  The  female  was  seen  on  the  nest;  it  was 
ilri-en  off  and  shot,  and  the  skin  |ireserviMl,  so  that  the  identification  is  uiupie"- 
tionable. 


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220 


LIFK  IIISTOKIUS  OF  NORTH  AMEKICAN  UIllDS. 


"'I'lif  iicst  was  built  en  an  old  nest  of  Tnxliilii-'i  rasftr,  wliicli  is  normal  in  cdin- 
Itdsition  and  locafion.  The  second  nest  was  found  me  23,  at  al)out  H,()()0  feet 
altitude,  iiu  the  soutlicrn  side  of  A[ount  (Jrayltack,  tin-  iiiji'licst  peak  of  the  San  Mc!'- 
nardino  ran-^-c.  It  was  l»uilt  on  a  splinter  of  a  knot,  or  short,  broken  branch,  pro- 
jectin;^'  tVoni  tlie  siile  of  a  lar^^'e  cedar,  about  20  feet  from  the  jiTound,  and  also 
«'ontained  younj;'  birds.  'I'lie  parent  was  shot  as  she  How  from  the  nest,  ai.d 
preserved.  This  nest  is  ditlereiit  from  the  other,  and  is  ))rol)ably  of  the  normal 
tyjte.     This  species  is  not  connnon  even  in  the  niifirations." 

These  are  the  most  southern  breedin<f  records  of  which  I  have  any  knowled<fO. 
Mr.  Charles  A.  Allen  has  taken  its  nests  near  Nicasio,  (California,  and  Mr  Oharles 
II.  Townsend  found  it  a  connnon  sunnncr  resident  on  the  McCloud  Kiver;  the 
fu'st  nest  and  ejij^s  of  this  species  were  taken  by  the  late  ("a]>t.  John  Feilner, 
First  Dragoons,  I'^nited  States  Army,  on  dune  4,  18'»!t,  lu  ar  Pitt  Kiver,  Cali- 
fornia, and  these  are  now  in  the  I'nited  States  National  Museum  collection. 
Captain  Feilner,  who  was  an  ardent  ornitholoj;ist  and  o<)loj>ist,  was  subse(piently 
killed  l)y  hostile  Indians  whili'  in  the  jjursuit  of  his  favorite  study.  Althoujjh  the 
Calliope  IIunnninj>i»ird  is  cpiitc  a  common  siniuner  resident  in  suitai)le  localities, 
its  nests  and  e;i<rs  are  still  comparatively  rare  in  collections.  Hotli  Dr.  James 
C.  Merrill,  United  States  Army,  and  the  writer  tbund  this  IIunnnini.;bird  (piiti^ 
connnon  at  Fort  Klamath,  Orej^fon,  wherc^  1  took  several  of  its  nests  and  e<ij;s. 
'J'wo  of  tile  former  have  been  fijiured  in  Mr.  Robert  Ridjiway's  pa])er,  "The 
llunnnin<-birds,"  in  the  "Report  of  the  National  Museum  for  ISDO"  (I'ls.  2  and 
.'{),  and  a  (|uadni])le  nest  of  the  same  species  taken  by  Mr.  (!liarles  II.  ^J'own.send, 
near  Haird,  California,  a  most  remarkable  structure,  is  figured  on  PI.  1  in  the 
sam((  publication. 

The  Callioi)e  Ilunnner  made  its  ap])earance  at  Fort  Klamath  in  1SS,'{  about 
May  II,  possildy  a  few  days  earlier,  or  about  tlui  time  tlu^  wild  currant  and 
}poos((berrv  buslii's  began  to  blossom,  and  by  the  middle  of  thti  month  I  have 
seen  himdreds  in  a  morning's  walk.  While  Srlasjihonis  ni/iis  was  also  (piite  com- 
mon at  the  same  time,  I  believe  this  species  outnund)ered  it  abtait  three  to  one. 
Alth<iugh  I  searched  for  their  nests  most  carefully,  several  weeks  pass(>d  befon* 
1  succeeded  in  finding  one,  and  then  its  discovery  was  accidental.  I  had  taken 
((uite  a  long  walk  along  the  banks  of  Fort  Crei^k  on  June  10,  ami,  the  day  being 
a  hot  one,  sat  down  with  ;ii\  back  resting  against  the  trunk  of  a  bu.shy  blaek  ])ine 
whostf  lower  lind)s  !iad  been  killed  by  fire;  while  resting  thus  one  of  these 
llnnnners  i)uz/.e(l  repeatedly  about  my  head  for  a  few  seconds  at  a,  time,  and 
then  rose  ])er]iendicidarly  in  the  air,  only  to  rejieat  the  peiformance  again.  I 
had  no  idea  then  that  this  species  nested  in  pines,  but  in  ordi-r  to  gi\-e  me  an 
op])ortimity  to  \vatch  its  performance  better  I  moved  out  from  under  the  tree, 
and  a  fi^w  minutes  later  saw  th((  bird  settle  on  what  I  at  first  supiposed  to  lu^  an 
old  clump  of  pine  cones.  On  looking  do.ser,  however-,  I  noticed  its  ne.st,  wdiich 
was  ingeniously  saddled  on  two  small  cones,  auvl  its  outward  appearance  resem- 
Itled  a  cone  very  closely.  The  nest  contained  two  eggs,  which  were  {'(Kisldei'ably 
ad\an»"ed  in  imubation,  and  were  not  ilisturbed.     Knowing  now  where  to  look 


TIIK  CALLIOI'K  LCMMlNUlilKl). 


221 


tor  tliciii,  T  liiid  11(1  t'lirtluT  didiciilty  in  fiiulino-  tlu'ir  iiesfs,  and  all  f>f  those 
()l)s('r\o<l  by  luc  were  Imilt  in  exactly  similar  situations.  I  siiccciMJcd  in  obtaiii- 
iiifi'  three  sets  of  nearly  Cresh  efi'<;s,  and  I'oiiiid  a  niiinlier  ot"  other  nests  eontainiiiii' 
youn<i-  dmiiifi'  the  next  tew  days,  'riiey  were  usually  placeil  on  or  uf^aiiist  a 
dry  cone  on  small  dead  liiiihs  of  /'iiiiis  coiitorfd,  from  S  to  lA  feet  from  tlu' 
fjTound,  and  on  aecount  of  the  brittle  nature  of  these  limbs  they  were  rather 
hard  to  .secure.  The  nests,  while  outwardly  not  as  handsonie  as  those  of  the 
majority  of  our  Tlummers,  are  nevertheless  marvels  of  in<>eiiiiity,  all  those  1  have 
seen  mimickinji-  a  small  dead  pine  cone  so  perfectly  as  to  almost  defy  detection 
unless  one  sees  the  bird  fly  on  or  ott'  the  nest.  The  majority  iounil  were  sail- 
dled  on  one  or  two  such  cones,  or  on  a  small  limb  and  restiu}^  ajiiiinst  the  sidi's 
of  a  cone.  The  outer  walls  are  composed  of  bits  of  bark  iuid  small  shreds  of 
cone,  and  the  interior  cup  is  .softly  Jined  with  willow  down.  An  avera^^c  nest 
measuii's  about  l\  inches  in  outer  diameter  by  the  same  in  depHi;  the  inner  cup 
heiiif;'  three-(|iiarters  of  an  inch  in  width  by  one-half  inch  in  de])tli.  The  nests 
wer<^  H'eiierally  so  jtlaced  that  the  contents  were  protected  by  larger  limbs  or 
<;reen  boufi'hs  abo\«',  and  at  distances  \aryin<4  from  r»  to  12  I'cet  from  tlu' 
fi'round.  One  ]  fountl  had  a  flattened  cone  projectiiiff  directly  over  it,  resend)linji' 
an  opened  umbrella.  \\'hile  bushy  jiines  seem  to  constitute  their  favoi'ite  iicst- 
iufi'  sites  in  iiorthoru  C'alifornia  and  ( )rej;'on  at  least,  they  do  not  invariably  con- 
fine tluMiiselves  to  such  trei's.  Mr.  Shelly  W.  Denton  took  a  nest  of  the  Calliope 
Ilumnier  at  Franktown,  U'a.shoe  County,  Nevada,  which  is  now  in  Mr.  William 
Ih'ewsti'r's collection  at  Caml)rid}ie,  Massachusetts.  Mr.  Denton  watcli<'il  the  liird 
while  building'  it.  This  is  composed  interiorly  of  tine  moss  and  willow  down,  and 
the  outer  walls  are  decorated  with  tiny  shreds  of  l)ark,  iine  tiakes  of  woo<l,  and 
ilakesof  whitewash,  fasteiU'd  securely  with  coliwclis;  it  was  placed  on  a  knot  in 
a  roi)e  han^iiiij;-  from  the  roof  of  a  woodsheil  and  within  f)  feet  of  an  occupieil 
dwellin;^'  liou.se.  The  materials  out  of  which  the  nest  is  com|)osed  closely  assim- 
ilate the  ro|)e  and  knot  on  which  it  is  placed.  'I'his  nest  coiitaineil  two  ('"ijis  on 
.luue  f<,  1S87,  thesis  beiii};-  deposited  on  alteriiati*  days.  The  male  was  never 
seen  about  the  nest.  The  rope  (one-third  of  an  inch  thick)  hung  down  about  4 
feet,  so  that  every  time  the  female  settled  on  the  rim  of  ihe  nest  while  buildin<i' 
she  caused  it  to  swin,u'  back  and  forth  like  a  pendulum.  This  s])ecimen.  which  I 
have  seen,  does  not  resemble  the  nests  taken  l>y  nie  very  closely,  and  the  Cal- 
liope; Hummer  evidently  attempts  to  mimic  the  immediate  surroundin;.;s  as  nearly 
as  practicable.  Mr.  Walter  K.  Hryaiit  records  another,  built  •.:;,.. n  a  projectin}^' 
splinter  of  a  woodpile,  at  a  heifiht  of  ">  feet.' 

'I'he  only  c'^'i^s  of  this  species  in  the  I'liited  Stales  National  Museum  col- 
lection are  those  taken  by  the  late  Capt.  .loliii  Feilner,  United  States  Army,  near 
I'itt  Hiver,  California,  in  .June,  1S,")9,  and  three  sets  collected  by  myself  near  Fort 
Klamath,  <  )re<ion.  'I'hey  resemble  the  ej;}is  of  our  better  known  iluinminjibirils 
in  shajiu  and  color,  but  are  smaller. 

■llulletiu  of  tUo  Cullfoiuia  Aciulomy  of  Sciciu'es,  1M«7,  p.  452. 


-I      [ 


1 


'II  III, 


i-i  :••;*!  1 


222 


MI'i;  JIISTOIMES  OF  NOUTII  AMKltlCAN  BIRDS. 


Tlic  avcnijic  iiicasiircnioiit  (if  cijilit  oj^jis  in  tlio  I'liiti'd  iStiitcs  National 
.Musi'uni  follcctioii  is  11.71  l>y  7.!)4  iiiilliiiii'tri'.'^,  or  alxmt  ().4()  by  O.iJl  inch. 
Tlic  larj-cst  (';>■}.■  nicasnn's  12.1!)  Ity  H.3S  niiliinu'trt's,  or  0.48  by  0.^3  inch; 
the  smallest,  KMI?  by  7.;57  inillimctrcs,  or  U.42  by  O.'JO  incli. 

The  type  .specimen,  No.  21737  (not  li^ured),  trom  a  set  of  two  efffrs.  Hen- 
dire  collection,  was  tukou  by  the  writer  near  Fort  Klamatli,  Oref>on,  on  Juno 
11,  1883. 


W\\\y 


78.     Calothorax  lucifer  (Swainson). 

J.UCIFER  HIIMMINCHIRD. 

VyniDiihuH  lucifer  Swainson,  Philo.sopliicul  Miipaxiiii!,  1827,  442. 
Vulothom.r  lueij'cr  (lUAY,  Ueiu'ia  of  Uirils,  ISIS,  I,  ji.  110. 

(I!  _,  O  _,  1{  .J-U,  (J  il8,  IT  137.) 

(ii;(i(ii(Arni(Ai.  ifANcii::  Table  liimlH  of  Mexico,  IVoiii  I'lmbla  aiid  tlie  Valley  of 
Mexico  nortli   ti>  soutlicni  Arizona. 

We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  IT.  W.  Tlensliaw  for  the  addition  of  tlie  Lnciter 
irnmminjiliird  to  onr  faima.  He  took  a  female  of  this  species  on  Aiif^nst  7, 
1874,  near  Camp  Howie,  Arizona,  wlier((  it  apjieari'd  to  be  rare,  and,  as  far  as  [ 
am  aware,  no  i)tlier  specimens  have  since  tlieu  been  taken  within  our  borders. 
'Pile  male  reseiiddes  (!osta's  Ilummin}il»ird  somewliat  in  size  and  j;eneral  colora- 
tion, so  that  it  can  scarcely  be  reco<>'ni/ed  from  it  on  the  winji',  ami  mij;lit 
therefore  lie  readily  overlookeil  by  the  averaj;-e  collector.  It  ap})ears  to  be  a 
connnon  species  in  the  more  sontiiern  portions  of  Me.vico,  amonj^  the  table- 
lands of  I'nebla  and  on  the  bonlers  of  ihe  \"alley  of  Mexico. 

'J'he  lat((  Mr.  Bullock,  in  his  "Six  Months  in  Mexico,"  jjives  a  de.scrii)tion 
of  the  nest  and  eggs  of  this  s])ecies,  and  says:  "They  breed  in  Mexico  in  June 
mul  July,  and  the  nest  is  a  l)eautiful  s|)ecimen  of.  the  architectural  talent  of 
these  birds;  it  is  neatly  constructed  of  cotton  or  tlie  (hiwn  of  the  thistle,  to 
which  is  fastened  on  the  outside,  by  some  glutinous  sub.stance,  a  white,  fiat 
lichen  res'-ndiling  ours. 

"The  female  hiys  two  eggs,  perfectly  white,  and  large  for  the  size  of  the 
bird,  and  the  Indians  informed  me  they  were  hatched  in  three  weeks  })y  the 
male  and  female  sitting  alternately.  *  *  *  In  .sleeping  they  frequently 
suspend  themselves  by  the  feet,  with  their  lieads  downward,  in  the  manner  of 
some  jiarrots."' 

The  general  habits  of  this  species  seem  to  resendde  those  of  our  better- 
known  1  lummingbirds  very  closi'ly.  There  are  no  nests  and  eggs  of  the  Lucifer 
TIinmningliir<l  in  the  cidlection,  and  I  am  therefore  unalde  to  give  measure- 
ments; but,  judging  from  the  size  of  the  bird,  ils  eggs  should  correspond  closely 
with  those  of  ('(ih/jitr  tuslir 


'\  fiillur  accoiiiit  of  Mr.  ItiilUiik's  iiapcr  cm  lliis  HiiciicH  ciiii  be  t'oiiiiit  in  Mr.  Robert  Uitlgway's  i>aper 
oil  tlie  nimiiiiiii(;l>ii(l»,  in  the  lieport  cil'  tlir  Nalioiiiil  .MiiHiiiim,  18tH)  (pp. 360-362). 


KIEFFEK'S  lIUMMlNOltlKI). 


223 


7g.     Amazilia  fuscicaudata  (Fkaskr). 

KIKKFKU'8  ll(IMMIN(ilUKI). 

TrnchUm  J'uficicnwJatUH  FuASKU,  I'rocecdiiijjs  Zoological  .Society,  1840,  17. 
Amuziim  Jmcimudata  Kidoway,  Proceed  in  gs  H.  H.  Natioiuil  Miiseuiii,  I,  1.S78,  117. 

(B  — ,  0  — ,  It  ;U5,  (J  41ft,  U  4:J8.) 

fiEOOUAPiltOAL  BANCiK :  NortlitTH  Houtli  AiiR'rica.froiM  Kcniidor  and  Culoiiibia.  north 
through  Central  America  and  eastern  Mexico,  to  the  lower  Bio  (irande  N'alk'.v,  Texas. 

Kit'rtor's  Iluinminrybinl,  a  foiuinoii  Ceiitnil  Anicricjiu  species,  cljiinis  a  ])la('P 
in  our  fauiiii  froiii  tlie  fact  tliat  a  sino'le  si)ecinieii  has  l)eeii  taken  at  Fort  IJrown, 
Texas.  Tliis  was  brou^-lit  alive  to  Dr.  James  ('.  ^[errill,  United  States  Army, 
lor  examination,  in  .Fune,  l.S7(!,  by  <ine  of  tlie  soldiers,  and  a  careful  ilescription 
of  it  was  mad(!  by  the  Doctor  at  the  time,  as  the  man  wanted  to  keep  it;  but  it 
shortly  afterwards  escaped  from  him.  As  it  has  not  been  nbtained  .since  then 
in  the  lower  Kio  Grande  Valley,  notwithstandinj;'  the  fact  that  consiileralde 
c(dlectin<f  has  been  done  there,  it  can  oidy  be  considered  as  a  stra;;iiler  within 
our  borders. 

Mr.  ('harles  W.  Uichmond  has  kindly  fui'uished  me  witli  the  followiuL;' 
interestin;^-  notes  on  this  species: 

"AiiKizilid  fnsricmnlotd  is  extnMiudy  alumdant  in  the  lowlands  of  eastern 
Nicaragua.  It  outnund)ers  in  individuals  all  of  the  other  (live)  species  of 
numminf>'birds  found  in  the  same  region.  (  hi  tlu^  Mscondido  KMver  this  species 
is  confino<l  to  the  lianana  jilantations  ami  the  shrul)l»ery  around  the  huuses, 
where  it  linds  an  abundaiu-e  of  food  and  good  nesting  sites.  It  is  the  [ilaiitation 
llunnner,  oidy  two  other  species  occasionally  wandering  intu  tlie  plantations 
from  the  forest,  which  is  the  homo  of  the  other  sj)ecies.  'Pliis  Hummingbird  is 
in([uisitive,  like  sonuj  other  Tluunners,  and  often  poisi's  2  or  .'5  feet  from  one, 
changing  its  position  on  any  conspicuous  movement  from  the  ol)ject  of  its  ciiri- 
ositv,  antl  when  satisfied  darts  otV  at  great  spee(l,  uttering  a  succession  of 
shrill  chii-ps.  Its  nest  is  frecpu-ntly  ])laced  in  small  orange,  lemon,  oi'  lime  trees, 
near  houses,  4  or  ;">  feet  from  the  ground.  The  bird  selects  any  desiral)le  site 
foi-  a.  lu^st,  in  fact  often  buililiug  it  close  to  the  end  of  the  lind)  of  a  band)oo 
hanging  out  over  the  river  or  creek,  and  in  this  case  usually  G  oi-  more  feet 
above  the  water.  The  exterior  of  the  nest  is  often  covere(l  with  moss,  which  in 
this  damp  region  remains  green  during  \\\v  occui)ancy  of  the  nest  and  for  a 
long  time  afterwards,  giving  it  a  very  pretty  api»earance.  .V  nest  found  in 
(  K'tober  had  just  been  deserted  by  the  young  birds,  one  found  late  in  No\end)er 
contained  fresh  eggs,  (»ne  founil  about  the  middle  of  .biiuary  containe(l  eggs 
nearly  fresh,  and  another  one  found  the  sanu>  day  was  in  course  of  construc- 
tion.    The  S])aniar(ls  here  call  llummingl)irds  'garrion.'" 

j\Ir.  (Jeorge  K.  Cherrie,  in  his  Preliminary  List  of  tlie  Minis  '.f  .Sjmi  ,b)se, 
Costa  Hiea,  in  spi'aking  of  Rielfer's  Hummingbird,  says:  "Tiie  most  abiuidant 
species  abtint  San  Jose,  and,  indeed,  the  most  al>undaut  species  found  on  either 


i- 


Pi 


'-Jf 

I 

'i. : 
1 


|i- 


\k 


Hi 


If 


:r*^'?rt 


:t45i 


llifli^ 


m 


224 


i-iri;  iiiHTouiKs  OK  nouth  amkhuax  luitns. 


ciiiist,  mill  lip  ti>  :iii  iiltitmlc  i>t'  filxiiit  (!,O0(>  t't-ct.  1  liclicvc  lluit  tliis  species  is 
iiestiiij;' ill  every  iiutiitii  nt' tlu' Vt'iir.  Nests  are  iisiiiilly  pliiced  alxnit  If)  t'ei-t  t'roiu 
the  ^-ndiiid,  in  eitlier  oraii^ic  or  lemon  trees.     A  nest  hefore  me  is  constnieted  of 


some  so 


ft  til 


)er  much  resem 


il)liiiji'  I 


leinp  tow. 


There  are  a   tew  lielieiis 


covcriiif;- 


the  outside,  and  an  iiiiiiT  liiiinji-  of  a  little;  native  cotton.  The  nest,  somewhat 
elliptical  in  form,  measures  1.^  inches  deep  by  "J  inches  loii;;' and  H  wide;  inside, 
1]  hy  so\cii-ei;^'hths  l»y  one-half  inch  deep.     The  two  e^fi's,  white  in  color  and 


ein 


ptical  ovaite  in  form,  measure  O.ri.i  hy  O.IM  iiicli 


Th 


liciu 


ral  haliits  of  Wiert'er's  iliiminin;;l)ird  are  ver\' similar  to  those  of 


our 


better-known  spi'<'ies.     The  nests  dilfer  soine\,liat  in  make-up;   of  the  two 
specimens  before  me,  liotli  taken  by  Mr.  Charles  \V.  Ilichiuoiul,  on    December 


•_'4,  iSiCi,  and  daiinarv  Ki,  1S!I'{,  the  first  was  sai 


Idled 


tl 


u;   eiK 


1    of 


a  sma 


II. 


ilroopinji' twij;-  of  an  allijiator  ])ear  tree,  4.]  feet  up,  the  nest  beiii"-.  partly  sup- 
ported by  the  ends  of  a  iiuiich  of  leaves.     The  base  of  this  nest  is  constnieted 


f    shreds  of   fine  xcsretable   fiber. 


Th 


and  with  a  f 


evv 


of  bits    of  (h'y  fi'rass,  and  tlu^  w,i\U  o 

outer  walls  of  this  speciineii  are  well  covered  with  f^reeii  n 
bits  of  lichens,  the  whole  bein^'  securely  fastened  with  spider  webs.     The  inside 

The  structure  is  a  neat  i)io('0  of  bird  archi- 


liiied  M'ith  soft,  l)rowiiish  dow 


IS 

tectiire,  and  contained  t 


n. 


wo 


brolven  e}i';;s  w 


lien  found,      it  measures  \\  inches  in 


outer  diameter,  and  the  same  in  luMji'ht.     The  inner  cu|)  measures  se\eii-ei<^litiis 
of  an  inch  in  width    by  three-fourths  of  an   inch   in  depth.     The  base  of  the 


second  snecinu^n   is   coi 


ni)osed   of  shreds   of  rcttei 


I  >\' I 


fil 


lers; 


tl 


lis 


le  walls  an 


built 


lip  of  aiipai'eiith'  sii 


nilar  but  fiii(;i 


aterial,  am 


I  tl 


ie\'  are  vvrv  siiarmu' 


^•ly 


covered   with   shreils  of  ji'reeii    moss,  ijut  more  profiisel}'  with  small  jii'Ilets  of 
white  ])laiit  down,  held  in  jilace  by  si)ider  webs,  wliilo  the  interior  is  lined  with 


fine   vegetable    down. 


Tl 


II 


ummiii; 


'bird 


lis   nest   resembles  spe(;iii 


neiis  of   the    lilack-chinned 


SOllK 


what,  liiit  is  considerably  larger.     The  outside  measurements 


e  the  same  as  those  of  the  ))iv('o<linjf,  but  the  inner  cui)  is  somewhat  more 


up 


roomy;  the  outer  walls  are  thinner  and  the  cavity  is  .shallower;  it  was  fastened 
to  ii  fork  of  a  droopin^i'  bamboo  twij;-  lian^in<^'  about  4  feet  above  the  water  of  ii 


eree 


It 


contained  two  nearl\-  fresh  e""s  on  ,lanuar\-  KI,  ISllii;  these  are  nov 


in  the  United  States  National  Mu.seiim  collection.  They  resemble  the  e}>-gs  of 
our  ])etter-kiiowii  lluiniiiii;j;birds,  both  in  shape  and  color:  ami  nieasniH!  l.'i.4(i 
by  !t.l4  and  i;5.72  by  S.(;4  miUimetres,  or  U..').'}  Iiy  O.iiC  and  0.r>4  iiy  O.iM  inch. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  'ioSliJ  (not  fij^'ured),  from  a  set  of  two  e<f<f,s,  was 
taken  by  Mr.  Charles  W.  Kichmonil  on  .lanuary  Ki,  IS",),'!,  from  the  last  described 
nest,  on  the  Kscondido  Uixer,  near  Ml'uefields,  Nicara;i'ua,  and  it  would  appear 
as  if  this  species  actually  nested  in  nearly  e\'ery  month  of  the  year. 

'  The  Aiik,  Vol.  l.\,  18'J2,  i>.  326. 


THE  llUFFBELLli:i)  IlLMMINliBlUl).  225 

80.     Amazilia  cerviniventris  (Joulu. 

IllJKl'-llKLI.IKU  IIUMMINCJIllUI). 

Amiixilidi    (riiiiinrenlriH  (iovi.n,  I'rofcediiips  Z<M)l(){;i(;iil  Siicit'ty,  ISfllt,  I.IO, 

(U  _,  (!  _,  U  34«,  C  4i;0,  U  J.!!*.) 

(lEotrUArnic'AL  ifANGK-  Viilli'y  of  tlio  lowiT  Rio  (iniiule  in  Tv.\;ih;  south  tlirongh 
•■asti'iii  Mexico  to  >'iciHH{?uiv,  Central  Aniciini. 

'^IMic  HiilV-lHtllit'd  Hiiimiiiii;il)inl  wiis  also  addctl  to  our  fmnin  l)y  Dr.  .Tiinies 
(J.  Mcnill,  llnitod  IStntes  Army,  who  took  tlio  first  s|M.'(iMU'ii  w itliiii  our  borders 
on  tliu  iiiilitiiry  ri'servatiou  of  Fort  lirown,  Tt'xas,  on  Auj;nst  17,  1H7G.  Since 
tluMi  it  has  Itccn  ascertaiiKMl  to  1)0  (luite  a  coninion  sniuincr  visitor  in  the  lower 
liio  (Srande  N'alley,  and  a  nunil)er  of  its  nests  have  l)een  takeii  tliere.  It  arrives* 
in  soutliern  Texas  about  Ajn-il  1,  and  returns  south  in  tlie  latter  part  of  Septeni- 
lier  or  the  liej^innin};  of  Uetober.  It  is  one  of  our  plainest-eoloretl  Iluniuiiiifi- 
l)irds,  and  its  jieneral  habits,  food,  etc.,  iire  undoubtedly  similar  to  those  of  the 
better-known  members  of  this  family  found  in  the  I'nited  States. 

Dr.  James  C.  Merrill  says:  "The  Burt-bellied  Ilumminj^bird  proves  to  be 
an  al)undant  sununer  visitor,  and  I  ha\e  nowhere  found  it  so  abundant  as  on  tin? 
military  resi-ivation  at  Fort  IJrown.  llert;  it  seems  perfecth'  at  home  amon^i' 
the  dense,  tangled  thickets,  dartinj;'  rapiiUy  anumg  the  bushes  and  creepinji' 
vines,  and  is  with  diHiculty  ol)tained.  A  rather  noisy  bird,  its  shrill  cries  usu- 
ally first  attract  one's  attention  to  its  presence.  A  Ilunnner's  nest,  undoubtedly 
made  l>y  this  species,  was  found  in  Sei)tember,  1.S77,  within  the  fort.  It  was 
placetl  on  the  fork  of  a  dead,  droo|!infi-  twij;'  of  a  small  tret^  on  the  edf^e  of  a 
path  tlndu<"li  a  thicket;  it  was  about  7  feet  from  the  ground,  and  contained  the 
shrivi'led  body  of  a  younji'  bird.  The  nest  is  nwule  of  the  downy  blos.soms  of 
the  tree  on  which  it  is  placed,  bound  on  the  outside  with  cobwel)s,  and  rather 
si»arin<ily  covered  with  lichens.  In'ternally,  it  is  somev.hat  less  than  1  inch  in 
de])th  by  one-half  inch  ii>  dianu'ter.     The  external  depth  is  \\  inches."' 

1  have  eiyht  of  these  nests  before  \m\  all  taken  in  Cameron  County,  Texas, 
which  are  readily  distini^uisliable  from  those  of  other  sjiecies  breedinfi-  in  the 
I'nited  States  whose  nests  are  known.  They  are  composed  of  shreds  of  \v<xi'- 
table  fiber,  thistle  down,  and  an  occasional  specimen  is  lined  with  a  \-ej;etable 
substance  reseinblin<;'  brown  cattle  hair;  but  th(i  majority  are  lin(Ml  with  thistle 
down.  The  outside  is  covered  with  bits  of  dry  flower  blossoms,  shreds  of 
bark,  anil  small  pieces  of  liyht-cc.lored  lichens,  securely  fastened  in  j)lace  l)y 
s|iider  webs.  The  nests  are  neatly  built,  and  are  usually  saddled  on  a  small, 
ih(io])inji'  limb,  (»r  placed  on  a  fork  of  a  horizontal  twiji',  at  distances  of  from  3 
to  S  feet  from  the  {ground.  Small  trees  or  bushes  of  the  Anachuita  (Cordia 
//'(/s.s/V/v)  ebony  and  hackberry  seem  to  furni.sh  their  favorite  nestiufr  sites,  thouf>h 
occasionally  a  nest  is  found  in  a  willow.  An  average-sized  nest  mi'asures  1|| 
inches  in  outer  diameter  by  1,^  inchcis  in  hei<;ht;  the  inner  cup  is  seven-eij;hths 


I  I'rociiniliiigs  Uiiitcil  Stiitos  Natiouiil  Musoum,  Vol.  I,  1H78,  pj).  Hi),  150. 
I(j«yt)-X<).  H 15 


'.    >  i  • 


iiffi 


1 


r 


[p. 


jillliw*' 


■VMfllit:'' 


1 

I 


.;.■    ':'*< 


22(5 


Mil';  lllSTOUlliH  OF  NORTH  AMKItlCAN  lUUlKS. 


of  nil  iiicli  ill  width  liy  liv*'-i'i<;'litliH  of  iiii  iiirli  in  (lt'|)tli.  Opni  wiiuils  siikI  tlitt 
(mIncm  uI'  cliapiirnil  thickets  lU'iir  roads  or  ptitlis  seem  to  lio  |ii'ot«'rrcd  tor  piir- 
|)<ts('s  of  iiidilii  atiuii.  I'roljuhly  two  broods  art*  raised  in  a  season.  The 
earliest  lU'stiii};  record  I  hiivt*  is  April  2i'{;  the  latest,  .Fiiiie  Ki.  'IMie  ('f^fjs 
resemble  those  of  oiir  better-known  Unniiners  in  c(dor  and  shape,  and  appear 
rather  small  tor  the  sixe  of  the  bird. 

The  averajre  measnrenunit  of  ei;^liteei;  specimens  in  tho  United  States 
National  Museum  collection  is  1,'J.2.'{  iiy  H.')?  millimetres,  or  alioiit  ().r»2  by  O.iM 
inch.  The  laiji'est  e}>';i'  measures  14.22  i)y  8.S1)  millimetres,  or  (>."i(j  by  0.^5.") 
inch;  the  smallest,  12.11»  by  H.iU  millimetres,  or  O.lS  by  (l.;{4  inch. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  2(iH()()  (not  figured),  from  a  set  of  two  ogys,  Ual])h 
collt'ctioii,  was  taken  near  Hrowusville,  Texas,  on  May  "J,  181)2. 


8i.     Basilinna  xantusi  (Lawkknci:). 

XANTISS  lll'MMIX(illlKl). 

AmiKilia  jiiiiliisi  Lawkknc;i;,  Annuls  Lyceum,  ^'(!^v  York,  1800,  l(l!». 

llaniliiiiKi    .laiitliimi    Hi.Llo'J'T,  ('liiHsiMciition    ami    Synojisis  of   tlic  Trocliilidic,   March, 
l>S7i),  l.'l*7. 

(M  — ,  C  273,  U  317,  ("  407,  U  140.) 

Gi;o(iilAPHiCAL  KAN(ii;;  Southoni  Lower  California,  iiortli  to  about  latitutlo -9°. 

Xantns's  IIniiimin<>l)ird  appears  to  ))e  confined  to  the  southern  half  of  the 
]teninsula  of  I.,ower  California,  where  it  was  lirst  discovered  by  Mr.  .1.  Xantns 
in  the  fall  of  1S,')!>.  It  was  desciibed  by  Mr.  (Jeorjie  N.  Lawrence  in  April, 
18GI),  who  named  it  in  honor  of  its  disccverer.  Mr.  Xantns  <lid  not  eoinmuni- 
cate  aiivtliino'  reirardiii';  the  o-fiieral  lial)its  of  this  species,  and  iiothin<!:  fiirthei' 
was  learned  about  it  until  Mr.  ]j.  Heldiiiif  visited  the  same  i'e;j;ioiis  and  obtained 
its  nests  and  e<i}>s,  in  the  Himn}^-  of  1882.  Accordiuff  to  this  •■•entlenmn,  it  is  a 
mouiitain-lovinji-  species,  in  winter  fre(|uentin<i'  tlu^  canyons  in  close  proximity 
to  water,  while  in  summer  it  is  distrii)iited  throujih  the  orchards  anil  gardens, 
where  it  nests. 

Jlr.  Walter  K.  liryant,  in  his  "(!atal()<;ue  of  Birds  of  Lower  California," 
states:  "1  have  found  them  only  in  mountainous  country  where  there  was  abun- 
dance of  water,  from  (Joinondii  as  far  north  as  latitude  29°.  None  were  seen 
uu  the  islands."' 

IMr.  lieldiiijic,  in  sjieakin;;'  of  this  s]iecies,  says:  "It  was  common  at  the 
western  base  of  ("acachiles  Mountains  in  February;  more  so,  in  fact,  than 
('uljijtU'  co.ttfc.  It  was  not  (>l)served  at  San  .lose  until  some  time  after  my  arrival, 
tlioufjh  it  occurred  in  canyons  only  2  or  i5  miles  to  the  westward.  About  the 
last  of  April  it  was  common  in  orchards  at  San  .lose.  While  incubating'  this 
sp('cies  is  very  confiding-  and  courageous,  sometimes  remaining  upon  the  nest 
until  removed  from  it  bytlie  hand.     A  nest  taken  April  2i{,  18S-J,  at  San  .lose, 

'  Prucoediugs  of  thu  Culifuriiia  Aoucleuiy  of  Sciuucos,  aocoiid  surivs,  Vol.  II,  DiH'J,  ]ip.  HSV,  2'M. 


XANTUH'H  iniMMINCSHIKI). 


227 


was  1) 


ItlCtMl 


itl 


iiiiiU'i'iHMitli  an  awiin 


itf  or  sliailc  <>t"  lioiij'lis  ami  wccfis  in  tVoiit  ^>^'  a 


t'ariiiliiiiiso.     It  was  .siin'oiiiulfil  hy  duwiiv  Iwads  of  coiniiosit*'  plaiitM,  and  could 


scam 


tl 


H*  ilistnii>insh<'i|  troin  thcni,  liavin''',  as  usual,  hccii  niai 


1,  l> 


dci.l' 


law  cottdii. 


'I'liis  nt'st,  wliicli  is  now  Itctorc  nic  (No.  iSafi.'J,  I'nitcd  States  National 
Musouin  collection)  is  composed  ext«'riorly  of  tine  plant  libers,  thistle  down,  ami 
shreds  of  moss,  and  theses  are  secureh'  fastened  into  place  liy  spider  wehs;  the 
interior  is  lined  with  thistle  down  and  raw  cotton;  it  measures  aliont  I'}  inches 
in  outer  dianu-ter  l»y  1  inch  in  huifrht.  'i'he  iimer  cavity  is  larj^'e  for  the  size  of 
the  nest,  measurinj''  1  iiu-h  in  width  hy  (Mie-half  inch  in  depth.  'I'he  second 
nest,  No.  lH')(i4,  taken  by  Mr.  Meldiufi-  on  May  7,  \HH'2,  in  a  canyon  near 
Santia^^o  Peak,  Lower  California,  resendtlcs  the  nest  of  tim  Hlack-chimu'd 
llunimint-hird  somewhat,  heinji'  principally  comjiosed  of  plant  (h)wn,  covered 
on  the  outside  with  a  few  scales  of  buds,  s»M'd  capsules,  fine  shretls  of  bark  fiber, 
leaf  st(Mns,  and  an  empty  cocoon,  and  these  decorations  are  fastt-iu'd  with  spiiler 
w«bs,  while  the  inner  cup  is  lined  with  plant  down  and  other  fine  fibrous  material. 
This  nest  was  saddled  on  tin;  fork  of  a  small  twi};\  Its  dimensions  are  about 
tiie  .same  as  thos(!  of  the  first  nest  described,  and  like  it  is  rather  shallow. 

The  ejiji's  res(Mid)le  those  of  our  l)etter-known  Ilunmiinjibirds  in  shape  and 
color.  The  two  taken  from  the  first  nest  measure  respectively  12.19  by  7.H7  and 
11.!I4  by  7.H7  millimetres,  or  (».4S  i)y  (t.;U  and  0.47  Ity  O-'U  inch;  and  those  of 
the  second  ne.st,  1 1.!I4  liy  H.l.H  and  r_M!»  ity  7.S7  millimetres,  or  0.47  by  (>.;{•_' 
and  ().4H  by  O.'M  inch. 

Till-  type  specimen,  No.  l.S,")(;4  (not  fifiured),  from  a  set  of  two  ejijrs,  was 
taken  by  Mr.  L.  Meldinj;' on  May  7,  IS.S2,  near  Santiaj^o  Peak,  Lower  California, 
as  already  stated. 

82.     Basilinna  leucotis  (N'liiM.in). 

WIIITK-EAHKI)  HI :MMl.\(il!Il;i). 

TrorliiluH  liutotis  Vii;ii,i,(tT,  Kucydopcilio  M('-tlio(li(|uc  tl,  .").">!». 
liuKiHiuM  leucotiii  BoiK,  Isis,  ls;tl,  54)i. 

(li— ,  C— ,  U— ,  (;  — ,  I'  Ul.l.) 

(iEOCUAI'IIICAI.  itANCK:  Table  liliuls  of  M<>\i(;o  ami  Central  America;  north  in  tlio 
I'nited  States  to  tlie  hifjiicr  mountain  ranp's  in  southern  Arizona;  south  to  N iciu'a$j:ua, 
Ceatral  America. 

'i'his  iiandsome  llummiiiofbird  has  only  very  recently  been  added  to  our 
tauna,  \h.  A.  K.  Fisher  obtaining;-  a  specimen  on  June  9,  l.Sil4,  in  the  Chiricahua 
Moimtains,  in  southeastern  Arizona.     In  writing  of  this  capture  he  says: 

"Duriufi'  the  early  jtart  of  Juiu'  a  camp  was  made  at  Kly  Park,  a  well- 
wooded  area  southeast  of  the  head  of  PiiU'r\'  Canyon,  at  an  altitude  of  alxait 
10,000  feet.  A  Ijoreal  honeysuckle  {Ijiidirni  iiivoliiiidtd)  j^rows  connuonly 
ihrouf^h  the  scattered  woods  of  sprue*'  {I'ircti  i)tfichii(inni),  fir  {I'scndot.siif/a  tiixi- 
J'iH(i),  jtino  {J'iniis  aij(tcuhuitc'),  ami  as]ien  (ro/iKliis  fifniiildidcs).  The  flowers  of 
the  honeysu"kle  attract  •i'reat  nund)ers  of    Hunnners,  and  hundreds  oi'  Sclan- 


m 


.'I 


it'- 


If 


i:   i 


niHs 


II 


228 


UVK  IIIHTUUIUB  OF  NOUTII  A.MUltlCAN  Ul\il)6. 


I  <«•: 


.       !4 


I    •■  'Mill; 


filnniix  iiliiliirrrcKs  niiil  many  Kiifinns  fuhinis  \\\\(\  Cn/ifiiiiii  iliitiiiirin'  vn\rv  srcti 
ilaily  alxiiit  tlin  t'liiin|is.  Karly  on  tlic  in(irnin<;'  nl  Jnni^  I),  in  niin|)any  witli 
Mr,  Frcil.  Hall  l''<i\vl<r,  tlii'  writt-r  naw  a  I'fnialc  Itusiliiinn  Immtix  wittin;;'  nn  a 
(l(iailtNvi;>'  III'  a  l.iniiiirti  linsli,  cluso  tn  tlu-  trnmnil,  wanning  itrtcit'  in  \\w  ray.s  of 
tlu!  rising  sum.  'I'Im-  \vliit('  stri|H'  on  tlic  .^idc  of  the  Iwail  wa.n  plainly  visihlc, 
ami  Icil  to  its  spi-cily  caiiturt'.  Siil»Ht(|ii('ntly  utlu'is  wtic  looked  lor,  but  uono 
were  sct-n."' 

Messrs.  Salviii  anil  (lodnian  say:   "Tliis  is  one  of  tli< nnnoiiest  an^l  most 

charat'teristir  of  the  llnminin}>'l)irds  of  the  hi<>'hlands  of  Mexico  and  (iualeniala, 
itH  ranjj'tt  exteiidinj;'  from  the  States  of  Sonora  and  Tanianliiias  to  the  uplands  of 
Nicaraji'ua,  liirds  from  these  widely  separated  districts  pi-esentin^i'  no  apprecialde 
difference.  Its  rauj^e  in  altitudit  is  consiileral»l(3.  It  does  not  occur  much  lielow 
4,1X10  feet  ahove  sea  level,  and  thence  reaches  as  hij:h  as  7, •>(»(>  or  H,(HMI  feet. 
Oil  till)  slopes  of  the  Volcan  de  Fue};d  we  used  to  fnid  it  not  unconunouly  in 
open  ji'lades  of  tlu!  oak  forests,  where  it  took  its  I'ood  from  any  plants  that 
happened  to  Ik?  in  (lower.  Of  the  hreedinj;'  hiihits  of  this  species  we  have  no 
account,  hut  a  three  parts  jjrown  bird  from  Sierra  de  N'ictoria  was  shot  by  Mr. 
IvichardsoM  in  .\pril;  so  that  the  nestin<{'  time  in  that  district  would  conuneiice  in 
March  or  the  end  of  February.  IJut  the  nestiu^i'  .sea.sou  proi)ably  extends  over  a 
(•onsideraide  period,  for  l)e  Oca  says  he  once  found  a  nest  in  l)eceud»er,  thoujiii 
tlu'  usual  uestin^i'  time  in  the  Valley  of  Me.xico,  where  the  Itird  is  more  conunon 
than  at  .lalapa,  is  in  .luly  and  August.  Accordin;;-  to  N'illada  it  feeds  from  the 
flowers  of  CiKt'i  and  Ai)(irr,  and  also  from  tho.st?  of  naiirdnlid  and  Sitlriu." 

I  have  been  unable  to  liud  a  di'tailed  description  of  the  nest  and  e;i>is  of 
this  species,  and  there  are  no  specimens  in  the  I'nited  States  Natitmal  Museum 
collection. 


83.     lache  latirostris  (Sw.m.nson). 

lll>'O.U>-iUl.,l.Kl)  UI'.M.MI.N'dltlltll. 

CijnanthuH  lallnisfiiii  Hwainson,  riiilosophicul  .MiiKaziac,  1827,  IH. 

lavhc  lutirimlriK  I'^i.Llo'ir,  Classitication  aixl  Synopsis  nl'  ihe  Tiocliilidic,  .^lanli,  I.ST'.I,  'SXi. 

(]{ _,  o  — ,  u  ;t4>s,  c  4L'i,  i;  441.) 

(iEo(ii!Ai'irieAL  i!AN(iK:  .Moaiitaiiis  of  soutlicra  .Vii/ona  ami  sontliwr'stcru  New 
.Me.xici);  soutli  to  the  Valley  of  Me.xico  and  Miclioacan,  .Mexico. 

The  Mroad-billed  or  Circo  Iliuniuinfibird  a])pears  to  be  a  moderately  com- 
iiioii  sununer  resident  in  suitable  localities  in  southern  Arizona  and  southwestern 
New  Mexico,  at  altitudes  from  liJM)  to  5,000  feet.  It  was  lir.st  added  to  our 
fauua  by  Mr.  II.  W.  Ilenshaw,  who  took  two  adidt  males  in  the  Santa  Wita 
Mountains,  a  few  miles  from  old  Camp  Crittenden,  Arizona,  on  August  '2'.i,  1S7I. 
Since  then  it  has  also  been  taken  by  jVIr.  F.  Stephens  in  the  same  locality,  where 
he  secured  li\c  specimens,  which  are  now  in  .Mr.  William   Mrewster's  collection. 


'Til.'.  .Villi,  Vol.  XI,  iH<M,i..;tL'.-.-:i2ti. 

•Itiulogia  t'riitnili  Aiiivricuiia,  Aves,  \ol.  II,  .lul.v,  ISlll',  pp.  Illll,  ;U1. 


in:  iiituAM  iiimj:i>  iirMMiNoisiini. 


2*Ji> 


In  H|ioakin;;-  nl'  tlicir  ImliitH  lie  miivm:  "'riwy  won*  iilwiiyH  t<iiin<I  iitnr  wntcr,  ami 
iismilly  iildii;;  tlic  "ttrciiins  wliicli  llowcd  throiiyli  ciiiivdiis,  liiyli  umniiji'  tin- 
iiiMiiiitiiiiis.  Tlicy  Mrt'iiicd  to  prct'ci'  KXciiifiDrcH  ti»  otliri'  trees,  iiml  iiniii'iiililv' 
|iereluMl  on  (lead  twijfH  where  they  could  connnand  an  open  \ie\v.  Tiieii'  notes 
were  Hat,  ami  dilVei-ed  I'roni  those  of  other  Hininners."  ' 

Mr.  W  .  v..  I).  Scott  suhseijuently  extendeil  its  ranji'e  northwaid  to  tlie  Santa 
( 'atalina  Mountains.  In  his  notes  on  the  birds  of  Arizona  lie  makes  the  following' 
I'eniarks  ahoiit  this  species; 

"  Duriiif''  the  sprin};-,  si-n'mer,  and  early  fall  of  \HH\  this  was  a  rather  com- 
mon sjiecies  in  the  ('atalina  Mountains,  from  an  altitude  of  .'i, ')()()  to  ,''),()()l)  feet, 
lint  in  the  correspond  in;;-  .season  of  I  MM,')  tiio  birds  woro  apparently  rare.  The 
i»ii'(|H  arrive  at  this  point  eaily  in  Api'il,  the  fith  of  that  month  bein;;'  my  eai'liest 
record,  when  I  took  two  adidt  males.  Tlu'V  remain  throii^jhont  the  sprin;;-  and 
sinnmer,  leaxinji'  liuan  the  middle  to  the  last  of  Septendter.  I  took  an  adnit 
female  on.lnne  •_'(!,  1SS|,  that  contained  an  nidaid  <>;;•;;•,  with  shell  nearly  formed, 
.so  that  there  can  be  little  donlit  that  the  Itirds  breed  at  this  |ioint.  Mesides,  I 
have  the  \inni;i'  liirds  in  fnst  plnma^i'e  from  .Inly  1  mitil  late  in  .Vn^iist." 

'There  are  also  a  number  of  spi'cimens  of  this  species  in  the  I'nited  States 
National  Museum  collection,  taken  by  .Mr.  K.  \V.  Nelson  in  the  Santa  Kita 
Mountains  and  near  Tucson,  Arizona:  and  Ur.  ivljiar  .\.  Mearns  took  a  specina-n 
in  a  canvon  of  the  (luadalnpe  Mountains,  in  southwestern  New  ^lexico,  closer 
to  the  internatitaial  IxMuidary  line,  on  August  31,  1S!I,'{,  and  another  (Mi  the 
Santa  ( "rn/.  U'iver,  west  of  the  I'ata^^Muiia  Mountains,  near  the  Scana'a  line,  on 
•  luK  4,  lS!»;i,  both  of  which  ari'  now  in  the  collection  here. 

Dr.  A.  K.  L-'isher  faili'd  to  tind  this  spocies  in  the  Cliiricahua  .Mountains, 
Arizona,  in  the  sprinii'  of  IS!i4,  lint  it  inidoubtedi  >  occurs  tli<  re  also.  There  is 
a  nest  of  this  species.  No.  ITSlKt,  in  the  I'liited  Stato  Nati(aial  Museum  colh'c- 
tion,  taken  bv  I'rof  A.  Duties  at  Ouanajuato,  Mexico,  and  receixcd  tVuin  him  in 
.lulv,  IST"),  which  measures  1.]  inches  in  outtn-  diameter  by  l'{  inches  in  hei;iht. 
The  iimer  cup  measures  1  inch  in  width  by  throe-fourths  of  an  inch  in  depth. 
l''or  a  lluimner's  nest  it  is  composeil  of  rather  coarsi^  materials  throuuhont. 
These  consist  of  tine  shreds  of  l)ark  and  plant  libers,  mixed  with  a  little  linci' 
\(';ietal)le  down;  the  oiUside  is  decorated  with  narrow  strips  of  bark,  line  plant 
stems,  bits  of  lichens,  and  a  piece  of  white;  cotton  thread,  these  materijds  bein;;' 
covered  with  a  coatin;;'  of  spider  webs,  which  hold  them  securi'ly  in  |)lace. 
Tile  inner  linin^i'  consists  of  liner  materials  of  a  similar  nature,  and  the  entire 
nest  is  rather  loosely  ])iit  to^i'ether.  This  nest  was  sadilh'd  on  a  fork  of  a  slender 
and  drooping'  twiji'. 

Mes.sr.s.  Salvin  and  (Jodinan  mention  another  .spocimen,  statin^-;  "Senor  .\. 
Ilerrera  describes  a  nest  of  this  species  which  he  found  at  ( 'himalcoyoc,  in  the 
\  alley  of  .\|exico,  as  com|)osed  of  the  .seeds  of  ^I.svVryy/Vf.s-  InKirid,  and  placeil  in 
a  plant  of  an  Opiiiitid  in  such  a  manner  that  ii  section  of  the  plant  shaded  it  from 
sun  and  rain."* 


I  Itiilli^tiii  Nuttiill  Oiiiitlioliij;i(;il  Cliili.  Vol.  VII,  1SS2,  p.  '.Ml 
'  lti(iliitj;iu  Ceianili  Aiuuricuiiu,  Avu8,  Vul.  II,  May,  18112,  pii. 


■ 


•1! 


■I. 


i;" 


1:V 


:- 


'    ill 


.     ;| 

.         .!  ill 


¥■■ 


m^ 


«|.V 


■J  i-t'  I    V  ..     . 


1  f 


iBi 


230 


LIKK  IIISTOIUKS  OK  NOIJTII  AMK1H(!AN  lUHOS. 


'riicn-  arc  no  c^'^is  of  t  is  species  in  tlic  United  States  National  Mnsouni 
collection,  and  1  have  lieen  nnalile  to  find  a  descni)tioii  or  nieasurenients  ot" 
tluf  same;  Imt  tliey  inuloubtedly  rei»enil)le  those  ot"  our  smaller  Ilinumurs  very 
closely. 

Family  COTINCJIILK.     ('otin(1as. 
84.     Platypsaris  albiventris  (Lawkkmi;). 

XANTI'SS  liKCAHO. 

Hailronloiinin  alhirnitris  Lawukntk.  Annals  JivciMini,  New  York,  VUf,  ia(>7,  17r>. 
I'lutyjimtrin  athirviitrin  ItindWAV,  Manual  of  Niir!li  American  Jiiiils,  l.S,S7,  .llTi. 

(H—  «"— .  I!  — ,  O— ,  I'  4H.1) 

(ii'.o(ii!AiMii('Ai,  itANci;:  Western  ami  soutlu'in  Mexico;  sonMi  toYueiitan.  CiusuiUly 
nortli  tt)  the  snutlu'i-n  liorder  of  tlie  I'nited  Stales  in  sdutlieiii  Ari/omi. 

Xantns's  lU-can.  the  oiiK'  re|n'esentiitive  ot'this  t'aniih'  in  thi^  United  States, 
claims  a  place  in  our  fauna  trom  tlie  fact  that  ;i  sinii'le  specimen,  an  ailult  mah 
was 


taken  li\'  Mr.W.  W.  I'rice  in  soutiiern  Arizona,  close  to  the  Sononi,  Yuw. 


Ml 


Price  makes  the  followinij-  remarks  on  this  suitject 


•On,! 


uno 


20,  ISSS,  1  secured  an  ailult  mal 


e,  in  iireediii;^'  pluinaji'e,  of  this 


species,  in  the  pine  forests  of  the  Uiiachiica  iMoiintains,  at  an  el(!vation  of  iihoiit 
7, .")()()  feet,  and  7  miles  north  of  the  Mexican  iioundary.  (See  l\id<;\vay's  'Manual 
ot'  North  American  Birds,'  p.  ■'{"if).)  I  am  certiiin  there  were  a  pair  of  these  i)irds, 
as  I  heard  tlieir  wry  jieculiar  notes  in  dilfereiit  jilaces  .at  the  same  time;  lait  the 


localitv  1 


reconleil 


K'Iiil;'  so  ( 


•xtri'iiieh'  roimh   and  broken,  1    onl\"  secured   the 


one  ai)ov(^ 


H'veral   times  while  collectiufi'  at   hi<ili  altitudi-s    1    lia\(^  heard   hird 
notes  tliat    I    thoiiiiht  werc^  these,  Imt  the\'  wen^  alwavs  on  almost  iiiaccessilile 


mountain  sides. 
lui'titiii  sffiih 


ir.isi 


in 


le  a( 


!' 


ij.-  tl 
irolialilv  iiestiiu 


'Their  note  reminds  one  of  the  soni>'  of  Stephens's  Vireo  (  I'/'rc/ 

Imt   is  not   so  \tm'X  continued  and   is  harsher.     From  observ 

•tions  of  tile  bird    1    killeil,  I  am  sure  its  mate  was  in  the  vicinity,  iiin 

sue. 


III." 


sp 


thoiiiil'  1  lia\e  sinci-  carefully  searched  the  place  without 
will  doubtless  be  found  breediuf^  in  Arizona,  as  was  Trai/dit 
<niiliif/i(i(K."^ 

c'rom  till-  lac*  that  no  other  specimens  ot'  this  species  have  i)eeii  taken  in 
tliiU  \  icinity,  which  has  since  then  been  visiteii  by  sev(>ral  jj-ood  collectors,  I  am 
inclined  to  believe  that  tliis  liird  can  only  \n'  considered  as  a  xcry  rare  summer 


visitor  in  southern  .Vrizona.     'I'lie  late  Col.  .\.  .1.  (Jra\ 


son  met  wi 


th  tl 


IS  snecie 


at  Mazatlan,  when' he  ol)taiiied  a  male  in  February, and  Mr.  .1.  Xantus  also  foiiiK 
it  on  the    plains  of  ('oiima,  Mexico. 


M 


essrs. 


lalvin   and  (loilman  do  not  recojinize  iliis  as  a  "'ood 


SlXM'leS,   aiK 


place  it  under  the  older  name  of  Ihtdrosloiinis  aiilniir  (liafresiunc),  statin;^'  how - 
e\-er:  "This  species,  tak<'ii  as  a.  whole,  is  subject  to  a  <ireat  amoimt  of  variation, 
not  only  as  re<iards  the  intensity  of  the  color  of  the  back  and  under  surface,  but 


Thu  Aiik,  Vol.  V,  ISSS,  p.  125. 


XANTi;S'S  UECAKI). 


231 


also  as  rc;^iir(ls  to  tli<>  rosy  spot  on  tlit!  tliroist  etc."  Kurtl'rr  on,  in  s])('akin<^-  oi" 
tlic  liahits  ot'  //.  <it/l(ti(i;  llicy  say:  "In  all  parts  of  our  rc^i'ion  ihc  ran^c  in  alti- 
tude «»t'  this  species  is  very  eoiisiderahle,  anil  extends  from  tli(^  sea  level  to  an 
altitude  of  at  least  H,0(K)  feet.  In  the 'IVes  Marias  (Sraysui  found  it  only  in 
tiiiek  woods,  where  it  was  seen  searehiufi'  for  instcts,  sometimes,  dartinj;-  after 
them  when  on  the  wiuj;',  at  other  times  lookinj;-  for  them  amonj;'  tlu'  leaves  and 
hranelus,  not  unlike  the  Warblers.  Its  notes  are  feeble  and  but  seldom  uttered, 
and  its  habits  are  solitary.  This  island  bird  has  been  separateil  by  Mr.  I{idi;\vay 
as  I'latjiitsiuis  nisiiUir'is. 

"Mr.  Ivobert  Owen  found  a  nest  of  this  bird  on  .May  l.">,  ISdO,  at  Chuacusin, 
(iuatemala.and  sent  us  the  female,its  nest, and  two  ej>';i.s.  The  nest  was  (jntirely 
(•om|)osed  of  tendrils,  strips  of  bark,  and  ji'i'ass,  so  as  to  form  a  haiij^'ini;'  nest, 
o|ien  at  tlu'  top  and  about  '1  inches  deep.  It  was  built  between  and  Inm^i'  from 
tile  forked  branch  of  a  saplin;;'  at  the  toot  of  a  mountain.  The  cfi'ji'  is  white, 
beautifully  marked  with  pencilinj;s  of  pinkish  red  and  scattered  spots  of  the 
same  cidor;  these  markings  are  much  blended  and  concentrated  at  the  larj^cr 
en.l."» 

There  is  nothiuii'  recordecl  as  \-et  re;iardinii'  the  nestin;;'  hal)its  and  e^ji's  of 
Xantns's  Mecard;  but  they  are  not  likely  to  differ  very  much  from  the  nest  and 
eiiji's  of  llddidstiiDnis  ((iildKc,  to  which  it  is  closeh'  allied.  As  I'ar  as  I  can  learn 
the  enu's  still  remain  unknown. 


Family  TVUANXID.lv     Tvhant  Fi.vcAn  hkijs. 
85.     Milvulus  tyrannus  (Lin.n.kus). 

I'oKK  T.\ILi:i)  I'l.VCArCUKK. 

Mnncwapii  liiiitiiiiiix  l.lNN.Mrs.  Systcuia  Natiua',  cd.  IL',  I,  I7(i(!,  ,'{L'r>. 
MitniliiK  ti/riiiiiiiiK  lioNAi'Auri',,  ('n'o-jiiipliirii!  ami  t'omiianitivo  Mst,  IS.'iS,  •_'."). 

(I!  IL'U.  «'-:.'io,  1!  ;{(i2,  V  :i«t;,  I'  [ii-'].) 

(ll'.iMiRAIMIIc M.  KANtii;:  Friiiii  iiorliuMii  I'ataji'oiiia  nortii  tliniii;^li  Soiitli  mimI  rnitral 
Ami'rica  to  simllu'iii  Mexico  and  the  Lesser  Antilles.  Witliiii  tlie  liiiteil  Stales  accident- 
ally  ill  Mississippi,  Keiiliicky.  New  .lersey,  and  soiitlieni  Caliloinia. 

The  (•'ork-laile(l  l-'lycatcher  can  only  be  considei'ed  an  accidental  straiijiler 
within  our  Itordcrs.  It  is  a  common  bird  throu;^hout  the  more  lc\  cl  ami  open 
portions  of  Centi'al  .Vnierica,  ;ind  also  throui^hout  the  f;reatei'  part  of  South 
America. 

'['he  Scissor-tail  T\  rant,  or  "Tijei'ela."  as  this  species  Is  called  l)\'  Sdater  and 
Hudson,  "is  migratory,  and  arrives,  already  mated,  at  liuenos  .\yres  at  the  end 
of  September,  and  takt's  its  dcpaitiu'e  at  the  end  ot'  l-'ebruary  in  families,  old 
and  \  uunij'  birds  toi^cthei'.       In  disposition   and  "(.ucral  habits  if  resemiilcs  tlio 

'  ltii>lniri;n'fiitrali  Amrriciiim,  \\vh,  \o\.  II,  Iti-f.-mlHi ,  ISlKi,  pp.  IL'I    IJl. 


m 


•I  I 


¥' 


'''\ 


.  .1 
i 


K 


•■ 


!;i 


r:-- 

\- .  ■■ 

I   ■ 


(.  . 


:i^l''^l;j:| 


'•  ili-^il! 


^1 


!;'.i,..!l 


232 


TJKK  IIISTOIMF.S  OF  NOUTri  A^rEIMCAN  TUTinS. 


I 


;,''< 


true  'l'yriiiit-l)ir(ls,  l)iit  iliffcrs  tVdin  thoin  in  limji'uagc,  its  various  cliirpinjif  and 
twittorinfj  notes  liavinj;-  a  lianl,  porcnssivi'  sonnd,  wliicli  Azara  well  conijiarcs  to 
tlie  snappin;!-  of  castanets.  It  in-et'ers  open  sitnations,  witli  scattered  trees  and 
Imslies,  and  is  also  ])artial  to  marshy  f^ronnds,  wliere  it  tak(*s  uj)  a  position  on  an 
elevated  stalk  to  watch  tor  insects,  and  seizes  them  in  the  air,  like*  tho  Flj'catc.lier. 
It  also  irreedily  devours  elderlierries  anil  other  small  fruits. 

"The  nest  is  not  deep,  l)ut  is  nuu'h  mon*  elaborately  oonstmctod  than  is 
usual  witli  the  Tyrants.  .Soft  materials  are  preferred,  and  in  many  cases  tho 
nests  are  composed  almost  exclusively  of  wool.  The  inside  is  cnp-sha])od,  with 
a  flat  bottom,  and  is  smooth  and  hard,  the  thistle  down  with  which  it  is  lined 
being  cemented  with  }>um.  The  egji>.  are  four,  sharply  pointed,  lii>ht  cream 
c(doi,  and  spotted,  chiefly  at  the  larj^'e  end,  with  chocolate.  In  the  breedinpf 
time  these  Tyrants  attack  other  birds  aiiproachiug  the  nest  wi'h  {^reat  spirit,  and 
and  have  a  particular  hatred  to  tlu^  Chiiiiaiif/o,  ))ursuinj;'  it  with  the  }>reatest  vio- 
lence throujih  the  air,  with  anury  notes,  reseinl)linji-  in  sound  the  whettinj;'  of  a 
s(  vthe,  Itut  uttered  with  <ireat  rapidity  and  i^iiphasis.  How  <ireatly  this  species 
is  imposed  upon  by  the  ('ow-l)ird,  notwithstandinji'  its  pugnacious  temper,  wo 
have  alreadv  seen  in  mv  account  of  that  bird. 

"The  Scissor-tails  have  oni'  remarkal)le  habit;  they  are  not  gregarious,  but 
once  every  ilay,  just  before  the  sun  sets,  all  the  binls  lixing  neai-  together  rise  to 
the  tops  of  the  trees,  calling  to  one  another  with  loud,  excited  chirps,  and  then 
mount  upward  like  rockets  to  a  great  height  in  tlu^  air;  then,  after  whirling 
about  for  a  few  moments,  tliey  ])recipitate  themselves  downward  with  tluf 
greatest  violence,  opening  and  shutting  their  tails  during  their  wild  zigzag  flight, 
and  uttering  a  succession  of  shai-|i,  grinding  notes.  After  this  curious  jjerforni- 
ance  they  separate  in  pairs,  and,  perching  on  -the  tree  tops,  e  \ch  couple  utters 
together  its  I'attling  castauet  notes,  after  whicdi  the  conii)any  breaks  up."' 

Mr.  (leorge  K.  Cherrie,  in  his  List  of  Minis  of  San  Jo.se,  Oosta.  Rica,  speaks 
of  this  species'as  follows: 

"Resident,  but  umch  more  abundant  at  some  seasons  than  at  others — that 
is,  immediately  after  tlie  bi'eeiling  season  (from  the  latter  part  of  April  until  the 
first  of  Jul\)  tlu'\'  liecome  cpiite  conunon  al)out  the  suburbs  of  the  citv,  and 
remain  so  until  th.e  miildle  of  I)ec(Mnl)er. 

"At  a  sligiitly  lower  altitude  it  nests  ai)undantl\'.  A  nest  with  throt^  fresh 
eggs,  taken  l)y  Don  Anastasio  Alt'aro  at  Tamixir,  Alajutda,  May  2,  188!),  was 
placecl  in  a  small  tree,  about  1(1  feet  from  the  ground.  The  ]iarent  bird  left  the 
nest  only  very  reluctantly  and  not  until  almost  within  the  grasp  of  th(f  col- 
lector. 'I'he  nest  is  constnu'ted  of  a  mixture  of  small  dry  grass  and  weed  stems 
and  soft  dry  gi'ass,  rather  compactly  woven  together,  with  a  lining  of  a  few  fine 
rootlets.  It  measures  outside^  f)  inidies  in  diameter  ity  2','  deep;  inside,  '2\  in 
diameter  by  2\  deep.  The  eggs  are  white,  s|)arsely  spotteil  and  blotcheil,  chiefly 
about  the  larger  end,  with  chestnut  of  slightly  varving  shades.      In  form  the 


'  Arguuliiiu  Oriiitliulogy,  Vul,  I,  pp.  KiO,  161. 


TIIK  FOltKTAILKI)  K LY<"AT(lHi;i{. 


233 


on:<rs  aro  ovate,  and  tlicy  inoasiirc  ().8S  l>y  O.fid,  0.S8  l)y  O.llf),  iind  0.S9  by  0.63 
iiicir'  ((-(iiial  to-i-i.-'if)  l.y  lO.TC,  •-'-'..'{f)  l)y  I'e.f)! .  and  ^-'M  hy  1«  niilliniotres).' 

Tlicrti  aro  no  ej^'j^cs  of  tliis  s|iof'ics  in  tlu(  ITnitcd  States  National  ^Insenni 
eollot'tion,  and  I  liave  been  unable  to  obtain  a  fully  identified  sjieeinieu  for 
illustration. 


86.     Milvulus  forficatus  (Gmf.lin). 

SCISSOR-TAILKI)  I'l-YCATCHKU. 

Musficdpa  /orjimln  (iMELIN,  Hystcina  Xatuvir  1,  i,  1788,  O.'il. 
Milviiliis/otjivtitiis  SWAINSON,  (iliissiliciitiiiii  of  Jiirds,  11,  1S27,  235. 

(B  123,  C  241,  U  301,  O  3(i7,  IT  413.) 

({EO(iRAi'Hi(!AL  i!AN(;i;:  Kiiiiii  Niciiraffun,  (.'ciitriil  America,  ii«rtU  tlirongli  eastern 
Mexieo  mihI  in  the  United  States,  refjulniiy  tin(iu};li  Texas  and  the  Indian  Territory  to 
sontliern  Kansas.  Occasional  in  soiUli  western  Mi.ssonri,  western  Arkansas,  and  liouisiana. 
Accidental  in  '•'lovida,  Virjjinia,  Illinois,  New  Jersey,  the  New  ICnsland  .States,  Manitoba, 
and  even  no.  th  to  York  l'"actory,  Hudson  Bay,  and  the  Mackenzie  Hiver  \ailey,  Northwest 
Territory,  1/oniinion  of  Cainida. 

Til'  Scissor-tailoil,  also  known  as  "Swallow-tailod,"  Flycatcher,  and  more 
freciMMitly  as  the  "Texan  Uird  of  I'aradi-ie,"  is  a  connn  m  summer  resident 
tln-ou;^hout  the  ^jreati'r  portion  of  Texas  and  the  Indian  Territory,  and  extends 
its  breediuf^'  ranjic^  northward  into  southern  Kansas.  It  usuall\  arrives  in  tlie 
southwestern  portions  of  'I'exas  alxiut  the  middh^  of  ^fareh,  and  returns  to  its 
winter  homes  in  Central  America  in  October.  Mr.  W.  K.  (irover,  of  Galveston, 
Texas,  informs  me  that  some  of  the.se  birds  remain  in  that  vicinity  throu^ihout 
the  year,  movinj;'  about  from  place  to  place  in  small  ol'  flocks  from  fi\e  to  six, 
and  occasionally  as  many  as  a  dozen  may  be  seen  tojii-ther.  Its  brcedinji' 
ranji'e  is  coincident  with  its  distiibntion  in  the  I'nited  States. 

The  Scissor-taih'd  Flycatcher  is  tlie  most  g'racoful  and  attractive  species  of 
thif',  family  found  within  our  borders,  and  is  certain  to  bo  injticcd  by  everyone 
wherevi'r  it  occurs.  Its  lonji'  outer  tail  feathers,  which  it  can  open  and  close 
at  will,  and  its  pinkish  flanks  make  it  a  conspicuous  object  amonj.;-  tin?  Texan 
liirds.  In  all  of  its  nnivennMits  on  the  wini;'  it  is  extrenn-ly  <j;raceful  and  pleas- 
inji'  to  the  eye,  especially  wiien  flutteriuj;'  slowly  from  tree  to  treti  on  tint  rather 
open  prairie,  nUeriuj;-  its  twitterinj^'  luites,  which  sound  like  the  syllables  ''psee- 
psec"  fre(iuently  repeated,  and  which  resemble  those  of  the  Kinj;bird,  but  aro 
neithei' as  loud  nor  as  shrill;  a^iaiii,  when.chasin;;-  each  other  in  ])lay  or  an;;-er, 
in  swift  flifi'lit  from  tree  to  tree,  when  it  utters  a  har.sh  note  like  "tlii.sh-tlii.sh." 
It  is  essentialK'  a  liird  of  the  more  open  countrv,  and  shuns  extensive  timbereil 
fiacts,  althoujih  it  is  freciueiitly  oi)served  on  the  outskirts  of  these.  It  rarely 
lijihts  on  \]\v  f^round,  and  its  lonj;'  tail  makes  it  then  appear  rathei'  awkward  in 
its  movements.  Altlioufih  includeil  amonji'  the  TyraiU  I'lycatclier.s,  it  is  rather 
amiablt!  and  social  in  disposition;   and  after  the  birds  are  once  matetl  several 

'  TUo  Auk,  Vol.  IX,  1892,  pp.  251  und  322. 


i.') 


" 


•I 


m,  li 


'^-m 


SFM 


M\y^ 


i?- 


■-■■< 


234 


LIFK  IIISTOH1K8  OF  NORTFI  AMKRICAN  BIKDS. 


])airs  inav  frc'<|iR'iitly  Inrod  close  tt>  ciicli  other,  iippanMitly  in  perfect  liariiionv. 
It  rarely  molests  or  chases  birds  which  aro  siiuiller  than  itself,  but  Itoidlx- 
attac'ks  Hawks,  Ravens,  Crows,  Jajs,  and  other  marauders  with  the  utmost 
fury,  when  they  come  tot)  close  to  its  n(^stin<>'  site. 

The  iScissnr-tailed  Flyc^atcher  is  rather  I'cstless,  and  rarelv  remains  in  one 
place  for  any  U-niith  of  time.  It  is  constantly  on  the  lookout  for  passinj;'  insects, 
nearly  all  of  which  are  cau^j^ht  on  the  wini^'  and  carried  to  .some*  perch,  where 
they  ari'  l)i'aten  into  suitable  pieces  and  swallowed  at  leisure.  Its  food  con- 
sists principally  of  moths,  butterHies,  beetles,  ;^Tassho])pers,  locusts,  and  cotton 
worms;  while  berries  of  various  kinds  are  also  eaten  to  some  extent.  Consid- 
ered from  an  economic  point  of  view,  they  are  amonj;'  our  most  useful  birds, 
and,  as  the\'  are  rarely  molested,  they  seem  to  be  steadily  increasinf^-  in  nundjers, 
bein{>;  far  more  common  in  many  parts  of  Texas  today  than  tlie\'  were  twentv 
years  aj^o.  They  (h)  not  bej;in  housekeei)in<j:  at  once  after  their  arrival  from 
their  winter  (piarters  in  Central  America,  but  dally  for  several  weeks  in  courtin<;' 
and  love-makinj>-  and  havinj^'  a  {i-ood  time  <>enerally  before  they  l)e<iin  their  more 
serious  duties  of  reproduction.  They  are  not  hard  to  please  iu  the  selection  of 
a  .suitable  nestinj;'  site,  and  almost  any  tree  standing;-  by  itself  is  jireferred  to  a 
more  secluded  situation 

Mr.  II.  1'.  Attwater,  of  Aransas  County,  Texas,  writes  me  as  follows  on  this 
subject:  "'I'he  bold,  fearless  character  of  the  Scissor-tail  is  shown  in  the  manner 
in  which  he  builds  his  nest,  which  is  a  l)ulky  structure,  j^enerallv  placed  on  a 
horizontal  liinl)  in  an  exposed  })Osition,  and  his  careless  disposition  is  also  well 
exemjjlitiefl  ))y  his  choosiny  for  materials  anythinji'  that  comes  handy,  fretpientlv 
leavinjif  loiiji'  pieces  hang'iufi'  from  the  nest.  I  have  found  nests  lined  with 
featlmrs,  and  others  with  horse  and  cow  manure." 

They  nest  by  preference  in  nies(piite  trees,  less  f'recpiently  in  live  and  jiost 
oaks,  the  thorny  hackberry  or  jiranjeno  (Crifis  jxdlidii),  the  huisache  (Acaria 
ffinicsidiKi),  honey  lix-ust,  mulberry,  })ecan,  and  tlu^  ma<;nolia,  as  well  as  in  vari- 
ous small,  tliorny  shrid)s.  Tiieir  nests  are  placed  at  various  distances  of  ">  to 
40  feet  from  the  ground,  but  on  an  average  not  over  la  feet,  ami  often  in  verv 
exposed  situations,  where  they  can  readily  l)e  seen.  Occasionally,  when  placed 
in  trees  whose  limbs  are  W(>11  covered  with  lony  streamers  of  the  j^ray  Spanish 
mos.s,  or  in  .shrul)s  overrun  with  vines,  they  are  rather  more  ditlicult  to  discover. 
As  thes(^  birds  ai'e  rarely  molested,  they  l)ecome  (piite  tame,  and  ni'st  not  infre- 
(juently  in  ^iardens  and  in  close  proximity  to  the  ranches. 

Nests  (tf  this  species  from  dift'erent  localities  vary  ;;Te.<tiy  in  size  and  mate- 
i-ials  from  which  constructed.  Tiie  bast^  and  sides  of  tlu'  ni'st  are  usually 
composed  of  small  twi^^s  or  rootlets,  cotton  and  weed  stems  (those  of  a  low 
tlocco.se,  woolly  annual,  Kntr  prul'ifrra  and  Kidx  iiiii/ticdiilis,  the  former  ji'rowin^- 
on  dry  and  the  latter  on  low  i^ronnd,  beiuff  nearly  always  present);  in  some 
sections  the  ji'ray  Spanish  moss  forms  tlu;  bulk  of  the  nest,  in  others  raw  cotton, 
ami  aji'ain  sheep's  wool;  while  rami's,  hair,  twine,  feathers,  bits  of  paper,  dry 
grass,  and  even  .seaweeds  may  be  incorporated  in  the  mas.s.     One  that  I  consider 


TIIH  SC1S80UTAIM:1)  FLYCATCIlIOlf. 


2:15 


a  tyi)ical  noHt,  is  now  hcfont  nu*;  it  is  cxtoniiilly  cDiistrurtcd  of  fine  rootlets, 
mixed  with  stems  of  7wv/j'  midtifdulis,  wliicli  ai'c  well  worked  into  the  onter 
walls.  Tho  inner  cup  of  the  nest,  is  lined  with  tine  plant  tiliers,  with  a  little 
wo(d,  and  a  few  feathers.  This  nest  is  synnnetrieal  in  ontline  and  compnetly 
hiiilt;  it  was  secnndy  ffistened  on  the  forks  of  a  small  o;dv  limh,  jmd  was  jtre- 
sented  to  the  United  States  National  .^^nscnm  colhn'tiou  hy  .Mr.  II.  I*.  Attwater, 
Uoekport,  Texas.  Externally  it  measnres  (!  inches  in  diameter  l»y  -'\  in  depth; 
its  inner  dianu'ter  is  ii  inches  hy 'J  in  depth.  Other  nests  .in  the  collection  iire 
nnich  more  loosely  constructed  and  fully  twice  as  bulky,  due  no  doul)t  to  tho 
character  of  the  materials  used  in  their  construction;  ai..i  afiain,  some  birds  are 
much  neater  and  better  builders  and  housekeejjers  than  others. 

A  nest  taken  by  Dr.  K.  A.  Mem-ns,  Tnited  States  Army,  on  April  29,  lS!(t3, 
from  an  oak  tree  situated  on  the  edjic?  of  the  para<le  j;round  at  Fort  ("larke, 
Texas,  is  mainly  composed  of  stron}>-  cotton  twine,  mixed  with  a  few  twijis,  weed 
stems,  and  raj^'s;  e\'en  the  inner  lining;'  consists  mostly  of  twine.  TIow  the  female 
mimaf;'ed  to  u.se  this  without  ^'•ettiufi'  hojjelessly  eiitanijled  is  astonishinji'.  The 
])revious  sea.son's  nest  still  remained  in  the  same  tree,  and  a  consideralile  (pian- 
tity  of  twine  entered  i\lso  into  its  comjiosition.  The  earliest  nestinf^-  record  I 
have  is  April  lit,  at  Mrownsville,  Tex^is,  where  fresh  cfifi's  have  also  bei-n  found  as 
lat(!  as  duly  (!;  and  it  a])i)ears  more  thfui  proitable  that  two  broods  are  raised  in 
many  instfMices,  at  lejist  in  the  southern  portions  of  their  breedin^i-  ranjj^e.  After 
the  nest,  which  is  constructed  in  about  a  week,  is  ready  foi-  occu|)imcy,  an  e^y  is 
deposited  daily  until  the  clutch  is  com[)leted;  this  usually  consists  of  fixe  e<i'}is, 
occasionally  of  four  or  six.  Iiu'ubation  lasts  nbout  twelve  days,  fmil  the  femide 
apj)ears  to  p(?rform  this  duty  alone,  while  the  male  remains  in  the  vicinity,  and 
promptly  idiases  awa\'  excrx'  suspicious  intruder  who  miiv  venture  too  close  to 
the  nest.  The  vouni;-  are  fed  exclusivcK'  on  an  insect  diet,  and  Mre  jdtle  to  \{-,\yo. 
the  nest  in  about  two  weeks.  Moth  parents  iissist  in  their  ("U'c.  In  tiie  liite 
suMuner  they  conjireiiate  in  considerabli'  nund)ers  in  the  cotton  fields  and  open 
pniirii's  preparatory'  to  their  mijii'ation  south. 

The  shell  of  the  ej^ji'  of  the  Scissor-tfiiled  Flyciitcher  is  smooth  to  the 
touch,  stronji',  com])act,  and  moderately  j^lossy.  The  e;;jis  ai'e  usually  deal' 
white,  occasionally  pide  creiiniy  white,  iin<l  rin-ely  of  a  \cry  pide  pinkish  ground 
color.  TIk'  markings  consist  of  cliu'et  brown,  heliotrope  purple,  and  laxcnder 
spots,  and  elonjiated  blotches,  var\iu^'  in  size  iuid  al)unilinice  in  diflerent  speci- 
mens; the  lari:er  end  of  the  e<iji'  is  licnerally  the  heii\iest  spotted:  but  few  of 
these  eji'<>s  can  be  called  heavily  marked,  and  occasionally  a  speciuu'U  is  found 
which  is  almost  innnaculate,  the  few  markin;;s  on  it  bein<j-  confined  to  the  hn-ficr 
end  onl\'.     In  shape  the\'  \arv  from  an  ov;ite  to  a  rounded  o\iite. 

The  ;i\-eriiL;'e  uu'nsurement  of  one  hundi'e(l  anti  seven  cfiji's  in  the  I'nited 
Stiites  National  .Museum  collection  is  -J"-*.;")!  by  1(1. !h;  millimetres,  or  iil)out  O.S!» 
by  0.(17  inch.  'I'he  lar-i'est  e.uj:'  of  tiie  series  measures  ■_'.'(. SS  by  lS.-_>!)  milli- 
metres, or  0.94  by  O.T'J  imdi;  the  smallest,  -.'O.-'i-J  l)y  10.4'.)  millimetres,  or  O.sO 
by  O.lil  inch. 


•  M 


{•I  I  ■ 


mir 


>''  H:i|;;i 


r^'W     :■ 


V       >| 


'  m 


236 


LIFE  niSTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  RlltlKS. 


Of  tlio  typo  spocinioiis,  No.  •2f}!'ui  (1*1.  1,  Fi<i\  12),  t'roiii  a  set  of  six  oji<,% 
Hiilpli  collectidii,  was  takon  nt'ar  Hrownsviik',  Toxas,  on  Ajjril  ■_♦(),  1S!»2,  and 
measures  a  trifle  above  the  average  size,  while  No.  2(i21)2  (IM.  1,  Kiff.  i;{),  from 
a  set  of  four  eji"j;s,  taken  .liiiu^  o,  lSfl,'{,  near  Uoekpoi't,  Aransas  ("ounty,  Te.xas, 
by  Mr.  II.  1'.  Attwat(M',  represents  one  of  the  least  marked  and  smallest  speei- 
uiens  in  the  series. 


87.     Tyrannus  tyrannus  (Linn.kus). 

KlXfilllltl). 


•I! 


''.'■-i 


•■l-t 


li!-' 


Hi 


LnnhtH  fiiraimiin  TiiNN.icrs,  Systemii  Nntin'ii',  oil.  lo,  I,  1">A,  94. 
Tyraniiiin  lyriuuiun  Joim)AN,  Matnuil  of  Vertebrates,  e<l.  1,  I.SSl,  !MJ. 

(I!  121,  (!  21L',  U  ;m,  (!  ,i(I.S,  U  444.) 

(iEOfinAiMiicAr,  i!AN(ii':  'rciiiitorate  Nortli  Anicrica,  rliiclly  east  of  flie  Rooky  Monn- 
tiiiiis;  rarer  ami  more  lorally  distrilmtetl  westwaitl,  in  |ioi'tiuiis  of  lltali,  Idalio,  Nevada, 
eastern  (California,  Oiejjon,  Washington,  and  southern  lii'itish  Columbia;  north  in  the 
eastern  JSiitish  I'rovinees  to  aliout  latitude  oO"',  and  from  Manitoba  \ve.st\var<l  to  about 
north;  south  in  winter  thmugb  central  and  western  Sinitli  America  to  Rolivia, 


latitude 

tlio  Island  of  Cuba,  and  the  ISahanias. 

The   Kin"l)inl,   also  called   "Mee   Bird' 


aiK 


I  "l?ee  :\Iartin 


IS  a  eommon 


summer  1 


esident,  and  breeds  throii<']iout  all  of  our  Eastern  and   Middles  Stat<': 


and  tlie  southern  i)()rtions  of  the  Dominion  of  tJanaila,  from  No\a  Scotia  and 
adjacent  rej^ions,  soiuh  (d'  alxuit  latitude  AO'',  and  west  to  altout  lonjiitude  1)0^, 
whenc(!  it  ranjics  nor 
beyond  latitude  AT'^. 


th  ti 


irou"' 


h   Manitoba  and  Saskatchewan  into  Atliabasci 


In  the  South  it  breeds  from  Florida  and  the  (iidf  Coast 
to  eastern  Texas,  but  not  nearly  as  conmionl\-  as  in  thi^  Middle  and  Nortlieru 


State: 


Ti 


lence   it   ranj^es    n 


1    a    north  westerly    direction    throuiili    tlie    Indian 


Territory  ai\d  Kansas  to  tlu;  eastern  slopes  of  the  Kocky  Mountains,  whi-re  it 
is  rarely  foiuul  at  hif;her  altituiles  than  7,(H)0  feet.  It  enters  throii;^h  some  of 
the  lower  passes  of  these  mountains  into  Utah,  Idaho,  Nevada,  Oreji'on,  Wash- 
iujiton,  and  Uritish  ( "olumbia,  where  in  certain  Ic-alities  it  is  not  uiu'ommou.     I 


bell 


ie\e  it  has  not   vet  l)een  ol)serveil  m  nortiiwestern   I  exas 


th 


N 


ew 


M 


exico,  or 


Arizona:  and  in  C^alifornia  it  can  only  i)e  considered  as  a  stra"'"'ler 


Whil 


e  a 


few  winter  in  southern   Florida  and  the  Gulf  ('oast,  the  1 


>UlK    ( 


,f  til 


ese 


birds 


mifi'rate  soiitii  into  ( 'entral  America,  ami  s(<iiu(  even  into  Holivia,  as  well  as  to 
the  Island  of  ( 'iiba  and  the  Bahamas.  They  leave  the  northern  portions  of  their 
range  about  the  middle  of  Aufiiist,  and  linj;cr  in  tin*  south  for  some  wei'ks 
before  passing-  our  border? 


l''^'\v  of  .nil'  birds 


are 


itetter  known  tliroii<"liout  the  I'liited  States  than  the 


Kingbird.  Bold  and  fearless  in  character,  yet  tame  and  coniidiiif;'  in  man,  often 
preferrinji"  to  live  in  close-  proximity  to  dwellinjis,  in  gardens  and  orchards, 
the}'  are  prime  fax'orites  with  the  majority  of  our  farininf>-  population,  and  they 
well  deserve  their  fullest  jiroteetion.  Few  birds  are  mcu'c  useful  to  the  farmer; 
their  reputation  foi-  pugnacity  and  reckless  courage  is  so  well  established  that 


THE  KINOniRl). 


237 


it  is  almost  needless  to  dwell  oii  it,  ns  it  is  well  known  tliiit  tliey  will  l)ol(lly 
attiick  and  drive  otV  the  largest  of  onr  Kaptores,  should  one  venture  too  near  to 
their  eliosen  nesting  sites.  WhcM'e  a  \m\v  or  more  of  these  birds  make  their 
homo  in  the  vicinity  of  a  farndumse,  the  poultry  yard  is  not  likely  to  sutler 
nuuh  throu}>li  feathered  marauders  at  lea«t;  they  are  a  ])erfect  terror  to  all 
hawks,  instantly  dai'tin<i'  at  and  risinj^'  above  them,  alifihtin}"'  on  their  shouldi'is  or 
necks,  and  pickin}>'  away  at  them  most  unmercifully  luitil  they  are  -only  too 
willinji'  to  beat  a  hasty  retreat.  The  male  is  seeniin<ily  always  on  the  lookout 
from  his  perch  on  the  top  branches  of  a  tri'e  or  post  for  such  enemies,  and  no 
matter  how  larj-e  they  may  be,  a  pair  of  Kinjibirds  is  more  than  a  match  for 
any  of  them,  our  lar<;er  Falcons  and  Kajiles  not  excepted,  ("rows  and  IMue 
Jays  seem  to  be  especially  ol>noxious  to  them,  and  instances  are  on  record 
where  they  liav(!  done  them  material  injury. 

From  the  fon^jroinjj'  it. nuist  not  be  assumed  that  our  Kiufjliirds  aie  jicuerally 
cpiarrelsonu'  and  that  thev  bullv  all  otluM'  birds,  as  this  is  b\'  no  means  the  case. 
As  a  rule  they  live  in  perfect  harmony  with  all  tlieii'  smallei-  relatives,  and  soiik! 
of  the  hitter's  nests  are  not  infrecpu-ntly  ])laced  within  a  few  feet  of  one  of  theirs, 
in  the  same  tree,  lik«'  that  of  the  Orchard  (Oriole,  for  instance;  and  they  are  not 
content  with  jjrotectinj;'  theii"  own  youn^-  and  eiif^'s,  but  watch  over  those  of  their 
neiji'hbors  as  well.  The  only  species  I  hav(^  observed  as  bein^i'  on  bad  terms 
with  the  Kiufi'bird  is  oiu'  little  Kuby-throated  lhnnmini;'1)ird,  which  is  well 
known  to  be,  if  ])ossible,  even  more  a}>'j;'ressive  and  ])Ujj'nacious  than  the  former, 
and  it  would  seem  as  if,  small  ihoufi'h  lu^  may  be,  he  is  a  match  for  the  a\-erajie 
Kin;^bird,  and  probaitly  always  the  a^i'ji'ressor.  I  have  on  two  occasions  seen  a 
Kuby-throated  IIununin<«bird  put  the  other  to  Hijiht. 

They  arrive  in  our  Southern  States  from  their  winter  homes  about  the  tirst 
two  weeks  in  April,  and  move  j;radually  northward,  jicnerally  makinj;'  their 
appearance  in  the  more  northern  States  about  tlu^  middle  of  -May.  'I'lie  retmn 
mij;ration  from  the  far  north  commences  in  tlu;  bej^innin;^-  of  Au<;'ust,  and  from 
<tur  Northern  States  usually  in  the  latter  i)art  of  this  month.  While  by  no 
means  unconmion  in  many  localities  west  of  tlui  Hocky  Mountains,  Icre  this 
.species  is  rather  irre;iularly  distributeil,  and  while  fairly  abundant  in  certain 
.sections,  it  is  entirely  absent  in  others  which  seem  (Mpially  well  adapted  to  it. 
1  founil  the  Kinji'ljird  rather  common  on  the  Malheur  and  dohn  Day  rivers,  in 
Grant  County,  Orejion,  while  in  dosidy  adjacent  sections  (as  in  the  vicinity  oi' 
Camp  Harney)  I  failed  to  observe  a  siiijile  specinu'ii.  J  also  met  with  it  on 
Snake  Kiver,  near  old  Fort  Hoise,  Iilaho.  it  ajjjjcars  to  nie  to  be  <;raduallv 
extendinj''  its  range  westward,  and  in  Wasliiuf^'ton  and  southern  British. Columbia 
it  already  reaches  the  Piicific  coast  in  ])lace.s. 

The  Kingbirds  arc  rather  noisy  on  their  tirst  arrival  in  the  spring,  and  give 
free  vent  to  their  exuberance  of  spirits;  they  are  very  restless  at  this  time,  now 
lii»vering  or  tluttering  slowly  from  one  tree  to  another,  or  irom  fenc(;  post  to 
fence  ])ost,  the  male  following  his  mate  with  a  peculiar,  (piiveriug  movement  of 
the  wings  and  expanded  tail,  uttering  at  the  same  time  u  succession  of  shrill, 


*-y-n 


Hlt;i: 


■'>^h:' 


^i 


..■  m 


'it  \ 


'^^-Mm 


If' 


-till 

'm:  ■  .1 

',1     .•:■■• 


238 


1,1  FK  lJI.STOI!li;S  OK  NORTH  AMKRIOAJ^  UlltDa. 


twitteriii;^'  luifcs  like  "|itlistM'.  ittliscc,"  var'u'd  now  and  tlicii  witli  dtlicr  ciills  which 
an*  ratlirr  ditlit'iilt  to  oxprcss  in  print;  one  of  tlicso  sounds  liku  '"twip-ip-iij-ij)." 
OcniMiniiullv  their  Hi<;ht,  is  ajjparcntly  accoinphslicd  Avitlioiit  puri'ej)til)lo  niovo- 
niiiit  of  tiic  winj^s,  as  if  ;>lidin;;'  alonf>'  in  tho  air,  and  a^jfain  tlioy  speed  away  with 
tlie  swiftness  of  an  arrow  in  jiursuit  of  an  insect  or  an  enemy,  doul)linji'  on  it 
with  the  ji'reatest  ease.  The  nudes  are  espt^-ially  puj^nacious  (hiring'  tlu*  niatinjjf 
season,  and  lierct*  cond>ats  ensui^  between  rivals  for  tlie  possession  of  du!  coveted 
female;  hut  after  they  are  mated  thcyi-arely  fight  among- themselves,  l)ut(juickly 


come  to  ea( 


ii  oti 


lers  assistance  ayamst  a  common  enem\'. 


From  the  oljservations  made  in  the  ITnited  States  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture, al)ont  '•<•  i)er  cent  of  the  food  of  this  species  consists  of  animal  matter, 
l)rinci])ally  l)eetles,  grasshoppers,  Ituttertlies,  s])iders,  wild  hees,  wasps,  and  niilli- 
peds;  to  this  list  can  he  added  caterpillars,  different  species  of  Hies,  likt'  the 
larg-e  black  g-adtlv,  so  annoving  to  horses  and  cattle  during-  tho  summer  months, 


anil   small   nnnnow: 


Til 


jri'ater  portion  of  the  food   is  taken 

d 


on  the  winj"- 


althoug-h  it  feeds  idso  to  some  extent  on  the  ground.  The  liird  may  usually  bo 
seen  pi-rched  on  a  low  liiiil)  of  a  .solitary  trec^  or  bush  in  a  |)asture,  on  u  fenco 
post,  a  ti'legraph  wire  along-  some  country  road,  or  even  on  a  weed  stalk  in  a  fieh'., 
whence  it  darts  after  any  passing-  insect,  'i'lie  snapping  tog-ether  of  its  mandi- 
bles after  (-atchiiig-  its  \tn'y  can  be  heard  (juife  a  little  distanco  away.  With 
a  few  bee  keepers  the  Kingbird  does  not  stand  in  the  best  repute,  as  it  is  sup- 
pose(l  to  destroy  many  i)ees;  i»ut  I  believe  that  tlie  damage  done  in  this  respect 
is  g-reatlv  exagg-erated,  anil  on  closer  examination  I  am  of  the  opinion  that 
very  few  working  liees  will  1)(!  found  among-  the  contents  of  their  stoniaehs,  and 
that  the  majority  taken  iiy  them  are  drones,  which  do  not  stores  honey,  and  that 
the  bee  keeper  is  actually  iienetited  by  their  destruction.  Tlu!  veg-etai)lt!  matter 
found  in  their  stomachs  consists  mainly  of  sassafras  ami  spicebush  berries,  wild 
choki'chorries,   juniper  and  dof^wood  berries,  mulberries,  blackberries,  liuckle- 


n  southern  Lotu'siana, 


Ml 


berries,  elderberries,  pokeberries,  and  fro-t  g-rapes 
K.  A.  Mcllhenny  tells  me,  the  Kingbii-d  feeds  extensively  on  the  bc^rries  of  tho 
l»ricklyasli  and  Tabasco  pej)pers,  becoming-  ag-reat  nuisance  on  the  pe])])er  plan- 
tations. Tlit^  flesh  becomes  (|uite  jiungent  from  this  food;  tlu^  bird  is  considered 
a  delicacy  there,  and  uumbi'rs  are  shot  and  command  a  good  |)rice  in  the  local 
markets.  It  gathers  in  larg-e  flocks  in  tlu*  tall,  and  is  locally  known  there  as 
"(Jross  (hasset."  The  indigestible  portions,  like  the  wing-  covers  of  beetles,  tho 
legs  of  grasshop](ers,  and  seeils  of  berries,  are  ejected  in  pellets.  The  Kingbii'd 
loves  a  rather  open  country,  and  is  rart-ly  found  nesting-  at  any  great  ilistanco 
from  water,  and  it  shuns  deiiselv  timbered  tracts. 


In   the  more  southern   sections  of  its   iireeding-  range   nidification   begins 


usu 


dl\'  in  the  first  half  of  Mav,  while  in  northern   New  York  and 


our 


North 


western  States  it  rarely  iiests  before  .luiie,  more  generally  in  the  latter  part  of 
this  montii.  and  still  later  in  the  extreme  northern  parts  of  its  range.  The  nests 
are  ])laced  in  \arious  kinds  of  trees,  such  as  apple,  pear,  tulip,  chestnut,  elm, 
poplar,  cottuinvooU,  willow,  oak,  sycamore,  osago  orange,  cedar,  maple,  birch, 


TlIK  KINdlWHI). 


2;Ji> 


liiiwtliMni,  locust,  wild  |)liiin,  <u.'iii<;'*>,  mu\  Ifiiidii,  iin  well  iis  in  slirnlis  iiiiil  liiislics 
of  tlitlVTcnt  kinds,  jicncrally  iit  a  distaiict!  of  from  4  to  40  feet  from  tlu^  jiroiind. 
'I'licy  an^  usually  jilarcd  iu  a  fork  or  crotch  on  a  horizontal  braiicli,  and  fri'- 
(|U('ntly  well  out  on  tho  limb.  They  aio  not  at  all  particular  iu  the  sch-ction  of 
a  ncstin;;  site;  I  liiivc  seen  nests  piactMl  on  a  fence  rail  (souu'times  on  to]»  of  one) 
and  aj;ain  hetween  the  rails  not  over  '2  feet  from  the  j^round,  in  tlui  hollow  tops 
of  stumps,  and  in  abandoned  nests  of  the  Kobin  and  the  Mronzed  (Jrackle. 
Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher  informs  me  that  at  Ued  ("loud.  N(0)raska,  in  July  a,  iSO.'i,  a 
female  was  fouml  sittinj;-  on  a  nest  )ilaced  on  top  of  a  fence  pu  t,  near  the  rail- 
road track.  It  is  not  evident  why  this  site  was  chosen,  as  plenty  <  f  trees  jfrew  in 
the  vicinity,  'i'here  was  no  shelter  aiiovc^  to  protect  the  nest  from  the  sun,  and 
when  seen  the  female  was  pantin;'  from  the  heat. 

Mr.  Klmer  T.  .ludd,  of  (\indo.  North  Dakota,  writes:  "A  pair  of  these  l>irds 
were  noticed  buildinji'  a  lu-st  on  a  sulky  ]ilo\v,  and  after  the  nest  was  nearly 
completed  the  plow  was  re(|uired  and  used,  but  the  nest  was  not  disturl)cd.  <  )n 
ilnishinji-  the  work  I  put  the  plow  back  in  about  the  same  place,  and  after  a  day 
or  two  of  consideration  the  i)ir(ls  finished  the  nest,  laid  their  coif's,  and  raised  a 
brood  of  younjf.  Two  little  ^irls  used  to  visit  the  ))lace  every  day,  and  the  Itird 
would  almost  let  tlu  •'  ,»ut  their  hands  on  it  before  leaviufi'  the  nest.  In  tlii.s 
section  they  usually  lay  our  eji-jis,  and  tlu^  earliest  date  of  nestini^'  is  ,lun«; 
•_'!»;  the  latest,  the  third  week  in  July.  Their  favorite  nestin;^'  sites  here  are  in 
wild  ]ilum  bushes,  from  4  to  (t  feet  from  the  ;.;rouud,  and  I  ha\<'  also  noticed 
them  nestin;^-  in  eav(^  troujjhs  and  binders." 

The  Kingbird,  like  many  other  s])ecies,  after  selecting-  a  suital)le  nestinju' 
site  and  I'aisin}^'  its  younji-  unmolested,  will  j;eiu'rally  return  to  it  from  year  to 
year.  The  nest  is  usually  well  and  compactly  built,  and  varies  more  oi-  less  in 
size  and  l»ulk,  accordinj;to  the  site.  A  tyj)ical  nest  now  before  me,  taken  by  Dr. 
Kd^ar  A.  Mearns,  United  States  Army,  near  Fort  Suellin^',  Minnesota,  nu-asures 
about  i'tf,  inches  in  outer  diauu'tei'  l>y.'i\  inches  in  de[tth;  its  inner  iliameter 
is  .'5  inches  b\'  l'{  inches  deep.  Its  exterior  is  consti'Ucte(|  of  small  t\vi;.;s  and 
drv  weed  stems,  mixed  with  cottonwood  down,  [lieces  of  twine,  and  a  little  hair. 
Tile  inner  cuj)  is  lined  with  iine  dry  ^-rass,  a  few  rootlets,  and  a  small  (piantity 
of  horsehair.  In  other  specinu-ns  l>its  of  wool,  strips  of  bark,  thistle  down,  cattle 
hair,  ami  line  rootlets  an'  incor[)oi'ated  in  the  body  of  tin;  nest.  In  the  South  the 
ji'ray  Si)anisli  moss  freipiently  forms  the  bulk  of  the  outer  walls,  while  in  tlm  Adi- 
rondack UKamtains,  in  Herkimer  County,  New  York,  in  .hme,  IS!I'2,  Dr.  b'alpli 
and  the  writei'  took  a  nest  of  this  species  from  a  crotch  formed  bv  the  ti'unk 
and  two  broken  branches  of  a  small  dead  l)irch  stump,  about  S  t'eet  t'roin 
the  ground,  which  was  externall}'  constructed  of  the  lon;n',  ji'reen  tree  moss  of 
that  reji'ion,  mixed  with  a  few  line  roots  and  twi^^s,  niilkwei-d  down,  weeds,  and 
ji'rasses,  and  lin<'d  with  tine  roots,  hair,  milkweed  down,  a  little  tree-moss,  Ursiicd, 
anil  a  few  l)lades  of  fine  n'rass.  The  stump  stood  b\'  itself  on  the  edjic  of  a 
small  swamp,  and  the  nest  could  be  plainly  seen  tor  some  distance.  Mr.  \'].  A. 
Mcllhenny  tells  me  that  in  the  willow  swamps  in  southern  {..ouisiana  these  birds 


t 

'■■} 


1    ■! 
.-J 


>r 


» 


■Jij    . 

1^ 


1 ».  '  - 


w  -h 


■Hi' 


.;;1i 


M  .,  ■■;v| 


ll 


!■ 


(«■ 


■lai  t 


240 


TilFK  IIIHTOUIKH  OK  NORTH  AMKRICAN  TURnS. 


cMiistnict  tlu'ir  iicsts  cntirclN' out  tit'  willdw  ciitkiiis,  witlmiit  m\\  sticks  wliatcvcr, 
iiM<l  tliat  tlic  iHssts  niii  1m^  sihu-c/amI  tnj.'ftli('r  in  tlit'  liaiiil  like  ii  hall. 

Tint  iiialtt  assists  iii  tint  ('(instruction  dt'  tin*  nest,  and  t(i  simic  i-xtcnt  in  tla^ 
duties  of  inculiation.  lie  I'clicvcs  tlic  female  from  time  to  timo  to  allow  lier  to 
l"ee(l,  ^^iiards  tlie  nestinj;'  site,  and  is  usually  |)erched  on  a  lindi  close  li\-,  wliern 


he  h 


d 


if  tl 


las  a  jidoil  view  ot  tlie  surroundinj^s.  Hven  when  so-enj^afied  lio  rarely  sits 
entirely  (|iiiet,  liut  every  ^vw  minutes  elevates  his  c,r(!st  and  looks  around  for  a 
|iossil)Ie  enemy.     .\n  e^iji'  is  de]i(isited  daily,  and  incubation  lasts  from  twidve 


to  thirteen  davi 


Tl 


i(f  vomm'  while  in  the  nest  are 


fed 


entu'eh'  on  ainmii 


food 


and  are  ahle  to  leave  it  in  aliout  two  W(H'ks  after  hatchin"',  and  soon  learti  to 


v  raised   111 


th 


nore 


provide  for  themselves.     .\  second   hmod   is  occasionall 
southern  [lortioiis  of  their  hreedinj^'  raiific 

The  Kiii^liird  is  not  particularly  socialile,  (Mich  pair  kecpiii;;'  ]iretty  much 
to  themselves  during'  the  iiretjilin;^'  seasdii,  and  later  in  familv  parties,  until  the 
winter  mijiration  commences,  when  thev  ;i'atlier  in  tlocks  and  dejiart  for  the 


soutn 


th 


Threi^  or  foiu"  e^^s  are  laid  to  a  set;   in  sona^  localities  tliriHi  .s(((;ins  to  I) 


i-iile 


nis  IS  esiiecia 


llv  tl 


le  case   in 


th 


breecl 


le  more  .southern  portions  o 


if   ll 


leir 


III"'    ran"(',  w 


hile  farther  north  tlie\'    m'lieralh'    la\'    four.      .MtlioU"h   th 


[iiiiiliirt 


•redited   1)\-  several  writeiv 


hniim-  from  three  to   live  ('"'li's,  and 


sometimes  e\-eii   six, 


1  I 


lave  never  seen  a  larn'cr  s( 


examiiKMl,  and  s( 


ts  ,lf 


'11  h 


\-,.  en^s  must  he  collsK 


tl) 


t  tl 
dered 


laii  tour  amoiiii'  the  man 


IS  \('r\'  iimisnal 


he 


ji'i'diind  color  of  these  e;;'j;'s  \aries  from  white  or  ])nhj  creamy  white  to  a  very 
faint  ro.'^e  pink,  ami  tiiey  are  spotted  and   blotched  with  chestnut,  claret  brown. 


i(^  marUiniis  \arv  "reatlv, 


cinnamon,  rufous,  heliotrope  purple,  and  lavender.  Th 
both  in  size  and  ([iiaiitity,  but  are  ^^cnerall}'  lieav  iest  aiioiit  the  lariicr  end  of  the 
ej^;:'.  In  the  more  finely  marked  specimens  the  s|iots  are  usually  more  profiisi' 
and  eveiil\- distributed,  and  occasionalh' an  almost  unmarked  eji';;' is  found.     The 


slie 


itl 


itn(^r  smod 


th,  close-ji'raiiied,  moderately   stroii<>',   and   sli};'litly    ^^lossy. 
The  eiiiis  are  niostlx'  ovate  in   .>-hape,  ranuinii'  iroiii   this  to  short  and   rounded 


()vat(S  and  a  W'W  are  eloiiiiate  o\iite, 


average   measurement  ol   one 


liimd 


reil  am 


I   fort\'  eu'trs  ill   the  Ibiited 


.States   National    Museum 


bv  0. 


(-  men. 


Th 


lection  is  ■J4.<l(!  liy  IS.-JI   millimetres,  or  aiioiit  (».'.»r) 
ai'ucst  eii'"-  of  the  series  measures  '_*(). 1)2  b\'  lll.iJO  millimetres. 


or  1.06  bv  (l.7(i  inch 


'<mal 


St,  2().s;i  liv  17.27  millimetre 


s,  or 


tt..s2  li\- (».6S 


UK 


The  tvpe  specimen.  No.  2221111  ( I'l.  1,  Kiy.  14),  from  a  set  of  four  ejijis  taken 
bv  .Mr.  Denis  (ialc,  iiejir  ( iold  Hill,  Hoiildcr  ( 'ouiitv,  < 'olorad n  .lime  2'),  ls84. 


sUiiws  line  o 
set  of  thn 


t'  the  1(  .-s  marked  e\; 


imiiies: 


d  No.  2r>0ri2  (I'l.  1,  Fi,u'.  l."i),  from 


taken  liv  l>r.  Kduar  \.  .Meanis,  United  States  Arinv,  near  Fort 


Siuillinj^,  Minnesota,  on  .lime  \'A,  ISIK),  represents  a  well-marked  spoeiiuen. 


' '  'X' 


TUB  OUAY  KlNUBUtO.  241 

88.    Tyrannus  dominicensis  (Gmklin). 

(lliAV    KINdlllKD. 

LaiiiiiH  UirimnuH  ,i.  dominicenitU  (Imklin,  Syntt'iim  Nsitiini',  I,  17H8,  ;iOi,'. 
TyrnuHiiH  dominiveimH  KidiiAKUSON,  Uuport  Hixtli  Mi-i-tiii;;  of  tho  Iti'itiHli  AHsiiL'iatioii,  V, 
1H;17,  170. 

(IJ  125,  C  L'43,  It  3»;j,  C  ;j(i»,  IT  44.'5.) 

(lEOOUAi'iii(!AL  BANOK:  Wt'st  Iii<li<!8,  cosists  ol"  Carriboiiii  Sen,  iind  (liilf  iif  Mpxitjo; 
mirth  to  Florida,  (ic-or);ia,  iind  iSoutli  Carolina.  Avt'idciital  in  Ma.sHacliusutts  and  liritinb 
Coliiiiibia. 

The  Gray  Kin;>bircl  is  a  modoratoly  coininnii  visitor  to  and  iiroods  aloiiji'  tlio 
soiitlu'rn  border  of  tlio  United  States,  and  its  haltitat  is  niaiidy  conlined  to  tlio 
imniodiate  vicinity  of  tlio  seatMiast  and  tlio  hanks  of  tlio  lar}>or  stroams  Howiii}'' 
into  tilt!  (lulf  of  Mo.\ii'o.  Audubon,  who  callod  this  bird  tlio  I'ipiry  Flycatcher, 
re|iorted  it  as  (juito  coniinon  on  most  of  the  Florida  Keys,  anil  Dr.  Machiiian 
olwervod  a  pair  breodiii}^'  in  tho  c(dle<,''o  yard  atC'liarleston,  South  Carolina,  which 
returned  for  at  least  throe  years  in  succession  and  raised  two  broods  in  a  season,' 
Mr.  Arthur  'V.  Wayne  took  a  nest  and  e<;}i's  of  this  s|K,'cies  on  Sullis  an  Island,  near 
( 'harlestou.  South  Carolina,  in  .liine,  lS!t3.  Mr.  < '.  .1.  Maynard  found  them  rather 
conunoii  on  sonic  of  the  Florida  Koys,  and  writes  about  them  as  follows:  "Tho 
(iiay  Kiuj^binls  appear  to  prefer  the  outer  or  liij;her  keys,  and  visit  them  in 
i^reat  iiiiiiibers,  especially  durin;^'  the  spriii;^'  iiii^ration.  In  order  to  ;;ive  some 
idea  of  the  home  of  these  birds,  I  will  describe  Hauiboo  Key,  where  1  found 
them  particularly  common.  I'liis  little  isla'id,  which  contains  nearly  2  acres  of 
land,  lies  about  niidwaj'  between  Key  West  and  Cape  Florida.  It  is  one  of  a 
line  of  outer  keys  which  have  an  old  coral  reef  for  a  foundation,  and  as  tlu* 
present  reef,  which  extends  |taiallel  with  tho  koys,  but  which  lies  .■"»  miles  at  sea, 
is  clearly  visible,  this  is  used  as  a  wreckiii}'-  station,  and  has  a  lookout  erected  on 
it.  There  were  two  families  liviiij''  there;  but,  with  the  characteristic  im|)rovi- 
deiice  of  tho  jioorer  class  in  Fluriihi,  they  did  not  attem|)t  to  cultivate  thi^  soil, 
choosinj^'  rather  to  depend  upon  a  precarious  livelihood  j;ained  liy  wreckinj;-. 
Thus  the  vof^etation  of  the  place  was,  in  a  fi'reat  de;;ree,  in  a  ])riiiiitive  condition. 
Nearly  the  whole  key  was  surrounded  by  a  lielt  of  manj^roves,  but  these  ^rew 
on  very  low  jyrouud,  over  which  the  tide  rose  every  (hiy;  lu<iher  on  tho  dry  land 
were  bushes,  amonj>'  which  two  or  three  species  of  cacti  "i'rew  in  profusion,  and 
as  the  whole  was  overgrown  by  a  tanj^'led  mass  of  vines  it  formed  an  impeiie- 
tialilo  thicket.  The  wreckers  had  formed  a  small  clearing'  in  the  midst  of  tlii.s 
jungle  and  erected  two  or  three  wretched  houses. 

"I  landed  on  the  1st  of  May,  and  remained  then*  several  days,  (hiring 
which  time  I  saw  hundreds  of  Gray  Kiiigbirtl.s.  They  appeared  to  bo  migrating, 
for  numbers  were  constantly  arriving  from  seaward;  yet,  unlike  many  other 
species,  they  invariably  came  in  pairs,  ami  were  evidently  mated,  as  they  were 
constantly'  ])ursuing  each  other  through  the  air  in  a  playful  niamier,  at  the  same 

'  History  iif  .North  Aiiicrican  liirtU,  1874,  Vol.  11,  p.  320, 
1689«— No.  3 16 


.11  *     M> 


I      .--' 


n 


^ii'  m 


m 


f 


■ill: 

11  I 


i 

'  J 
1  1 

■  '•  1 

it|!; 

f    : 

■^  -  ■* 

I.' 

'i 

1 

I  \i 


i 


•.  ll 


i; 


m  •:l 


>i)<:l 


■!«■.,■  J 


mm 


M 


?f; 


242 


LIKK  III8TOUIKS  OK  NOIITII   AMKHICAN   MIKDH. 


tiiiu*  vooif'cratiiij;-  Idiidly.  Tlicy  cxliiliit  a  (Iccidt'd  preference  for  niiiiiffi'ovoH,  niul 
Inter,  liy  the  midille  of  tlu-  iiioiitli,  hiiild  tlieir  nests  in  tliein,  nsiially  seleetinjr 
huslies  wliifli  overlian^r  the  \vat«'i'.  These  Itirds  i:!!>;!''it  :;!!  >}'  rlie  liij^lier  keys 
tVuni  Kev'West  to  ('iipc!  Florida.  They  also  oeein-  on  the  west  eoast  ill  suitahio 
localities,  Imt  I  do  not  tliink  that  they  are  as  alaindant  on  the  east  side  of  tlio 
peninsula.     They  must  iiii^irate  early,  as  I  never  found  them  in  autumn."' 

Mr.  W.  K.  U.  Scott  «ayH:  "TIk*  earliest  record  1  have  of  its  arrival  ahcmt 
Tar|Mm  Spriujis,  Florida,  is  April  •_','{,  1M,S7,  and  the  birds  are  conmion  till  late  in 
Septemlicr.  The  ejiji's  are  laid  in  this  vicinity  from  about  the  middle  to  the  last 
of  Ma\',  and  lint  one  hrood  appears  to  he  reared." 

Mr.  AlkiiiH'  notos  are  as  follows:  "Arrives  at  I'unta  Hassa  michlle  of  April; 
nests  commonly  on  the  islands  and  alonjr  the  shore  in  man^^roxe  hushes;  seems 
to  jirefer  an  isolated  tree  or  bush  near  the  water.  Last  noted  at  i'uuta  Hassa 
September  13.     Arrives  at  K(ty  West  about  April  1 1.    A  few  breed  here."* 

First  Lieut.  Wirt  Uobinson,  Fourth  Artillery,  I'nited  States  Army,  found 
this  species  not  at  all  uncouwnon  at  Mataiizas  Inlet,  Florida,  and  took  three  set.s 
of  e^i'j^s,  which  are  now  in  the  rnited  States  National  Museum  cidlection,  uu 
May  IH  and  "23,  1SII4.     Here  they  nested  in  the  low  maii<,'roves. 

The  (iray  Kiii;;bird  is  far  more  abundant  in  the  West  India  Islands,  espe- 
cially in  Cuba,  .lamaica,  Dominica,  and  the  Mahamas,  where  it  is  one  of  the 
most  conspicuous  birds.  Its  {general  habits,  food,  and  manner  of  tli".;ht  ai)pear 
to  be  very  similar  to  those  of  our  common  Kinji-bird,  and,  like  it,  it  is  fearless  and 
])Uf^-nacious  in  the  defense  of  its  chosen  nesting'  site,  boldly  attacking-  birds  much 
larger  than  itself 

Mr.  Richard  Ilill,  of  Spani.sh  Town,  .lamaica,  in  some  interesting'  notes 
furnished  to  Mr.  (Jo.sse,  .says:  "The  Jamaica  bird  is  not  exclusively  an  insect 
feeder,  but  eats  very  freely  of  the  sweet  wild  berries,  especially  those  of  the 
jiimento.  These  ripen  in  September,  and  in  groves  of  these  this  bird  nmy 
always  be  found  in  aiiundanci-.  I5y  the  end  of  September  most  of  the  migrant 
birds  hav((  left  tlie  island.     *     *     « 

"This  is  among  the  earliest  of  the  birds  to  breed  in  Jamaica.  As  early  as 
Januarv  the  mated  pair  is  saiil  to  be  in  possession  of  some  lofty  trt'c,  sounding 
at  day  dawn  a  ceaseless  shriek,  which  is  composed  of  a  repetition  of  three  or 
four  notes  sounding  like  'pe-chee-ry,'  from  which  they  derive  their  local  name. 
*  *  *  In  feediiiff,  just  ))efore  suii.set.  they  usually  sit  eight  or  ten  in  a  row, 
on  some  exposed  twig,  darting  from  it  in  pursuit  of  their  prey,  and  returning  to 
it  to  devour  whatever  they  have  caught.  ''Miey  are  rapid  in  their  movements, 
ever  constantlv  and  hurriedly  changing  their  positions  in  tlight.  As  they  fl\ 
they  are  able  to  check  their  s])eed  su(hleuly  and  to  turn  at  the 
able  angle.      At  times  they  move  with  moticadess  wiiii. 


■smallest  m 


trom  one  tree  to  an^ 


Wl 


tl 


leii  oiu!  descends  to  pu-k  up  an  n 


isect  from  th 


■<urfi 


.f  tl 


le  water,  it  .<ii8 


le  ajtpei 


(l)earan(!e  of  tumbling,  and,  in  rising  a< 


gam, 


ascends  witl 


1  a  SI 


njjular  motion 


'  liinls  (>r  rioiidii  iiml  liiistein  .Noitli  Aiiiilica,  ISSl,  p.  176. 

'Tiiu.viik,  VI,  iss'.i,  p.  :us. 


THE  OKAY  KINOHIUD. 


243 


of  till'  wiiijfs,  art  if  liiiilcti  into  tlm  iiirimd  t'lulciivoriiij^  t<>  riH'nv<>i*itK«'lf.  '"  *  '" 
'I'liirt  FlynitcluT  is  also  cliitr^jcfl  In  Mr.  Hill  with  stMziuf^  iipun  tin-  irumminji- 
l>ir(ls  lis  tlmy  Iidvci-  (ivcrtlin  hltissfiiiis  in  tlic  pmlciis,  killiii;;'  its  |irt'\-  ii\-  ivpcattMl 
iiluws  struck  on  tlic  Itrain-li  ami  tlu-n  ilcvourinj;-  tlicni."' 

Ill  Klorida  nidilication  raivly  (■oinnifiifcs  lu-fon*  tlin  tliinl  wcfk  in  May, 
and  soinctiincs  not  licforu  .luiio.  Tlu)  lU'sts  arc*  most  fi-c*|ii<'ntly  found  in  inati- 
jiTovi)  ImisIics,  in  ditl'(M'('iit  species  of  palms,  and  less  often  in  li\e  oaks;  tliey 
are  usually  placeil  on  horizontal  liml)s  overlianjiin;;'  tlie  water,  and  at  no  jfieat 
distance  ahovu  it.  A  nest  now  liefore  ine,  taken  hy  Lieut.  Wirt  lioliinsoii,  at 
iMataii/as  inlet,  on  May  IS,  IHKI,  ineastucs  (!  inches  in  outer  diameter  l»y  '2\ 
iiu  !m's  in  depth;  its  inner  diameter  is  4  inches  liy  \\  in  depth.  It  is  externally 
composed  of  small  twi^s  and  rootlets,  and  lined  with  liner  material  ot'  the  same 
kiml.  It  is  a  vory  loosely  and  carehtssly  l)uilt  structure,  res(;mlilin;i'  a  .Moiirn- 
'n\<<;  Dove's  nest  more  than  aiiythin;i'  else;  it  containeil  four  fresh  e;;|;s  wlu'U 
found.  The  number  of  e};-^ts  to  a  set  varies  from  thre<'  to  four,  althou^i-li  it  is 
said  that  occasionally  as  many  as  tive  are  found.  These  are  among-  the  hand- 
somest of  our  Flycatchers;  their  ^iround  color  varies  from  a  creamy  to  a  pinkish 
or  Hesh-colored  tint,  and  they  an-  profiisi'ly  spotted  and  i)lotched  with  dill'erent 
shades  of  ('hocolate,  burnt  umbi-r,  (daret  brown,  mixed  with  liji;hter  shatles  of  la\- 
ender  an<l  heliotrope  purjile,  the  markinji's  are  usually  heaviest  about  the  larj;cr 
end  of  the  en'};',  and  often  form  an  irregular  wreath.  The  shell  is  close  <ii'ained 
anil  rather  iirm;  the  shape  is  usually  elliptical  ovate,  less  often  elonj;ati'  ovate. 

The  average  iiieasnrenient  of  a  series  of  forty  efj'<;s  in  the  I'liited  .States 
National  Museum  collection  is  "i").!)!  by  18.50  millimetres,  or  about  1.02  by 
O.TiJ  inches  The  larji'i'st  ej;';;'  of  the  series  measures  27. (iS  liy  liL.HO  millimetres, 
or  1.0!)  by  0.7(J  inches;  the  smallest,  •_'•_'. (II  by  17.53  millimetres,  or  O.SD  by 
O.Ci)  inch." 

The  type  specimen,  No.  I(;s44  (I'l.  2,  Fig-,  n),  was  taken  by  Mr.  N.  H. 
Moore,  near  Manatee,  Florida,  in  dune,  iKT.'i,  and  represents  a  well-marked 
specimen,  while  No.  20405  (I'l.  2,  Fijj.  4),  Hendire  collection,  taken  l)y  Mr. 
('.  II.  Nainnan,  in  .May,  1S75,  in  southern  Florida,  represents  an  average-marked 
fijio-  of  this  species. 


'  '    ''ll 

f:  ;.  '■ 

:    1  ;■ 

1 

■   ■  » 
) 

!• 


i  l!^ 


,1' 


|i 


" 


*  ■ 


,'■   -i      !   ■ 


8g.     Tyrannus  melancholicus     ouchii  (Baibd) 

COUCH'S  KINOHIKI). 

Tjirninnin  coitchii  lUiitn,  I'.irds  of  North  America,  1858. 175. 
T!)rniiuitK  melanvholivtix  viir.  coiirliii  ColKS,  (Uii'ck  List,  cii.  I,  Dt'c,  IHT.'J,  51. 
(15  128,  12!»,  ('  24ti,  K  ,'!(I5,  0  .'!72,  I!  44<!.) 

<ii;oiiUAriiii!AL  banok:  From  (iiiatenmla  north  thruuKh  Mexico,  to  tiic  lower  Uio 
(irauile  V^iUey,  in  southcra  Texas. 

Couch's  Kingbird  is  a-  c  )mmoi\  siunmer  resident  throughout  a  considerable 
jiortiou  of  Mexico,  but  within  our  borders  it  appears  to  be  rather  rare,  and  has 
^     far  only  been  observed  in  the  lower  Uio  Grande  Valle),  where  it  breeils  spar 

'  History  of  North  Ameticim  Bir.ls,  1874,  Vol.  II,  pp.  ;H21,  322. 


m.: 


■  '1 


li  *'. 


n 

1 

iff 

^  ; 

H 

i  i 

iT 

1.? 

.M  (f  «  • 

» **: 

#■ 

llv 

X 

244 


LIFK  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


in}>ly.  T  liiivc  l)eon  quoted  in  the  "History  of  Nortli  American  Birds,  1874" 
(Vol.  II,  ](.  3l*!l),  as  haviiio'  taken  tliis  sid)s])eeies  near  Tueson,  Arizona;  this  is 
evidently  a  mistake,  as  1  can  not  find  any  reference  to  such  a  captui'O  among  my 
notes  on  Arizona  birds. 

For  what  h'ttle  we  know  al)out  Couch's  Kinjjbird  we  are  indebted  to  Mr. 
Georji'e  li.  Sennett,  who  iirst  met  with  it  on  May  S,  1877,  at  Lomita  Kanch,  near 
Ilidalji'o,  Texas.  lie  says:  "At  this  point  is  the  finest  grove  of  ebonies  (^Acacia 
Jicjicdiiliff)  1  saw  on  the  river.  On  the  hillside,  hack  of  the  buildings,  they  over- 
look the  large  resaca,  then  filled  with  ta.sseled  corn.  It  was  the  tops  of  these 
grand  old  trees  that  these  Flycatchers  loved,  and  so  persistent  were  they  in 
staying-there  that  1  thought  they  were  going  to  settle  in  the  neighborhood  for 
the  season.  Thei'e  was  a  company  of  some  six  or  eight  scattered  id)OUt.  1  did 
not  find  them  shy,  for  after  our  firing  they  would  almost  innnediately  return  to 
the  same  trees.  The}'  were  readily  distinguishable  from  Ti/raiiiiun  cdfoJUivnsis, 
which  were  shot  in  their  comi)any;  their  greater  size  and  bright  yellow  under 
])ai"ts  can  be  seen  at  gunshot  range.'" 

A  I  nest  taken  by  one  of  Mr.  Sennett's  collectors  in  1H81  is  described  by  him 
as  follows:  "The  nest  was  situated  some  2()  feet  from  the  gntund,  on  a  small 
lateral  branch  of  a  large  elm,  in  a  tine  gro\e  not  ♦':!:■  from  the  houses  of  the 
I'unch.  It  is  composed  of  small  Am  twigs,  with  a  little  Spanish  moss  and  a  few 
branchlets  and  leaves  of  the  growing  elm  intermixed.  The  sides  of  the  nest  are 
lined  with  fine  rootlets;  the  bottom  with  the  black,  hair-like  heart  of  the  Spanish 
moss.  The  outside  diameter  is  fi  inches  and  the  depth  2  inche.s.  The  inside 
diameter  is  ,'5  inches  and  the  dej)th  l.'Jf)  inches."'-' 

There  is  as  yet  but  little  known  about  the  general  habits,  food,  and  call 
notes  of  this  siil)s])ecies;  l)ut  it  is  presuma1)le  that  they  do  not  differ  very  mate- 
raillv  from  those  of  the  other  nuMubers  of  tiiis  family.  The  numi)er  of  eggs 
varies  from  three  to  four,  and  the  nests  appear  generally  to  lu!  ])laced  near  the 
end  of  a  horizontal  lind),  on  a  good-sized  tree,  at  no  very  grear  distan<'e  from  the 
ground,  and  ])i-eferal)ly  near  watei". 

All  the  eggs  of  this  sidispecies  in  the  I'nited  States  National  Museum 
collection  wiTe  taken  in  the  \icinity  of  lh'owns\ ille,  Ti-xas,  where  thest;  birds 
usually  connnencc!  nesting  during  t'le  iirst  two  weeks  in  .May. 

The  ground  color  of  the  i.'\i\f>^  is  a  delicate*  creamy  pink,  and  they  are  mod- 
erately well  blolched  and  spotted  with  chocolate,  claret  brown,  heliotrope  purple, 
an<l  laxender.  These  markings  are.  in  some  instances,  scattered  pretty  evenly 
over  the  entire  surface  of  the  i.'\x\X\  in  others  tlicy  are  mainly  confined  to  the 
lar'i'er  end.  They  are  readily  distinguishable  from  the  eggs  of  the  balance  of 
onr  Kingltirds  iiy  their  peculiar  ground  coloi',  while  their  markings  are  verv 
similar  to  those  found  on  the  v^'^i'  of  the  other  species  of  this  family.  ^Phe  shell 
is  close-grained  and  rather  str<)ng.  and  in  sha|)e  the  eggs  are  generall\-  ovate  or 
elongate  ovate. 

'  liiiUcliii  cjltlici  U.  S.  OcoloKii'al  :i'iil  Oi(ij;niiiliii;il  Survey,  1878,  VdI.  1\',  Nil  I,  p.  iU. 
Till' Auli,  Vol.  I,  1881,  p.  <j:t. 


COUCH'S  KINGBIRn. 


245 


The  average  size  of  thirteen  eggs  in  the  United  States  National  Jfuseuni 
collection  is  24.3S  liy  18.4")  millimetres,  or  about  O.llfJ  hy().73  inch.  The  largest 
egg  measures  24.H9  by  IH.HO  millimetres,  or  ().!)H  by  0.74  inch;  tiie  smallest, 
23.62  by  17.53  millimetres,  or  0.!»3  by  O.G!»  inch. 

The  type  specimens,  Nos.  24.'}13  and  20345  (PI.  2,  Figs.  5  and  fi),  both  from 
the  Halph  collection,  were  obtained  near  Hrownsville,  Texas,  the  former  on  May 
13,  lH!tl,  the  latter  on  May  16,  1S!)3,  and  .show  the  ditferent  styles  of  marking.s. 


go.    Tyrannus  verticalis  Say. 

AKKAXSAS  KlX(lIUKl). 

Tj/rannns  verticalis  Say,  Long's  Expedition,  II,  182.'J,  00. 

(B  12(!,  C  244,  K  30(i,  C  370,  U  447.) 

(lEOGRApnioAL  UANGE:  Western  North  America;  from  the  Pacific  coast  east  to 
western  Texas,  western  Intliau  Territory,  middle  Kansas.  Ncbi'iiska.  and  western  Min- 
nesota; north  to  North  Dakota,  soutlierii  Assiuiboia,  Alberta?,  and  southern  British 
Columbia;  south  to  Lower  Calirornia,  and  in  the  winter  thiouf;')!  .Mexico  to  Guatemala. 
Accidental  in  Iowa,  Maine,  New  Jer.sey,  New  York,  and  Maryland. 

The  Arkansas  Kingbird,  for  which  the  name  of  "Western  Kingbird"  seems 
to  be  better  suited,  is  pretty  generally  distril)Uted  as  a  sumnu-r  resident  through- 
out the  middle  and  western  portions  of  the  United  States,  and  it  Itreeds  in 
suitable  localities  throughout  these  regions.  The  northern  limit  of  its  breeding 
range  extenils,  as  far  as  is  at  present  known,  into  southern  Assiniboia  (the  vallev 
of  the  SoiU'is  River),  antl  probal)ly  westward  tln-ough  southern  Alberta,  as  well 
as  along  the  southern  borders  of  Mritish  Cohuubia,  where  it  appears  to  be  fairly 
conunon,  ex('e])ting  in  the  inunediate  vicinity  of  the  coast.  In  the  Uniteil  States 
it  reaches  its  northern  limits  in  North  Dakota  and  soutliern  .Mimu'sota,  where  it 
is  rare,  and  tlumce  it  is  foimd  sou^'h  through  Nebraska,  middh'  and  western 
Kansas,  western  Indian  Territory  to  northwestern  Texas,  and  in  all  of  tlie  inter- 
vening regions  westward  to  the  I'acilic  Ocean. 

In  Lower  California  the  Arkansas  Kingbird  appears  to  i)e  rare,  though  a 
few  breed  in  the  northern  jiortions  ot  this  peninsula.  Dr.  iviuar  .\.  Mearns, 
United  States  Army,  found  a  nest  of  this  s|)ecies  at  St.  Vsidora  ranch  on  July  2, 
18114,  containing  three  (;ggs,  wliicli  are  now  in  the  c(d!ection  iiere.  Tliis  species 
arrives  from  its  winter  home  in  .Mexico  and  (Juatemala,  along  the  southern 
border  of  its  breeding  range,  al)out  the  latter  ])art  of  ^larcli,  and  passes  leisurely 
northward,  reaching  our  more  northern  States  about  the  beginning  of  Ma\,  ami 
returning  early  in  St^ptendjer.  Hy  the  midtlie  of  October  all,  oi-  nearly  all,  have 
passed  our  borders,  and  1  do  not  believe  that  any  wiiUer  within  the  United  States. 

'I'he  Arkansas  Kingltird  is  pretty  generally  distribute<l  throughout  nn)st  of 
our  Western  States,  anil  is  esj)ecially  ai»uiulant  in  the  (ireat  Basin  region.  It  is 
es.sentially  a  bird  of  the  inoi'e  open  country,  especially  of  the  rixcr  valleys,  and 
is  not  generally  found  in  the  higher  nniuntain  systems,  where  it  rarely  reaches 
higher  altitudes  than  7,500  feet.     I  have  observed  this  species  as  common  in 


m 


i-'i 

1.-1 


::L« 


1 

Hi 

Hii:;' 


liiiiliiili- 


i'l 


( 

1.1  ■•       ' 


ifill^n^ 


246 


LIFE  UISTOKIES  OF  NORTH  AMHRIOAN  BIRDS. 


southern  Arizona  as  in  northorn  Wii^hington  and  Tdalio,  and  wherever  water 
and  a  few  willows  are  to  be  found,  no  matter  if  the  smroundin}^-  country  may 
otherwise  be  a  perfect  desert,  some  of  these  birds  are  sure  to  be  seen.  This 
Flycatcher  is,  if  anything',  more  noisy  than  our  common  eastern  Kingbird,  and 
utters  also  a  greater  variety  of  notes;  some  of  tliese  resemble  the  squeaking 
sounds  of  our  Grackles;  others  are  indifferent  efforts  at  song — a  low,  warbling 
kind  of  twitter — while  occasionally  it  gives  utterance  to  shrill,  metallic-sounding 
notes  with  more  force  to  them  tliau  thos(t  of  the  Kingbird.  During  the  mating 
season  they  are  especially  noisy,  and  begin  their  love  songs,  if  they  may  be 
called  such,  at  the  earliest  dawn,  and  keep  uj)  their  concerts  with  but  slight 
intermission  during  the  greater  part  of  the  day;  but  after  they  are  mated  and 
nidification  connnences  they  are  more  (piiet. 

Mr.  R.  H.  Lawrence  writes  me  from  Monrovia,  California,  that  the  Arkansas 
Flycatcher  also  utters  very  peculiar  notes  at  times  during  the  night.  He  says; 
"(3n  the  night  of  July  30,  ISD.'i,  I  frecjuently  iieard  a  queer  cry;  sometimes 
only  a  singh-  note,  and  again  this  was  rei)eated  three  or  four  times,  followed  by 
a  crying  or  wailing  sound,  as  if  made  by  a  very  young  kitten.  I  heard  these 
notes  on  successive  niglits.  On  August  2,  al)oiit  4..'U)  a.  m.,  I  succeeded  in  .shoot- 
ing tlie  performer  out  of  a  })e])])er  tree  standing  close  to  the  house,  and  it  prt>ved 
to  be  an  Arkansas  Flycatcher." 

I'he  males  precede  their  mates  a  few  days  in  the  migration,  and  as  soon  as 
the  latter  arrl\('  constant  ([uarrels  between  rivals  fortlie  fiU'ors  of  tiie  coveted 
female  ensue.  Fre(|uently  half  a  dozen  of  these  l)irds  may  be  seen  chasing  each 
otiu'r  ahoiit,  pecking  at  and  tumbling  over  each  other  in  mid-air,  keeping  up 
an  incessant  chatter  and  scolding  in  the  meantime;  but  very  rarely  iiave  I  .seen 
feathers  tiy  during  tlie.se  ostensible  combats,  and  1  iim  inclined  to  think  that  the 
majority  of  such  ])erformances  an^  indulged  in  more  in  fun  than  in  anger. 
'i^hey  are  undoubtedly  more  social  than  the  common  Kingbird,  as  1  have  seen 
two  ])airs  nesting  in  the  same  tree,  apparently  living  in  perfect  harmony  with 
each  oilier.  While  thev  are  bv'uo  means  (|e\di(i  of  courage,  tlie\'  apjtear  to  me 
to  be  miicli  less  (iiiarrelsome  on  the  whole  tliau  the  former,  anil  they  are  far  more 
tolerant  toward  .soiiu!  of  tiie  larger  liaptores.  For  instance,  in  the  vicinity  of 
(!amp  llaniey,  Oregon,  I  found  a  i»air  of  these  liirds  nesting  in  the  same  tree  (a 
medium-sized  pine)  with  Ihillock's  C)riole  and  Swainson's  Hawk,  and,  as  far  as  I 
could  see,  all  were  on  excellent  terms. 

Their  food  consists  of  animal  matter,  jtrincipallv  grasshoiipers  where  these 
are  abundant,  as  well  as  of  moths,  liutterflies,  different  species  of  flies,  winged 
ants,  cater] liliars,  and  tlie  large  black  crickets  of  the  West.  Most  of  their  prey 
is  caught  on  the  wing,  and  tliey  rarely  fail  in  ca|ituriiig  it.  They  are  i  \tremely 
de.\terons,  and  their  flight  is  )>owerful  and  swift.  During  the  summer  they  feeil 
occasionally  on  wild  lierries,  and  among  these  the  service  berry  seems  to  be 
more  often  eaten  than  any  otiier.  Like  oar  common  Kingbird,  they  are  often 
crediteil  with  feeding  to  a  considerable  extent  on  bees  and  are  therefore  in  bad 
repute  wilii  bee  keepers.  This  accusation,  like  many  others  made  about  some 
of  our  most  useful  and  beneficial  birds,  seems  to  be  entirely  unfounded. 


TIIK  ARKANSAS  KINGUIKI). 


247 


Mr.  Walter  E.  Bryant  niakos  tlio  followiii}^'  remarks  relatiiijr  to  this  subject 
in  "Zoe"  (Vol.  IV,  1H!IH,  p.  57): 

"Mr.  A.  Harnett,  of  San  Diej^o  County,  California,  has  300  swarms  of  bees, 
which  attracted  the  Flycatchers  to  such  an  extent  that  he  made  some  iuveatiffa- 
tions  to  ascertain  to  what  defjfree  they  mij^lit  be  diuiia<iiii<i:  to  the  bee  industry. 
Over  one  hundred  Arkansas  Flycatchers  and  Phcebes  (lilack  and  Say's)  were 
dissected.  In  all  of  the  Arkansas  Flycatchers  only  drones  were  found,  but  no 
workiuff  bees,  althou<;li  in  many  cases  the  birds  were  <jror<;ed.  In  most  of  the 
Pluebes  drone  bees  were  also  found;  the  oidy  excej)tion  was  that  of  a  PIki'Ik* 
(Say's?)  in  which  a  bee  stiuf;-  was  found  in  the  base  of  the  toufiue.  'I'he  birds 
were  all  shot  about  apiaries,  and  were  si-en  rlartinj;'  upon  and  catchin}f  bees. 
The  examinations  were  made  with  a  hand  lens.  ^Ir.  Harnett  reji'ards  tlu^  occiu'- 
rence  of  the  stiiiji-  found  in  the  I'lnebe  as  accidental,  and  concluded  that  Fly- 
catchers are  beneficial  in  reducinji'  the  numbers  of  drones." 

The  Arkansas  Kin<il)ird,  like  all  of  our  Flycatchers,  is  extremely  beneficial 
and  deserves  the  fullest  jirotection,  and  where  not  molested  Ix'comes  quite  tame 
and  will  readily  nest  about  houses.  They  are  not  at  all  particular  in  tin-  choice 
of  nestiu};'  sites  and  build  in  \arious  situations,  l)ut  jicnerally  in  trees  in  creek 
bottoms,  near  water,  tliough  1  have  occasionally  found  one  of  their  nests  fully  a 
mile  away  in  an  isolated  tree  in  the  foothills.  Cottouwoods  and  willows  seem  to 
be  more  often  selected  than  otlii^r  trees,  but  perhaps  only  because*  they  arc*  the 
commonest  kinds  throughout  most  of  their  breeding;'  ranji'e.  ()aks.  sxciMuores, 
Australian  blue  ^um,  jimipers,  elms,  and  orcliaril  trees  are  also  made  use  of  to 
a  certain  extent,  while  ])ines  ;ire  rarely  o('('U])ied. 

Mr.  William  (J.  Smith  informs  me  tiiat  in  (Colorado  they  nest  occasionallv 
on  ledfi'es.  Dr.  C.  T.  Cook(*  writes  me  that  a  pair  of  these  birds  nesteil  in  the 
summer  of  ISill  in  a  church  stee})le  in  Salem,  <  )re}idn,  and  Mr.  Elmer  T.  dudd, 
of  Cando,  North  Dakota,  informs  me  that  he  found  a  nest  on  a  beam  of  a  rail- 
road windmill  ])ump,  about  (!  feet  from  the  {around,  where  trains  passed  close  by 
the  nest  constanth':  another  was  found  b\'  him  on  a  jirainbiiuler  which  was 
standinji"  within  a  couple  of  rods  of  a  public  schoolliouse. 

I  have  examined  many  of  their  nests  in  various  parts  of  the  West.  The 
majority  of  these  were  placed  in  forks  of  trees,  and  ji'enerallx'  close  to  the  trunk; 
others  were  saddliid  on  horizoiUal  limbs.  One  nest  was  placed  in  the  to})  of  a 
hollow  Cottonwood  stump,  the  rim  of  the  nest  beinj;' flush  with  die  top;  another 
])air  uuule  use  of  an  <ild  lU'st  of  the  Western  Kobin;  and  still  another  built  on  the 
sill  of  one  of  the  attic  windovis  of  niv  (piarters  at  Fort  Lapwai.  Idaho.  The\- 
ja'oliably  would  not  have  succeeded  in  keepiii;^'  this  lu'st  in  place  had  I  not 
nailed  a  pieci'  of  board  alonji'  the  outside  to  prevent  the  winil  from  l)lo\\inii'  the 
materials  awav  as  fast  as  the  birds  could  brin<;'  them.  The\'  were  persistent, 
I'.owi'ver,  and  not  easily  discourajicd,  workinji'  hard  for  a  couple  of  dins  in 
tryiufj-  to  seciu'e  a  firm  foimdatiou  l)efore  I  canu'  to  their  assistance.  Hotii  birds 
were  equally  dilifrent  in  the  construction  of  their  home  until  it  was  nearly  fin- 
ished, when  the  female  did  most  of  the  arranjiinji'  of  the  iiuier  lining,  and  many 


m 


M 


■i^r 


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llii. 


'I' 


'it,:-. 


r-i 


:\\:M^: 


"t'.''' 


!ii.' 


248 


LIFE  U18T01UES  OF  NORTH  AMKKICAN  IJIUDS. 


1.^;^^ 


a  cdii.sultation  was  evidently  in(lul«ft'(l  in  l){'t\veen  the  j)air  before  the  nest  was 
iinally  n-ady  for  oeciiiKition,  a  low  twitterinfj-  beinif  kept  u|)  almost  eonstantly. 
It  took  just  a  week  to  build  it,  and  an  egj>-  was  de]iosited  each  niornin<f  after- 
wards until  the  set,  which  consisted  of  four  ep^rs,  was  completed.  After 
incubation  iiad  connnenced,  I  noticed  that  the  female  left  her  egf^s  for  an  hour 
or  more  at  a  time,  durinji-  the  middle  of  the  day,  when  the  sun  wjis  shiniu}''  on 
that  part  of  the  iiouse,  and.  sat  pantinj''  on  the  window  sill  or  on  a  little  cotton- 
wood  ti-ee  close  l)y,  kee})in;;'  Avatch  over  her  ti'casures.  I  also  ol)served  her 
turninji'  the  ej>;is  over  and  rearranging^'  tiiem  occasionally  when  she  returned  to 
the  nest. 

'I'he  nests  of  the  Arkansas  Kinji'bird  vary  fjreatly  in  bulk  and  size  accord- 
hig  to  the  situation,  and  are  usually  placed  at  no  <>Teat  height  from  the  ground. 
Generally  they  are  compactly  built  structures,  the  foundation  and  outer  walls 
being  composed  of  weed  stems,  fine  twigs,  plant  fibers,  and  rootlets,  intermixed 
with  wool,  cocoons,  hair,  feathers,  bits  of  string,  cottonwood,  milkweed,  and 
thistle  (h)wn,  or  pieces  of  paper,  and  lined  with  finer  materials  of  the  same  kind. 

A  typical  nest.  No.  "ifiOiiG,  United  States  National  Museum  collection,  tai  en 
by  Air.  H.  W.  l[(;nshaw,  near  St.  Ysabcl,  ('alifoniia,  measures  (!  inches  in  outer 
diameter  by  .'{  in  deptli;  tlie  iimer  cuj)  is  ii  inches  wide  by  1:{  deej).  It  is  prhici- 
paliy  iomposed  of  the  stalks  of  Sfi/locHiic  ((rizoiiiai  and  Micropiin  vdlifornkits, 
mixed  i  nd  lint'd  with  cocoons  and  a  little  down. 

Nidification,  even  in  the  more  southern  parts  of  their  rang(>,  rarely  coni- 
mer.ces  much  l)efore  the  middle  of  May,  more  generally  (hning  June,  and  near 
the  northern  limits  not  before  the  first  week  in  ,luly.  From  three  to  five  eggs  are 
laid  to  a  set,  i'(  .r  being  th(^  usual  nuiid)er.  I  have  taken  two  sets  of  five  each 
near  Fort  Walla  Walla,  Washington,  i)ut  such  large  sets  are  rather  rare.  Incu- 
bation lasts  from  twelve  to  thirteen  days:  t.iiis  (hity  is  mostly  performed  by  the 
female,  but  I  have  also  seen  the  malt*  on  the  nest,  and  he  can  generally  be 
observed  close  by,  on  the  lookout  for  danger.  Hoth  parents  are  exceedingly 
courageous  in  the  defense  of  their  nest  and  young,  and  evcM-y  bii-d  of  this  species 
in  the  neighl)orliood  will  (piicklv  come  to  the  rescue  and  help  to  drive  intruders 
off  a-<  soon  as  one  gives  flic  alai'iii.  Tiie  young  grow  rapidly  and  are  aide  to 
lease  the  nest  in  about  two  weeks.  They  consuiue  an  innnense  amount  of  food, 
certainly  fully  their  own  weiglit  in  a  day.  I  have  often  watched  tlie  family 
])revi(Hisly  referred  to,  raised  on  tlw  sill  of  my  attic  window,  and  also  fed  them 
with  the  l)(«lies  of  the  larg((  black  crickets  wiiile  one  of  tiie  jjareiits  was  looking 
on,  and  ai)parently  approvi:.j.'ly,  within  a  U^w  feet  of  me.  1  have  stull'ed  them 
mitil  it  seemed  impossible  for  tiuni  to  hold  an\  ore,  l)Ut  there  was  no  satisfying 
them;  it  certainly  keeps  the  parents  iiusy  from  e.iriy  morning  till  late  at  night  to 
supply  their  always  hungry  family,  i'licy  are  readily  tamed  wlieii  taken  young. 
and  are  ver\' intelligent,  making  interesting  pets.  I  belicNc  that  ouK'  one  bi-ood, 
as  a  rule,  is  raised  in  a  season,  excepting  possilily  in  the  exti-eme  southern 
])ortions  of  their  range,  in  southern  Arizona  and  ( 'alifornia,  a>  I  found  fresh  eggs 
on  llillito  Creek,  near  Tucson,  as  late  as  duly  21),  in  a  locality  where  these  birds 


THE  ARKAXSA8  KINOBIRD. 


249 


lia<l  not  been  previously  disturbed,  whicli  soeins  to  indicato  that  they  occasion- 
till}'  mil}'  rear  a  second  l)rood. 

The  e<^gs  of  the  Arkansas  Kiuffbird  do  not  differ  in  shajjc  or  coloration  from 
those  of  the  Kinfrbird,  and  the  same  description  will  answer  for  botii;  but  tiiey 
are  a  tritle  smaller  as  a  rule. 

The  avera{>e  measurement  of  one  hundred  and  four  ej^jjs  in  the  United 
States  National  iMuseum  coUectiin  is  23.()2  by  17.42  millimetres,  or  about  ().!(3 
by  U.fjJt  inch.  T\\g  larfjest  eifff  of  the  series  measures  2r).91  by  18.54  millimetix's, 
or  1.02  by  0.73  inches;  the  smallest,  ID. HI  by  15.7a  millimetres,  or  0.78  Ijy  0.()2 
inch. 

One  of  the  type  si)ecimens.  No.  20302  (PI.  1,  Fip:.  10),  from  a  .set  of  three 
eggs,  shows  rather  heavy  and  handsome  markings,  and  also  a  slightly  i)inkish 
ground  color,  while  No.  20390  (PI.  1,  Fig.  17),  from  a  set  of  four  (one  of  the 
largest  specimens  in  the  series)  represents  about  an  average-marked  egg;  both 
are  from  the  Bendire  collection;  the  former  was  taken  at  Fort  Lapwai,  Idaho, 
June  Hi,  1871,  and  the  latter  at  Fort  Walla  Walla,  Washington,  May  25,  1881. 


.fi 


A' 


'Pi 


!   i 


gi.     Tyrannus  vociferans  Swainson. 

CASSINS  KINGDIHD. 

Tyyaimus  vociferans  Swainson,  (^uiirtcrly  .lourniil  of  Science,  XX,  ISL'Ci,  1*73. 

(B  lli7,  C  245,  It  307,  O  371,  U  448.) 

Geoobapiiical  kanoe:  Western  United  States;  from  the  eastern  sloi)es  of  the 
Hoeky -Mountains  west  to  Cahforniii;  north  to  .southern  Wyoniin;;';  soutli  throufjli  Coh)- 
railo,  New  Mexico,  northwestern  Texas,  Arizona,  to  Lower  California,  .Mexico,  and  in  winter 
to  (iuateinahi  and  Costa  Uica.    Accidental  in  Ore^'i'n. 

Cassin's  Kingbird,  while  fairly  common  in  certain  sections  of  its  range, 
appears  to  be  entirt'ly  absent  in  some  of  tlie  intermediate  regions.  Eastward,  so 
far  as  is  known  at  present,  its  breeding  range  extends  to  the  eastern  bases  of  the 
Kocky  Mountains  in  Colorado,  and  possibly  to  soutlieastern  Wyoming,  where 
Dr.  C.  Hart  Mcrriam  obtained  a  single  specimen  on  ^lay  27,  1872,  near  Ciiey- 
enne.  In  the  Great  Hasin  region,  tln-oiigh  Utah  and  Nevada  to  the  eastern 
slojies  of  the  Sierra  Nevadas  in  (."alifornia,  it  has  not  }'et  been  met  with,  but  it 
j)rt)bably  occurs  in  southern  Utah;  while  in  the  coast  districts  of  southern  Cali- 
fornia and  through  the  greater  portion  of  Arizona  and  New  Mexico  it  is  a 
common  summer  resident,  and  it  also  ])roltal)ly  breeds  in  limited  numl)ers  in 
northwestern  Texas.  In  Oregon  it  can  only  l)e  considered  as  a  straggler,  though 
Jlr.  A.  W.  Anthony  observed  a  few  specimens  on  May  5,  1S85,  in  Washington 
County,  in  the  noithwe  fern  part  of  the  State.  While  the  Arkansas  Kingbird 
apj)ears  to  shun  the  innnediate  coa.st  districts,  Cassin's  Kingbird  seems  to  prefer 
tliem.  It  is  said  to  be  quite  connnon  in  many  ))arts  of  Mexico  during  the  l)reed- 
iug  season,  and  in  southern  California  it  is  partly  resident. 


f  . 


) 


250 


LIFE  FIISTOUIKS  OP  NORTH  AMKltlCAN  HI K IKS. 


V,     I 


•■f  ■■■'Hiil'J 


■'Ai 


Mr.  V.  StepliciiH  writes  inc:  "Cassin's  Kin^^hird  is  ji  winter  resident  in 
aoutheni  Califurniii,  but  it  is  not  very  common.  I  iiave  tailed  to  iind  tliem  here 
duriiif;-  the  broodiii}^  season,  even  in  tlie  mountains." 

It  has  not  as  yet  been  reported  from  soutiieni  Arizona  as  a  winter  residcMit. 
I  tailed  to  notice  tliem  after  ()etol)er  in  tiie  vicinity  of  Tucson,  and  believe  they 
niifiiate  rej^ularly,  returuinj;  fntm  their  winter  homes  in  the  south  in  March. 

Cassin's  Ivinj>bird  is  neither  as  noisy  nor  as  (piarrelsonm  as  the  ))r('cedinj^ 
species,  and  appears  to  bo  more  of  a  mountaiii-lovinj^-  bird  and  to  nest  at  hi<i;her 
altitudes. 

Dr.  Kdj,''ar  .\.  .Mearns,  Tnited  States  Army,  in  his  notes  on  Arizona  ^foun- 
tain Hirds,  says:  "Cassin's  Kinj^bird  l)reeds  connnonly  throujihout  the  ])ine 
forests.  1  found  it  in  the  uppermost  tindjer  on  San  Francisco  .Mountain  in  June, 
the  altitude  beiiiff  nearly  12,000  feet.  This  conspicuous  species  likewise  breeds 
in  the  low  valleys  of  Arizona,  to^'tlu'r  with  th(^  .Vrkansas  Kinii'l»ird  (T//i(I)i)ihs 
rcrlhdlis),  nests  of  both  sjjccies  havinji'  l)een  found  at  the  same  time  in  one  Cot- 
tonwood tree  in  the  Verde  Valley.  On  the  Afofiollon  M(mntains  I  saw  them 
attack  Crows  and  Western  Hed-tailed  ilawk.s,  and  drive  them  from  the  neifi'li- 
borhood  of  their  nests  after  the  spirited  fashion  of  the  eastern  Kingbird."' 

Tiieir  food,  like  that  of  the  other  members  of  this  family,  consists  princi- 
pally of  insects,  and  is  obtained  in  a  similar  manner. 

Their  call  notes  do  not  ditl'er  verv  much  from  those  of  the  other  Kinj^'bii-ds, 
but  on  the  who!,-  are  pctrhaps  less  shrill  and  a  trifle  more  melodious.  While 
they  are  ]»ossii)Iy  more  connnon  in  the  oak  and  pine  belts  in  .\rizoiiii,  1  found 
them  by  no  means  rare  in  the  lowlands  alono'  the  Santa  Cruz  Wiver  and  IJillito 
Creek,  near  Tucson,  Arizona,  durinj;'  the  sunnner  of  1S72,  where  I  took  a  num- 
ber of  till  ir  nests.  1  consider  them  very  late  Itreeders,  my  earliest  record  bein;:' 
June  14,  when  I  took  a  set  of  four  fresh  e<^jjs;  but  it  is  j)o,ssible  that  I  may  have 
overlooked  the  first  broods  entirelv,  as  most  all  the  nests  found  by  me  durin<i" 
the  month  of  June  (ai)out  a  dozen)  contained  fresh  eji'n's.  'J'he  season  of  1S72 
was  a  very  backward  one,  however,  and  this  may  account  for  the  late  ne.stin<r, 
especially  as  Dr.  Coo])er  is  quoted  in  "History  of  North  American  Mirds,  1S74" 
(Vol.  II,  p.  32.S),  as  iindiiio- Cassin's  Kin^l)ird  breeding-  at  San  I )ie^'o,  California, 
.s  early  as  .March  2S.  The  earliest  record  I  have  is  May  27,  1S92 — a  set  of  three 
(.frrrs  contaiuiuji'  Vay'^q  endnyos,  taken  at  Doj:'  Sprin;;-,  (Irant  (Jounty,  New  Mex- 
ico, by  Dr.  E.  A.  ^learns,  Uniteil  States  .\i-my,  and  now  in  the  United  States 
National  Museum  collection.  This  nest  was  located  in  a  hackl)i!rry  tree,  near  a 
nest  of  Swainson's  Hawk,  eontainini:-  twon><>'<i-s. 

The  trees  {iUMierally  sidectt'd  l)y«this  species  for  nestin<>-  sites  are  pines,  oaks, 
Cottonwood,  walnut,  hackl)erry,  and  sycamore's,  and  the  nests  are  almost  inva- 
rial)ly  j)laceil  near  the  end  of  a  horizontal  liml),  usually  from  20  to  40  feet  from 
the  srrouml,  in  |)ositions  where  tlie\'  are  not  easilv  reaclie<l.  All  of  the  nests 
examined  l)y  ww  were  placed  in  larn'e  cottonwooils,  with  lon^'  spn^adiufi-  limbs, 
and  were  saildled  on  one  of  tlie.se,  well  out  toward  the  extremity.     The  majority 

>  The  Auk,  Vol.  VU,  1890,  p.  255. 


0A88IN'S  KINdHIUl). 


251 


could  only  be  reached  by  pliiciiiff  a  polo  atiainst  the  limb  and  climbinfj  to  it. 
'I'licy  art*  tully  as  denionstrativo  as  the  Arkansas  Kingbird  when  thoir  nests  are 
disturbod,  and  are  eqmdly  ('oura{;eous  in  the  defense  of  their  ej^'f^s  and  yttunff. 
The  nents  are  lar}>e,  bulky  structures,  larger  than  those  of  the  jn-eceding  s))ecieH, 
lint  <'(ini]iiis(Ml  of  similar  materials.  An  average  nest  measures  8  inches  in  outer 
diameter  ljy  3  inciies  in  dej)th.  The  inner  cup  is  3^  indies  wide  by  l'|  deej). 
Siuietimes  they  are  pretty  well  concealed  to  view  from  below,  but  they  can 
usually  l)e  readily  seen  at  a  distance. 

Fi'om  two  to  five  eggs  an*  laid  to  a  set.  Sets  of  three  or  foiu'  are  most 
fre(pu'ntly  found,  while  sets  of  two  and  five  are  rare,  but  I  have  found  Itoth, 
incubation  having  already  conunenced  in  the  smaller  set.  This  lasts  from  twelve 
to  fourteen  days,  and  is  almost  alwtays,  if  not  exclusively,  performed  by  the 
female.  I  have  never  noticed  the  male  on  the  nest.  The  eggs  are  similar  in 
color  and  markings  to  those  of  the  Kingbird  and  Arkansas  Kingbird,  and  about 
the  sanu;  size  as  the  latter,  but  on  the  whole  they  are  not  (|uite  as  iieavily  spotted. 

The  average  measurement  of  forty-four  eggs  in  the  United  States  National 
j\luseuni  collection  is  23.<>2  by  17.47  millimetres,  or  al)nut  0.1(3  by  O.*!!)  inch. 
Tile  largest  egg  of  the  series  niea.sures  27.114  by  IK. 30  millimetres,  or  1.10  by 
0.7(1  im-hes;  the  smallest  22.(;i  by  1().26  millimetres,  or  0.81»  )>y  0.(14  inch. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  20413  (I'l.  1.  Fig.  IS),  from  the  Bendire  collection, 
was  taken  by  the  writer  on  Killito  Creek,  Arizona,  <m  July  15,  1872,  and  is  a 
nither  large-sized  o,<x<f,  while  No.  2(>14()  (I'l.  1,  Fig.  lit)  was  collected  by  Dr. 
Mdgar  A.  Mearns,  United  States  Army,  on  tiie  east  side  of  the  San  !>uis  Moun- 
tains, New  Mexico,  on  .Fuue  17,  1S'J2.  The  two  specimens  represent  about 
average-marked  eggs  of  this  species. 

ga.     Pitangus  derbianus  (Kaip). 

DEKBY  FLYCATCHER. 

Siiiiropliniiun  derhinnuK  K.\rp,  Proceedings  Zoological  Scx'iety,  18.51,  41,  I'l.  .\\X^■1. 
ritaiKjux  do-hinnus  SOLATKU,  Proceedings  Zoological  Society,  l.S."((i,  2Jt7. 

(H  _,  0  — ,  It  ;!08,  C  ;i(!4,  t:  44i».) 

Gkoorai'UK^ai,  UANfiE:  North  to  the  lower  Hio  (irande  Valley  in  Texas;  south 
tlii'ough  Mexico  and  Oential  America  to  Colonibiii,  Veiiezuehi,  and  'I'liiiidiid,  Soath 
America. 

The  Deiln'  Flycatcher,  also  locally  known  as  the  "  Hull-headed  Flycatcher," 
"Mexican  I'itangus,"  and  "Rio  Grande  Flycatcher,"  can  only  be  considered  as 
a  rather  unconnnon.suuuner  visitor  in  the  lower  Rio  (Jrande  N'alley,  in  soiuliern 
Texas,  where  it  breeds  in  very  limited  muidters,  though  in  the  adjoining  States 
of  Tamauli}ias  and  Nuevo  Leon,  in  eastern  Mexico,  it  apjiears  to>  be  fairly 
connnon,  and  it  is  etiually  so  thnrnghuut  the  greater  })ortion  of  tlie  ^Mexican 
Rejiublic,  l)oth  in  hot  and  temperatt;  zones,  when*  it  sometimes  reaches  an 
altitude  of  .^),000  feet.  It  also  breeds  tlu\)Ughout  Central  America  in  suitable 
localities. 


.!■ 


^■^ 


>:1 


I^H 


! 


\-  iU 

I.;  I  ; 


■III 


252 


LIFK  HISTOIIIES  OK  NOUTIl   AMKIMCAN   HIUDH. 


'■.1: 


■i| 


1"  .L''^^". 


Mr.  G.  B.  Seiuiott,  to  whom  wo  an^  iiiilfl)ti'tl  tor  a  {rroiit  <l('nl  of  viiluahle 
information  about  the  birds  of  tlin  lower  Uio  Cirando  Valley,  added  this  largo 
and  conspicuous  Flycatcher  to  our  fauna,  and  says:  "On  April  23, 187H,  a  male 
and  female  of  this  s|)ecies'were  shot  at  I^ake  8an  Jose,  a  f<nv  miles  froin  Lomita. 
lioth  were  shot  about  4  feet  up  on  the  trunks  of  small  retauia  trees  standiufj;'  in 
the  water,  and  were  clin<jinjr  to  tli.em  nnd  workinj,''  their  way  down  to  the  water, 
possibly  to  flrink.  They  were  not  particularly  shy.  On  May  i)  another  female 
was  .shot  in  a  tree  iiorderin<r  the  lake,  yet  not  over  the  water.  One  or  two  more 
wen*  observed  in  tindier  about  water  holes.  In  flight  this  Flycatcher  resenddes 
the  Kinjifishers.  Dissection  indicated  the  approach  of  the  breeding  season,  and 
it  xmdoul)tedly  nests  in  the  large  trees  of  the  locality."' 

Jlr.  l"i.  W.  Nelson  writes  me  that  he  found  the  Derby  Flycatcher  rather 
common  about  reed  patches  bordering  the  salt  lagoons,  near  Manzanillo,  in 
Cidima,  Mexico.  They  usually  ])erched  on  the  tops  of  dead  bushes  or  stcmt 
reeds,  from  which  vannige  ])oints  they  made  excursions  in  various  directions 
after  passing  insects.  lie  also  met  with  them  near  dalapa,  \'era  ("ruz,  where 
they  frecpiented  the  scattered  i)ushes  on  the  borders  of  fields  and  ak)ng  streams 
flowing  through  cultivated  or  inclo.sed  lands. 

Mr.  Charles  W.  Richmond  has  kindly  furnished  the  following  notes  on  this 
large  Flycatcher,  as  observed  by  him  in  Xicarngua: 

"The  nanu'  given  this  bird  in  Nicaragua  refers  to  its  note,  which  soi.  ids 
like  'kiskadee,'  several  times  repeated.  They  hav(^  another  note,  which  they 
utter  on  some  occasions,  and  also  a  note  of  distress,  very  ditl'erent  from  either 
of  the  others.  Although  t\\v  food  consists  of  insects,  1  have  seen  one  specimen 
that  liad  its  mouth  and  throat  full  of  riju'  banana.  The  Derby  Flycatcher  is 
common  along  the  streams,  and  almost  invariably  ti'avels  in  jiairs.  The  bird 
api)ears  to  be  evenly  distributed  along  the  water  courses,  and  two  or  three  pairs 
may* occupy  perhaps  ;;  mile  along  the;  river  front,  which  territory  they  go  over 
every  day.  At  the  International  Planting  ("om])any's  lleadcpiarters,  where  I 
collected  for  over  eight  months,  there,'  were  two  pairs  on  the  river,  one  on  each 
side,  and  another  pair  located  on  a  creek  dose  by.  After  .shooting  the  two  jiaii's 
on.our  side  of  the  river,  no  others  came  alxiut  f'oi- a  long  time,  although  tlie  pair 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  (aljout  .'!(>()  yardjS  wide  at  this  point)  jiassed  up 
and  down  each  day  on  their  rounds.  I'heir  flight  ordinarilv  is  short,  the  birds 
.stop])ing  a  short  time  in  each  place,  ])icking  uj)  food  as  they  move  along." 

The  most  complete  and  interesting  account  of  the  general  hiil)its  of  the 
Derby  Flycatcher  is  that  published  i>y  the  lat(^(u'orge  X.  Lawrence,  based  upon 
collections  and  noti-s  on  the  "Hirds  of  Western  and  Northwestern  I\Iexico," 
made  by  the  late  ("ol.  A.  J.  fJriiyson.  an<l  ]iublished  in  the  "Memoirs  of  the 
Boston  So.'iety  of  Natural  History"  (\'ol.  II,  p.  I'Sd).     Tliese  are  as  follows: 

"This  is  a  connnon  and  abundant  species,  inhabiting  tlie  western  and  north- 
western parts  of  Mexico;  I  found  it  e(pially  as  connnon  in  Tehuantepec  as  in 
the  region  of  Mazatlan,  where  its  loud,  shrill  notes  of  'hip-se-dee,  hip-se-dee' 

'  Ilnni'tiii  of  tlif  I'.  S.  Gi'oliiyifiil  miiiI  Ofouriiiiliiciil  Siiivcy.  Veil.  V,  No.  3.  IS'il,  pp.  407, 408. 


THE  DERBY  FLYCATCHER. 


268 


may  bo  licard  Jit  all  seasons  of  tl'o  year,  l»iit  iiioie  ])articularly  (luriiif;  the 
breetliiij-'  season,  when  it  is  excessively  }>;jirruh)us.  It  is  more  treciuently  nu^t 
witii  in  tlic  neiji'hborhood  of  fresh-water  streams  and  la>i'oons,  and  I  havc^  often 
observed  tliem  dart  into  tlie  water  after  water  inserts  and  niiiniows  tiiat  were 
swinunin}"'  near  tht*  snrface,  not  nnlilve^hi^  Kinj'tisher;  bnt  they  nsnaliv  ]»ursuo 
and  ca|)ture  on  tlie  win<i'  the  lar^-er  kinds  of  (Jolcojitcrn  and  Xt'iiro/itcra,  swallow- 
in<^'  their  prey  entire  after  hrst  beatiny  it  a  few  times  a;;ainst  tlieir  perch.  They 
are  usually  in  pairs,  but  I  have  also  seen  as  many  as  twenty  about  a  staonant 
pool,  watcliiiij''  its  turbid  water  for  insects  and  sn.all  Ksh,  for  which  they  seem  to 
have  a  ;;'reat  partiality. 

"The  nest  of  this  species  is  very  lar^e,  and  its  construction  differs  from  all 
t\w  TipauuiilfC  of  which  1  have  any  knowleiljic  exceptinji'  M.  trxnisis.  It  is 
dome-shape(l  or  covered,  with  the  entrance  on  the  side,  while  the  other  .species 
l)uilil  a  saucer-shapefl  nest.  The  nest  of  the  Hull-hi'aded  Flycatcher  is  usually 
placed  in  the  forks  of  the  l)ranches  of  \-ery  thorny  tri'cs,  Jo  or  30  feet  from  the 
l^round.  It  is  composed  of  very  coarse  materials,  of  either  straw  or  lichens, 
sometimes  of  both,  the  liniiiff,  however,  is  of  firmer  and  more  elastic  fibcM's. 
Other  birds  sometimes  make  their  nests  in  the  same  or  nearest  tree,  such  as 
M.  tcxi'iisi.'),  C.  mrl(inirti-nis,  and  /.  iiiishilahin.  The  eji'^s  of  this  Flycatcher  are 
usually  fi\c  in  nund)er;  they  are  of  moderate  size,  rather  len<itlieneil,  of  a  lijiht 
cream  c(dor,  with  a  small  reddish  spi'ck;  the  shell  is  delicate  and  easily  l)rok(!n." 

Messrs.  Salvin  and  CJodman  make  the  tbllowinjr  remarks  about  this  species: 
"In  (Guatemala /'(7«////((.sw/tv7;»(«».v  l)uilds  its  nest  in  April  and  Ma\';  one  found 
at  Duenas  was  a  larjic,  loose  structure  with  a  j;reat  deal  of  superfluous  matter 
aljout  it,  its  entrance!  Iteinj;-  on  one  side;  it  was  cumi)ose(l  entirely  of  small 
twigs  and  place<l  at  the  end  of  a  branch  alxnit  20  feet  from  the  ground; 
another  taken  at  San  (ici'onimo  had  two  openings,  Itut  one  seems  to  be  the  rule. 
A  favorite  haunt  is  the  banauii  groves,  where  the  nest  ma\'  l>e  found  wedged  in 
among  the  chisti'rs  of  fruit.  The  eggs  are  slightly  i)ear-shai)ed,  of  a  i)ale 
creamy-white  color,  spotted  and  blotched  with  brick  red.  Tlu^y  vary  consider- 
al)ly  in  size  and  color,  esjx'cially  as  to  the  magnitude  and  density  of  the  sj)ots. 

"We  never  noticed  /'.  (Inhnnms  feeding  on  fish  and  water  insects,  as 
described  b)'  Grayson,  but  .Mr.  Hudson  ascribes  similar  habits  to  /'.  sitlphurafiis 
in  the  Argi-ntiiui  Uej)nblic."' 

There  are  three  sets  of  eggs  in  the  Ralph  collection,  taken  in  (!aiiu'ron 
County,  Texas,  on  May  !»,  May  27,  and  June  23,  1H;)3,  respectively.  Each  of 
these  contaiue<l  foui-  fresh  eggs  when  found;  the  last  set  was  probaldy  a  second 
laying,  tlu^  first  having  Iteen  destroyed.  'i\vo  of  theses  nests  wei-e  located  in  a 
thicket  of  Imisache  trees  (^Acdcia  fanics'nuia),  alxiut  10  tc'et  from  the  ground; 
•le  other  in  a  largo  buiu'h  of  Spanish  moss,  pending  from  the  lind>  of  a  largo 
rree,  about  14  feet  up.  The  last-nanu-d  is  now  in  the  collection  here.  The  nest 
proper  is  an  lunisually  bulky  structure,  composed  princii)ally  of  gray  Spanish 
moss,  dry  weed  stems,  pieccss  of  vines,  and  swamp  grasses,  and  lined  with  finer 


I 


v,i '' 


1 


;i 


III 


i  ■<': 


I     '1, 


!■. 


•Mjl 


n  |i1 


ff 


A-  ■         ;  -I  ■ 


'biologia  Ccutiali  Aniurii'iiiii,  Aves,  \a\.  II,  ISS'.l,  p.  45. 


■   .rS 


254 


LIFK  IIISTOUIES  OF  NOUTU  AMKItUJAN  lUUDS. 


imitciiiilsof  tlicHaiiic  kinds.  It  inciisuri'H  11  iiiclios  in  oiitcrdiiuuctcr  by  f)  inclieH 
ill  lu'i<rlit.  'I'lio  iiiiKT  eii|)  iiiciisurcs  ft  iuclicH  in  diiiiiu'tiT  l»y  2  iiiclios  in  dcptii. 
'Plus  viirioiw  iiiiitfi'ials  iiro  w«dl  intonvovon  anil  niiikcf  a  roinpact  mass.  Tlu'  walls 
of  till)  nest  arc  unusually  thick.  'I'lic  other  nonts  wiu'o  liiu'd  with  wool,  tfiitliors, 
])laiit  down,  and  Spanish  moss. 

Tho  nuiiiiicr  ot"  »'<iji's  to  a  set  is  tour  or  live,  and  prohalily  only  one  hrood 
is  raised  in  i  season.  'Plicy  vary  coiisidcralily  in  Hlia|M<;  the  majority  may  l»u 
called  short  o\ate,  others  are  ovate  and  eloiifiiite  ovate;  the  shell  is  clost^  i^raiiieil 
and  Imt  slijjhtly  ^jlossy.  Thi^  <>idiinil  eolor  is  pale  creamy  white,  and  is  spar- 
iiiffly  spotted,  jirincipally  about  the  larj^er  end,  with  irreji'iilarly  shaped  spla.shes 
and  minute  specks  of  seal  or  liver-hrown  and  different  shades  of  lavender. 

'i'he  average  measurement  of  ei^i'htecn  ejijis  in  the  I'nited  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  '2i>.4(I  by  21. iU  millimetres,  or  1.1  (!  by  0.84  inches.  Tho 
larjivst  i'<x<x  measures  30.4H  by  22.10  millimetres,  or  1.20  by  (»..S7  iiiehos;  the 
smallest,  2(1.1(1  by  21.;U  millimetres,  or  l.Oii  by  0.84  inehe.s. 

The  type  sp'ecimens,  Xos.  2(;;542  and  2(];{4;5  (IM.  1,  Fij-s.  20  and  21),  both 
from  sets  of  four  ej^f^s,  Halph  collection,  were  taken  in  Cameron  ('otiiity,  Texas, 
on  May  27  and  .Tuiu^  2.'},  1SI»;5,  respectively,  and  represent  the  heavier  and  liner 
marked  ty})es  of  these  eygs. 


!'■ 


93.     Myiozetetes  texensis  (Giuaii)). 

OIIUUD'S  FLYCATCHEK. 

Miincicapa  tr.rensi.1  OlHAin,  Sixtocn  Texas  Birds,  1841,  I'l.  f. 
Mji'wzvMcH  lexvniiiii  Sulatku,  I'loccedintrs  Zoolofjiciil  SiHtioty,  1859,  nP 

(H  — ,  C  — ,  K  ;5()9,  0  — ,  U  14,-)(lj.) 

GEorsRArniOAL  bangk:  Central  Aiuoricu;  south  to  CJoloinMa,  Soiitli  Aiiicricii.  north 
to  iiorthtuii  Mexico  (ami  soutliern  Texas?). 

(Jlrand's  Flycatcher  is  included  in  our  fauna  on  (Siraud's  Texas  record,  but 
no  other  specimens  have  since  been  secured,  and  if  it  occurs  at  all  in  the  lower 
Kio  Grand(!  \'alley,  in  Texas,  it  can  only  be  considered  as  an  accidental  stra<^- 
ler,  and  it  is  not  probable  that  it  breeils  within  our  Ixa-ders. 

Mr.  Charles  W.  Richmond  has  kindly  furnished  me  the  followinj;'  notes  on 
this  bird:  "It  is  very  abundant  in  Nicaraji'ua.  It  is  confined  to  the  vicinity  of 
water  courses,  and  is  evenly  distributed  in  such  localities.  It  is  (piite  a  stationary 
liird;  pairs  occui>vinj;'  a  certain  precinct  may  be  found  in  the  same  place  week 
after  week,  seldom  wanderinj;'  far  away,  accordiiif^'  to  liiy  observations.  The 
bird  usuallv  selects  a  tree  overhaiifiinj''  the  water  for  its  jierch,  where  it  often 
sits  for  a  considerable  leiij^th  of  time,  utterin;;-  its  peculiar  cry,  which  resembles 
that  of  a  youii};'  chicken,  only  loiuhfr.  'Pile  bird  has  other  notes  which  it  makes 
use  of  at  different  times.  Occasinnally  it  prospects  around  the  outer  braiiches 
of  the  tree  for  insects,  maki*i^-  short  fli<;lits  from  branch  to  branch  in  a  leisurely 
manner,  looking  carefully  about   before  proceediii<'-  to   the  next   branch,   and 


GIUAUD'a  FLYUATCIIEK. 


255 


Htrotchinj,'' itH  nock  out,  after  the  mnnnor  of  a  \)o\i\  It  froqnontly  fiifs  out  from 
its  |)('ifli  after  passiuji'  iusectH,  like  a  Wood  Pewee  or  Kiii;;l)inl.  'I'iii.s  hird 
ItatiieH  fr(M|ueutly  iluiiii;;'  tlie  day  if  tiie  siui  is  siiiniu}^',  tlyin^j'  down  into  the 
water  witli  a  splash,  tlieu  up  to  its  ])ertdi  aj^niin,  where  it  dresses  its  featliers. 
Tliis  style  of  i)athiiij;  I  iiave  noticed  (ndy  in  (Jiraud's  Flycatcher. 

"The  nest  is  a  lieautiful  structure,  rooft^d  over,  with  tli(>  entrance  at  one 
side.  It  is  usually  profusely  covered  with  living-  moss,  and  is  jieuerally  placed 
in  a  hush  or  tree  over  tlut  water,  from  o  to  1.^)  feet  up  as  a  ride.  Nests  are  often 
placed  in  hunches  of  lianauas,  and  I  have  fouiul  them  in  youn^'  lime  trees,  4 
feet  from  the  ^iround.  One  nest,  found  in  a  clumit  of  viiie.s,  was  fully  30  leet 
from  the  <rroinid.  I  found  a  nest  May  I. '5,  containiufi'  throe  youiif^  I)irds  fully 
tled;^ed.  The  par(;nt  hirds  werc!  very  much  excited  whiht  I  remained  in  the 
vicinity.  The  species  is  known  as  'Little  Kiskadee'  i)y  the  lOniilisli-speakin^- 
]ieople  horts  on  account  of  its  r(;send)Iance  to  the  Derhy  Flycatcher." 

Mr.  K.  W.  Nelson  writes  me:  "I  fouiul  (Jiraud's  Flycatcher  conmioi\  alon^- 
tall  heil^i'es  honh'riii^-  liidds  near  ,Iico,  \'era  ("ruz,  .Mexico,  diirinii-  June  and 
iluly,  IcSliy.  They  were  also  particidarly  common  alonj;'  stri-ams  hurdered  hy  a 
more  or  le.ss  .strajfjiliii};  p'owth  of  tall  hushes.  They  appeareil  to  nest  only  in 
the  latter  situations — a  dozen  or  nuire  of  tlieir  nests  werc^  found  here,  all 
similarly  situateil.  They  were  )»laced  in  forks  near  the  tops  of  tall,  slend<'r,  and 
•icnerally  ovt-rhang-inj^'  hushes,  from  12  to  15  feet  from  the  ;iround.  In  several 
instiinoeH  the  nests  were  placed  in  the  tops  of  hushes  overhan<jiin^'  streams. 
There  was  not  the  slij;htest  attempt  at  concealmt.'Ut,  and  the  nests  were  usiiallv 
visible  at  a  considerable  distance,  appearin<4'  like  larj;e,  raj^jicd  liandfids  of  dry 
fi'ra.ss  thrust  carelessly  into  the  forks  of  the  bushes.  They  were  still  more 
conspicuous  from  the  fact  that  they  were  usually  I)uilt  in  the  tops  of  bushes 
somewhat  taller  than  the  averaj^e,  or  apart  from  the  general  mass  of  surroimdiii<i' 
vt'jjietation. 

"  Uidortunately,  all  of  the  nests  examined  were  either  occupied  liv  yonn<>'  or 
had  already  been  deserted;  they  were  all  lined  with  fine  f>Tass  stems.  The  old 
})ir(ls  were  not  at  all  shy,  but  watche(|  my  approach  with  consideralile  anxietA-, 
hoverini>'  aliout  from  the  top  of  one  bush  to  another,  in  the  vicinity  of  nests 
containinji'  youn^',  utterin;;-  clear,  plaintive,  whistlin<i'  notes  of  alarm,  with  occa- 
sional harsher,  chatterinii'  cries.  When  undisturbed  these  i)irds  ])erch  (|uietly  on 
conspicuous  points,  wlu'iice  they  <lart  otf  after  passing;-  insects  or  utter  occasional 
mellow,  whistlinji'  call  notes.  They  are  usually  rather  (piiet  birds,  althoujih 
always  conspicuous  from  the  natiu'e  of  their  surroundings.  The  u|)per  limit  of 
their  ran^c,  near  .Jalapa,  N'era.  ( 'ruz,  appeal's  to  be  about  4,r)()0  feet." 

Mr.  (i.  K.  Cherrie,  of  San  .lose,  Costa  IJica,  has  kindly  presented  the 
I'liiti'd  States  National  Museum  with  a  well-preserved  nest  of  this  species,  and 
also  a  handsome  set  of  eyji's,  the  iirst  fully  identified  specimens  in  the  collection. 
Since  these  have  l)een  received  I  find  that  the  late  Col.  A.,1.  (Jrayson  ha<l  taken 
the  nest  and  e<i;fi;'s  of  tJiraud's  Flycatcher  near  Mazatlan,  Mexico,  yi'ars  pre- 
viously, and  a  short  but  correct  descrii)tion  of  the  nest  is  j^iven  in  the  Memoirs 


'•iji 


25(5 


LIl'M'}  llISTOUilW  OP  NOltTlI  AMKUICAN  IJIHDH. 


1 8  -U 


of  tlut  Uttstoii  Society  of  Ntitiinil  Ilistorr  (Vol.  II,  p.  2x(>).     An  cyjjr  tiiki'ii  by 
liiiii  lit  tlio  tiiiio  is  now  in  tho  coUt'ctiuu  Iiltc,  and  undoubtedly  belunjjH  to  tliitt 


sneeieH. 


(Jirnud's  Flycntrlicr  boffiiis  ncHtinff  in  Costu  Rica  about  tlio  first  of  April, 
iind  probal)iy  rears  two  liroods  in  a  season.     The  set  of  effj,''s  presented  i)y  Mr. 


Cliui 


no  was 


tak 


en  on  ,\n\w 


;{(),  1K!)(>,  and  was,  niorc^  tiian  likelv  from  a  .serond 


lay 


avniir. 


'PI 


IS  "'en 


tleinan  descril)es  a  nest  taken  bv  bin 


I  lie 


Tal 


inianni, 


Costa 


Uiea,  on  Ajirii  1,  1K!I(),  as  follows;  "It  was  placed  in  a  tliorny  slirnb,  aitoiit  5 
feet  from  the  "ground,  the  .shrill)  j;Towiii};'  in  a  clearinji'  by  the  side  of  ii  river.  It 
is  composed  entirely  of  dry  j^rass,  externally  of  rather  coarsi^  steins,  and  lined 
witlrvery  tine,  soft  tops.  It  is  somewhat  retort  shapeil,  restiiij^'  in  the  forks  of 
the  limit,  but  is  also  bound  to  one  of  the  branches  of  the  fork  for  almost  the  entire 
leiijrth  of  the  nest.  Louj;'  gra.ss  steins  haiij^'  fnaii  the  front  of  tlu>  nest  for  12 
inches  below  tho  bottom;  the  nest  meusures  externally  10  inches  in  depth  by 
()  inches  in  horizontal  diameter." 

'I'lu^  one  sent  to  the  United  States  National  Museum,  taken  at  the  same 
])lace  on  April  S,  1S!)(),  is  .similarly  constructed;  it  reseiid)les  the  nests  of  our 
Cactus  Wren  very  much,  and  mijiht  readily  be  mistaken  foi-  one*  of  tlu 


m. 


Th 


le  e;^';.;'s  are  two  or  three  in  number,  ovate  in  shape,  rather  thin  shelled, 
and  without  luster;  their  ;;Tound  color  is  a  delicate  creamy  white  with  a  faint 
pinkish  tint,  and  they  are  sparinjily  marked,  especially  about  the  larmier  end  of 
the  e^)i',  with  minute  spots  of  j)riint^  and  heliotrope-purple  and  lavender. 

The  avera;;i'  measurement  of  live  ei^'f^'s  in  the  I'nited  States  National  Museum 
collection  is  "iiMl  by  1(!.7(J  millimetres,  or  0.!(1  by  ().(I(!  inch.  The  larj^est  e<i;»' 
measures  -J.').!)!  liy  Ki.TG  millimetres,  or  1.02  l)y  0.(l(J  inches;  the  smallest,  21.34 
by  1(3.;')!  millimetres,  or  0.84  by  0.().")inch. 

The  ty[)e  spev;inien.  No.  2."»2S;{  (I'l.  1,  Fiff.  22),  from  a  set  of  three  e<^<;s, 
was  taken  by  Mr.  Georj;e  K.  Chen'ie,  near  San  .lose,  C«)sta  iiica,  on  Juno  30, 
ISDO,  and  represents  an  averaj^'e-marked  e^g-. 

94.    Myiodynastes  luttiventris  Sclatkr. 

Sri-rUUR-UKLLIED  FLYCATCHEK. 

Mjiiodi/iKisicK  htfi'irfiiitrin  Srr.ATUR,  Proceedings  Zoolofiiciil  yociety,  I8."i!),  42  (ex  lioiiaparte 
(Joiuiitc  Ueiiilu  X..\.XVIII,,1S."4,  (i.'iT,  iiomeii  inidam). 

(B — ,  C!  — ,  It  .{1(1,  C  3(i,-.,  U  4."»1.) 

Okograpiiical  ranoe:  Mexico  and  Central  America;  north  to  soutliern  .\ri7.0na; 
south  to  Pananui. 

We  are  indebted  to  ^Ir.  W.  II.  Ileu.shaw  for  the  addition  of  this  handsimie 
Flycatcher  to  our  avifauna.     lie  says: 

""^riiis  ])eculiar  Flycatcher  appears  to  be  a  sununer  resident  of  tlu^  Chinca- 
Ima  Mountains  in  southern  Arizona,  wherc^  I  obtained  a  pair  of  old  birds,  tof^ether 
with  three  younj;',  Augu.st  24,   1874.     These,  though  indistinguishable  in  size 


Till-;  SIJLI'IIUIt  iiKLLIKU  FLYCATCIIKIt. 


267 


mill  |MTi'f(>tiuii  lit'  |iluina;j'f  tVniii  tin-  ailiilt  |iair,  \viTt<  still  tlii'  itltjccts  nt'  tlii'ir 
Moliritniis  cart',  ami  wiMf  ili'|H'iiili'iit.  uiioii  tlii-iii  tor  tiiml.  Iiidt'cil,  tlu'ir  itrcsciico 
ii\\<i\\t  liavc  rfiiiaiiicil  iimioticcil  liy  iiu*  hail  I  not  Ixh'II  ;rnii't«ti|,  as  I  cnti-ri'il  tlut 
iniMitli  lit'  iiiio  of  tilt'  (li'i'p,  iiaiTow  cimyoiiH  intorscH'tiii);  tlio  MioiiiitiiiiiM  in  I'vcry 
iliri'itiiiii,  liy  tlw  shrill  laitcs  ami  aiij;ry  crii's  i>t'  thu  olil  liirds,  who  hovcn-il  in 
the  air  at  a  shmt  ilistaiirc,  i»r  tit'w  rt'sth'SHly  t'rniii  treo  to  tii-n  t'liilfaviiriii;''  to 
(liHtract  my  attt'Utioii  from  tim  yoim;f,  till,  taking,'  tho  ahmii,  timy  fluw  ovit  into 
an  ailjiiininj^'  raviiii',  wliorn  simii  aftrr  I  finiml  tlii'  wlmli'  family  asscmhlfil,  tlui 
(ilil  Itinls  havinji'  imiiu'diatt'ly  n-joimMl  tlii'ir  rhai'i^cs.  'i'lm.  follnwiiij;'  ila\  Dr. 
Hothroi'k,  whiln  out  hotaiiiziiij;',  saw  what  \w  sniiposcil  to  iio  a  sccoml  famil\-  of 
six  or  HfVi'ii  II  ili(\si?  hirils,  so  fhiit,  tlm  ocfurrniKHf  of  thi'  spi-rit's  licri'  is  proba- 
bly ti>  l»r  ri'nanh'il  as  by  no  nnans  acfiih^ntal."' 

Sinrc  thi-n  Lit'Ut.  Harry  ('.  Honson,  llnitml  Statt-s  Army,  and  l)r.  A.  K. 
Fishi'r  ha\i'i»otli  taken  this  spoiMos  ainon;^'  the  oaks  in  sonm  of  tin- raiiynns  nrar 
Fort  llnachura,  and  it  uiidniiiitrdly  orcin's  ri';;iilarly  tin;  ii;ihout  the  monntaiii 
ri'j;ions  of  southi'rn  Arizona  dnriiij;'  tim  l)r(HMlini;'  season.  .Mr.  Iv  \V.  Nelson 
fonii  I  it  not  nneoimnon  about  .lalapa  ami  .lico,  in  Vurii  (!rii/,,  where  they  were 
noted  dining'  .Fniio  and  .Inly.  'I'liey  were  fonnd  ahin<;'  heilj^es  bordering'  thu 
roadsides  and  iields,  and  also   anion;;'  bushes  on  the   more  open  parts  of  the 


sloiies   o 


f   hill.^ 


s  ami    eanxons. 


tl 


leir  "('iieral   habits   thev   elosi-lv    I'esemltk 


Mji'iozctvlvs  tc.misis. 

Mr.  IJiehard  h.  liUsk  has  reeeiitly  sent  me  tin;  fiillowiii};'  notes  on  the  iiest- 
in;;-  of  this  speries  in  .southern  Arizona,  under  date  of  Oetoiier  14,  iHii;.  He 
writes:  "Afttsr  watihin;;'  every  ])iuv  of  Sulphur-bellied  Flycatchers  that  came 
to  my  notice,  all  throu;ili  the  season,  in  the  hope  of  di.scoviu'in;;'  some  actions 
that  looked  like  nestin;;-,  1  had  ^I'ixen  it  up  as  useless,  when,  on  the  moru- 
in;i'  of  Au^iust  1,  I  saw  one  in  the  distance  tly  to  a  hole  in  the  main  stem 
of  a  s\camore  tn-e,  about  40  feet  from  the  lii'iuind.     The  bird  flew  first  to  an 


III 


Iter  I 


iraiii 


•h  iif  the   tree  and    mad 


.1'   a  cart' 


fill 


reconiHiiter  of  the  \iciiiitv 


I 


waited  and  watched  ipiietly  vnitil  the  iiro^iramnie  was  repeated  txvice,  and  then, 
after  ^i'liinj^'  chi.se  to  the  tree  and  ascuitainiii;;'  the  hole  to  be  a  natural  knot  hole, 
came  to  the  comdusion  that  the  bird  must  be  biiildin^i',  for  there  had  been  nono 
of  the  species  in  that  vicinity  a  few  days  previous  when  1  reinaineil  there  for 
Pwo  weeks  later  I   returned  to  the  tree  and  succeeded  in 


siiine  time  hunting;' 

reaching;'  the  hole,  after  some  dilliculty.  It  was  about  4  inches  in  diameter, 
straij^ht  in,  scarcely  extending;'  below  the  mar;;in  of  the  entrance,  so  that  tho 
l)ird,  sittinj.;-  on  the  e^j'^i's,  couhl  have  easily  looked  out  of  the  hole.  Within  was 
a  iie.st,  which,  thoui^h  exceedin^^ly  siniph'  in  con.struction,  was  certainly  nni(|ue 
in  material  of  coiii])ositioii,  for  there  was  not  a  vesti^^o  of  anything;'  in  its  struc- 
ture except  the  .stems  of  walnut  leaves,  with  which  the  bottom  of  the  hole  was 
lined  for  a  depth  of  about  half  an  inch. 

"Three  years  a;fo  Mr.  ( ).  C  l'ol:n<j^  shot  a  specimen  of  this  species  of  Fly- 
catcher which  had  a  fully  developed  e;;;;'  in  its  ovary,  as  late  as  the  last  of  July, 


'(!c()(;r:i])liitiil  SiirvejH  West  iif  Iddtli  Mi'iiiliim,  Vol.  \  ,  1S7,">,  p.  JUT. 


4 


i  '1 
■•'.I  / 


1  i 

^1 


i 


f  ': 


.A% 


*  !• 


V    i!!.  .  « 


'\" '  ;N'::J 


iijil 


16896— No.  3- 


-17 


'm 


y-  .-i 


1  '    \ , 


258 


LIFK  lUSTOHlKS  OK  NOUTII  AMKHICAN  lUKDS. 


and  I;ist  year,  iihout  the  iTiiddlc  of  July,  I  sliot  a  t'lMiialc  that  was  obviinisly  laviiijjf. 
I  'oncluilc  t'niiii  tlicsc  t  irciiinstaiu'cs,  cuuiiIimI  with  my  (^xpcrii-iicc  this  season,  that 
tlu  lii'd  is  an  ('XC(>|itii)nall\'  late  hrccih'r,  which  possibly  may  account  tor  no  t)ne 
;icttin;;'  on  the  track  of  tlicir  nests  liet'ore,  as  the  hii'd  is  not  ver\  uncommon  in 
some  hicalities  in  tills  section,  lve;;ai'(lin;4'  their  notes,  1  think  1  haxcnoteil  Imt, 
two  distinct  kinds,  their  discordant  screech  and  a  sinjile  call.  Tlu*  screech,  it 
seems  to  me,  is  not  to  lie  compareil  to  any  hii'd  \dice  1  hav(^  over  heard,  but 
niifiht  perhaps  be  compared  lo  the  ])rotest  of  a  wa;^on  wheid  that  needs  oillni"', 
\ar\ini;'  in  leu'^'th,  but  al\va\s  of  tlu^  same  incomparable  qnalitx'  of  tone.  Onco 
heard,  it  is  certain  to  li\e  in  Hie  mc.iiory  and  be  recoiiiii/.ed  even  alter  the  la])st^ 
of  years.  I  could  liai'dlx'  (iescril)e  their  single  note  or  call  without  hearing'  it 
ai^ain.  I  only  know  that  it  does  nof  closely  reseml)le  that  of  any  other  Klv- 
catclicr,  thoufi'h  it  mi^ihl  not  impress  one  as  peculiar  in  itself,  as  <loes  their  otliei' 
"ote.     J  do  not  think  it  is  uttereil  nearly  as  fre(pu'ntl\'  as  the  screech. 

'•They  are  fully  as  ([uari-elsome  as  the  iiv.ra^i'e  Flycatcher,  at  least  about 
their  nesting'  tr"e,  i'Kvays  keeitin;^-  up  their  discordant  notes  while  so  en^'a^ed, 
though  if  :',  man  is  about  the\  ai-<'  apt  to  make  tlieniselvcM  sc.'U'ce.  Tliev 
;'r(!  Muich  less  iiu'lined  to  seek  an  e.vposed,  deail  branch  than  some  of  the 
other  nien'iers  of  this  family,  aiMJ  s'.'  ni  to  lu-  at  least  to  be  unich  less  actively 
*'njia,ii<'d  in  tlieir  le^-itimate  callin.!.';  of  catch. i,;^- Hies  than  any  other  Flycatcher. 
Moreover,  1  ha\c  seen  them  reoeatedl/ tlyinj^- into  wild-chi-rry  trees,  loadeil  with 
ripe  fruit,  and  thou;.,h  I  have  not  happened  to  be  close  enoiijih  at  the  time  to  see 
iliem  eatinji-  the  tViiit,  I  concluded  that  that  was  Avhat  they  were  doini^'.  'i'liey 
fre(|Uent  streams  boi'derecl  with  lai';.;e  trees  seemiuji'  always  to  ]ii-efer  sycamores, 
anil  [  ha'.  •  rarely  seen  one  more  liian  ;")(*  yards  I'rom  a  sti'eam.  The  extremis 
width  and  size  of  their  bills,  toj>'ethei'  v.'itli  their  sh(,i't  no(dcs  gWv  them  a.  peculiar 
appearand'- <  '.en  at  a  distanct^" 

This  nest,  when  taken  on  Auji'ust  15,  18!(4,  contained  three  well  incul)ated 
o.Ufis,  these  bi'in;;-  tlu;  tirst  ones  actually  foun  1  W'thin  oin-  borders.  They  were 
obtained  in  Ivamsev's  t  "anyon,  in  tin  lluaclnica  Mountains,  and  are  now  in  the 
I'nited  Slates  i>;itional  Museum  cnllectiiMi. 

As  tlic  jiiates  tor  tlli^  \<ihuiie  had  already  i)een  mad'-  up  and  were  then  in 
thd  lithoj;raplier"  •  hands,  none  ol'  them  can  be  (iyuicd.  Tliex'  are  broad,  (dlip- 
ical  ovate  in  shape;  the  shell  is  close-iirained,  stron;^',  ami  only  slii,''htly  j^'lossy. 
Tiioir  j^'round  cohn*  is  rich,  creamy  but!',  and  they  are  profusely  blotdi:  d  and 
spotted.  |)rincipally  about  tlieir  larycr  ends,  with  dai'k  pansy  purpli  and  lii,hter 
shades  of  laveud.i;  these  marUiujis  do  noi  I'esemble  the  streaky  patieru  found 


tl 


le  e 


if  th 


■nus  Mi/idriliiiK.     '1  hc'   mea.'-iire  "-'T.i!^  b\-    111.0,''),  '2(i.l2  bv 


l.S.So,  ami  -Jl.lil  iiy  18..J4.niillinK'tres,  or'l.)7  by  (1.7.'),  l.dl  by  (t.7-1,  and  ().!»7  b 
(».7;i  inches. 


'I'! 


le  siiccimeli    tl] 


•  ured  on  I'l.  •_',  Fi,u-. 


I.  wa> 


Hr( 


ewster,  as  there  were  iio  eij;'"!'s  o 


f  th 


species  in  the  co 


llect 


c(l   by  .Mr.  Will 

ion  at  till'  time 


lan. 


jilates   were   made    up.      It   was   taken    b\'    Mr.    K'.    I!.    .Mci.eod,    near  ( '.armeii 
Chiliaalria,  Me.vico,  on   ^tay  -(!,  1N8"),  from   a   ca\ity  in   a   tree. 


USi 


^i^r-yf 


THE  SULl'Uirit  BULLIKI)  FLYOATCUER. 


259 


Tt  resombles  the  esf^s  provioiisly  lUiscrilKid  in  ,sliiij)({  and  <iToun(l  cfdor,  but 
tho  iiiiirkinjfs  iiro  soiuowliat  brig-hter  and  lij^-litisr  colored,  and  it  nioasures  only 
24.Slt  by  l!).5()  milliniotros,  or  0.!)8  by  U.77  inch.  Tlic  {oiualo  paront,  No. 
23043,  Hrevvistur  colloctiun,  was  secured  at  the  same  time. 


95      Myiarchus  crinitus  (LiNN.i-.rs). 

CKKSI'KII  l'l,Y(AI('Mi;i;. 

Miisrivapa  rriiiittt  Linn.kits,  .Systutna  Natuni',  mI.  V2,  1,  1700,  ii%'>. 
Myiarvhun  vrinitim  Lightens  i'k.in,  Nomcnclator  Musco  HiM'oliiioiisis,  1854, 10. 
(B  13(»,  v3  247,  U  ai2,  0  373,  U  4r.2.) 

(TEouRAruiCAh  itANOE:  Kastorii  IJiiited  States;  nortli  to  tlio  l*roviii<'t'<  of  New 
Brunswick,  <i)ii('l)t'i;,  Oiitiirio,  iiiul  Miinitobii,  Doiiiiiiioii  oC  Caiiu(l;i;  west  to  .Mimie.sota, 
easti'i'ii  Nebniska,  east(>rii  Kansas,  eastern  liidiiiii  Territory,  au'l  siifjlitly  beyond  the  eastern 
)iali'  of  Texas;  south  in  winter  tiirou^li  eastern  Me.^cieo  to  L'anaiiia  and  (Jolonibia,  Soutli 
America. 

The  Crested  or  Great  Cre.sted  P"'lycateher  is  a  connnon  siiiunicr  resident  in 
sui*"ble  localities  throughout  the  eastern  United  States,  and  lireeds  t'roin  Florida 
and  le  (xulf  (Joast  northward,  includinji'  the  southern  portions  of  the  Doniiiii  >ii 
of  Canada.  The  western  limit  of  its  hreedinj^'  ranji'e  in  Texas  extends  sou'e- 
what  bevond  the  eastern  half  of  the  .State  into  Tom  (Ireen  Countv,  and  thence 
in  .1  nortluiasterly  direction  to  ^[innesota  and  soutiu-rn  Manitoba.  Wliile  the 
majority  i)f  these  bircls  pass  bevond  our  l)t)rders  in  wiiUer,  not  a  few  I'eniain  on 
the  Florida  peninsida  and  the  adjacent  keys  throujjfhout  this  season,  jjrobably 
birds  from  the  extreme  northern  portions  of  tlieir  bi-eediu";- ranji'e.  1  he  majority 
reenter  tlie  Uniti'd  Stales  la'twi-en  Jbircli  2;j  and  April  10,  moving;'  leisurely 
aloui;-,  and  usually  arri\inii'on  their  breeiliu};'  jiroinids  in  the  Middle  States  about 
the  latter  part  of  April,  and  correspondiufily  later  farther  northward.  lu  north- 
ern New  York  and  tlience  west  to  .Minnesota  they  are  rarely  noticed  before  the 
midille  of  .\la\'.  I'lu'  return  migration  from  their  l)reedinji-  jii'ounds  in  tlie  extreme 
northern  limits  of  their  i-an^e  commences  in  tlie  latter  part  of  .\uyust,  and  few 
of  these  l)irds  remain  into  Septemi)er. 

'i"he  Crested  Flycatcher,  tliou^h  not  jjarticiilarly  rare  along  our  northern 
border,  is  far  more  connnon  in  nur  .Middle  and  Southern  States,  thoujih  perhaps 
not  as  often  observed  a.^  its  abundance  woidd  warrant.  Its  characteristi(^  call 
notes  mav  ;;(nierall\'  be  heard  in  any  piec(^  of  \\oo(ls  contairiiuj;'  some  dead  tim- 
ber and  situated  not  too  far  from  water.  I>nrin};'  the  matin;;'  season  it  is  one  of 
tile  noisiest  ot  our  i'^lycatcliers,  and  its  loii'l,  ringin,i;'  call  notes  can  lie  hear.!  (piite 
a  distance  It  utters  a  \ariet\'  oi'  soimds;  the  most  <'oinmon  is  a  cleai-  u  '-ith! 
like  "i'  whuit-huit,"  or  "wit-whit,  wit-whit,"  rejieated  li\e  or  six  times  in  a  some- 
what lower  key,  and  varied  to  "winiir,  whuree,"  or  "puree,"  accompanied  bv 
Ncrious  turnino's  and  twistln};  at  the  head.  Its  alarm  note  is  a  penetrating  au'l 
far-rea<'liing  "whiiek,  w  ;•."■'<,  'and  it  took  me  -onie  time  to  make  sm'"  that  it  was 
made   l)y  this   s[)ecie«.      1    liad    pre\  iously    attributed    it   to  a   .Shrike;    but   one 


1^1 


iff* 


i!    'r 


it 


:H 


¥\4^^ 


260 


LIFE  lIlSTOlilKS  OF  NOKTli  AMHUICAN  IJIHliS. 


■li     • 


inoruiiif;',  whiln  luakinji'  observations,  1  t'oiiiiil  a  Itrood  of  youn^  Crested  Fly- 
catchers, l)arely  al)lD  to  Hy,  which  the;  parents  vainly  triud  to  coax  away  from 
the  nei}i;hborhood,  and  I  identified  the  makers  of  this  note  fully.  The  deprcsscil 
crest  was  raised  wiiilo  uttorin<i-  it,  and  tint  calls  were  repeated  for  minutes  at  u 
time,  as  tlu;  \-onni;'  w<'re  not  inclined  to  leave  the  tr(;es  they  were  in. 

Mr.  ,r.  W.  IVestou  writes  me:  "I  heard  a  peculiar  note  of  this  Flycatcher 
on(^  ev(Miin<r  at  snnset.  Tho  sinj^er  was  perched  in  the  toj)  of  a  tall  tree,  and 
alon<^-  with  the  ordinai'\'  sonj;-  it  uttered  a  dear,  li(|uid  'hirdic-hirdie,'  with  nuich 
the  sanu^  tone  and  cner^x'  of  tiie  (Cardinal's  son^\" 

1  consider  tliis  l''l\ catcher  mnch  shyer  and  general ly  more  retirinji'  than  other 
species  of  this  taniily,  like  tiie  i\inj;l)ird.  Wood  l*eW(H',  l*h(el)e,  etc.,  and,  althonji'h 
prol»al)l\-  e(piall\'  al)n'i(lant  in  some  sections  as  the  species  mentioned,  it  is  not 
nearly  as  often  noticed.  It  appears  to  me  to  he  rather  nnsocial  in  its  habits,  and 
one  will  rarely  si-e  more  tlian  a  jiair  tojicther  excepting  dnrin;.;-  the  migrations. 
From  ]\\y  own  oil^.ervatil>ns,  I  taki;  it  aiNO  to  l)e  more  intolerant  toward  smaller 
binls  liiiierally  than  other  Flycatchers,  but  not  as  pugnacious  as  the  Kingl)ird 
toward  larger  birds.  .Vmong  each  other  the\'  are  rather  (|  uarrelsome,  and  after 
a  pair  has  selected  a  n(;sting  site  no  intruders  are  allowe(l  to  encroach  on  their 
rang. 

The  late('olonel  (ross  sa\'s:  "The\'  tight  lierceK'for  a  mate,  and  the\' have 
a  habit  that  1  liave  not  noticed  in  otiiei'  birds,  of  plucking,  if  ])ossil)le,  the  tail 
feathers  ot'  a  rival,  in  order  to  disliiiufe  him,  so  hat  lie  will  not  l)e  looked  upon 
with  favor  liy  the  opposite  sex;  and  when  hick  enough  to  pull  a  featlu'r,  it  is 
anuising  to  see  them  fuss  over  it.  ])ickiiig,  pulling,  in  fact  fighting  it,  forgetting 
for  the  time  the  owner  in  tin  'r  exultation  over  the  capture.'" 

Its  favorite  haunts  artf  tue  hea\  ily  tindtered  Itottom  lamls  along  the  banks 
of  streams  and  the  borders  of  tind>ere(l  ti-acts  contiguous  to  water,  and  generally 
at  some  little  .li^tance  from  liuinan  haltitations.  Sometimes  an  exce])tion  is 
found  to  ihis  rule,  and  pairs  of  thi'se  Flycatciiers  have  been  known  to  nest  in 
<dose  pi'oximitv  to  dwellings,  and  e\en  in  such  artiticial  nesting  sites  as  martin 
I'OXes,  etc. 

From  an  economic  ])oint  of'  \iew  liie  (  rested  Flvcatcher  nmst  be  considere(l 
an  extremely  usel'id  liii'd.  its  t'ood  consists  mainly  of  insects,  such  as  l)eetles, 
various  species  ut'  tlies,  grassho|)pers,  butterflies,  moths,  and  lar\a',  varied  in  the 
late  summci'  witli  wild  lic-rries  of  dill'ereiU  kinds,  its  lliulit  is  strong,  swift,  and 
graceful,  iint  i-arely  proti'acted.  I'ladi  bin!  has  a  few  faxorite  perches  within 
its  if.nge,  generalK  a  dead  lindi  near  the  top  of  a  tree  on  the  edi^t!  of  a  woo(l, 
\vhence  il  darts  after  passiuL;-  insects,  wliicli  seldom  escupe  capture;  tlifse  are 
then  carried  to  the  nearest  jierch  and  devoured  at  leisiu'e.  i  ha\est'en  it  doubl" 
in  the  chase  with  as  much  ea-c  .is  a  I'^ilcon,  and  the  sharp  snapping  of  its 
iii.milibles  indicated  i  lainly  that  its  sudden  ihish  was  successful. 

Xidificatiou  commences  ordinariK'  some  two  nv  three  wciks  after  its 
arrival  on  the  l)reeiling  uroniids.  each  pair  "f  birds  selectiiiL;'  a  suitable  nesting 

'  llisl.in  III'  llir  liirilH  III'  K;in~;i>.  ISHI,  ;i.  illin. 


'hH 


OK  CHKSTKI)  FLYdATCIIKK. 


2(51 


site,  consistinfT  usually  itf  ii  inituriil  ciivify  in  some  troc  iictir  tlio  Ixirdcrs  nt"  a 
forest,  in  an  old  orclianl,  or  in  a  dead  stiunp  leanint'-  over  water,  and  tre(|U('ntly 
an  abandoned  exeavation  of  one  of  tlie  lar<^er  Wood])eckers  is  used.  Natural 
cavities  are  preferred,  however,  where  such  an*  obtainable,  (iven  should  tliesn 
be  nuicli  more  extensive  than  are  really  neede<l,  as  instances  are  known  where 
openings  in  hollow  limbs  fulh'  (i  feet  dee|)  have  been  lilleil  up  with  rnlil)Ish  to 
witiiin  18  inches  of  the  top  before  the  nest  proper  was  bejiini.  Moth  sexes 
assist  in  nest-buildinfr,  and  it  takes  soniotimes  fulK'  two  weeks  l)efor(f  their  task 
is  conii)leted.  The  iinishinff  a.nd  lininjr  of  the  nest  is  <i-enerally  coniplete(l  by 
the  female.  In  Florida  and  other  Southern  States  nidification  Ix'uins  ordinarily 
during'  the  first  two  weeks  in  May;  in  the  Middle  States,  in  the  latter  half  of 
this  mouth  and.  the  first  week  in  June;  and  in  the  iiore  northern  jjortions  of  its 
breedinjj-  rang'e,  rarely  before  the  middle  of  this  month,  or  not  initil  the  weathe 
has  become  (piite  warm. 

The  nests  of  the  Crested  Flycatcher  vary  greatly  in  bulk  and  composition 
accordiufi^  to  the  localities  in  which  they  are  placed.  The  trees  most  fre(pu'ntly 
used  for  nesting  siti'S  are  old  a|)ple  or  pear  trees,  different  species  nf  oaks,  maple, 
ash,  Cottonwood,  and  ])ines.  A  nest  taken  by  Mr.  .1.  W.  I'reston  on  .lune  ,'5, 
18S1,  near  I'^ldora,  Iowa,  from  a  dead  stumj)  .ibont  6  inclies  in  diameter,  stand- 
ing on  the  lianks  of  the  Iowa  River,  ami  whicli  filled  -S  inches  of  the  ca\  it\', 
began  with  a  base  of  coarse  trash  and  was  finished  witli  line  twigs,  bunches 
of  cattle  hair,  pine  need.les,  drv  leaves  and  grar.ses,  the  tail  of  a  rabbit,  |)ieces  of 
Catbirils'  eggshells,  exuvia'  of  snakes,  o^vl  and  hawk  feathers,  tufts  of  wood- 
chucks'  hair,  an<l  fine  grass  roots.  Another  nest,  taken  by  Dr.  \V.  I.,,  ivalph, 
near  San  Mateo,  Florida,  on  May  Kl,  18112,  was  placed  in  a  hole  in  tlh^  side  of 
a  rotten  stmnp  in  low,  flat  pine  woods,  and  was  composed  of  dry  cypress  leaves, 
pine  needles,  grasses,  s])hagi:um  moss,  deail  leaves,  l)unciies  of  hair,  snake 
exuviie,  strips  of  cypress  itark,  weeds,  grass  roots,  pahnetto  fiber,  and  feathei's; 
it  was*  lined  with  bunches  of  hair,  feathers,  .strijjs  of  cy])re>;s  l)ark,  and  pieces  of 
snake  skin. 

Fxuviie  of  snakes  seem  to  be  ])resent  in  the  majo 'ity  of  the  nests  of  this 
species;  they  arc^  sometimes  incoi'iiorateil  in  the  nest  proier,  and  again  the\  ai'e 
))laced  around  the  sides  of  it,  in  all  probability  for  p.'otectivc  piu'poses,  and 
ai'e  changed  and  i'earrange(l  from  time  to  time,  ihit  f 'W  nests  are  fnund  which 
do  not  contain  more  or  less  of  this  material,  ami  occasionalK'  wlnde  skins  enter 
into  their  comjiosition. 

JFr.  W.  Fi.  Loucks,  of  I'eoria,  Illinois,  writers  me:  "I  found  a  \ cry  remark- 
able nest  of  the  Crested  i'^lvcatcher  some  N'ears  ago.  The  curious  feature  about 
if  was  that  the  bii-ds  had  taken  an  eiioi-uious  snake  skin,  probaiily  that  of  a  lilack- 
suake,  and  had  so  arrangecl  '►  within  the  entrance  of  tlie  caxitv  that  the  greater 
jiart  o'  t  himg  outside.  \\'li;ii  othei-  motixcs  ccmld  the  l)irds  liaxc  had  tliui  that 
of  alarming  intrudersf  Although  usuidly  a  bird  of  the  woods,  i  have  found  their 
nests  in  a  smnmerhouse  on  a  picnic  ground.  The  house  was  ipiite  large  imd  f're- 
(pieuted  nearly  every  day  l)y  crowds  of  peopK';  nevertheless  this  did  not  disturb 


w\  ■ 

lit;':;'- 


ilsl 


^i: 


'■'illilH^^ 


262 


LIFE  HI8TOR1KS  OF  NOllTH  AMERICAN  BIHI)8. 


the  birds  in  the  loast.  Tiiey  had  seloctod  jv  corner  inside  under  the  eaves,  and 
on  a  shelt'-hke  projection  reared  their  young  in  perfect  safety."  I  know  of  an 
instance  where  a,  pair  built  their  nest  in  the  open  end  of  a  stovepijje  nuining  out 
from  the  side  of  a  cabin  near  Wasliington,  District  of  Cohmibia,  and  also  where 
these  birds  built  in  a  stack  of  railroad  ties  dose  to  the  truck  over  which  a  number 
of  trains  passed  daily. 

The  Crested  Flycatcher  builds  at  various  heights  ranging  from  "2  to  (iO  feet, 
but  usually  not  much  o\er  20  feet  from  the  ground.  The  nesting  cavities 
selected  are  ordinarily  from  IS  to  IW  inches  deej)  and  others  are  considerably 
deeper,  while  occasionally  one  is  cpiite  shallow.  The  .inner  cu])  of  the  nest  varies 
from  '2'1  to  i}.j|  inches  in  diameter  and  from  Ih  to  2  inches  in  depth. 

The  eggs  vary  from  four  ti  eight  in  number,  sets  of  iive  being  perhaps  most 
often  found,  while  those  of  six  are  not  particularly  rare.  Mr.  J.  \Y.  Preston,  of 
Baxter,  Iowa,  writes  me  that  he  took  a  set  of  seven  eggs  on  June  G,  188(!,  from 
a  hollow  in  a  dead  limb  wliich  had  been  broken  off,  and  in  falling  lodged  against 
some  small  saplings.  The  eggs  were  fre.sh  and  warmly  covered  with  duck 
feathers.  The  oiilogical  collection  in  the  Academy  of  Natural  [Sciences,  Phil.a- 
deli)lila,  Pennsvlvania,  contains  a  set  of  eight  eggs,  which  I  have  personally 
examined.  The  ]  arents  are  u:aially  not  very  demonstrative  when  their  ne,«,.s 
are  disturbed,  and  but  rarely  scold  at  the  intruder.  As  a  rule  but  one  brood  is 
reared  in  a  season,  and  incubation  lasts  about  fifteen  days;  the  female  attends  to 
these  duties  almost  (exclusively,  but  is  not  a  very  close  setter,  and  it  is  not  un- 
'•ommon  to  find  addlecl  eggs  in  the  nests  of  ,iiis  spi'cies.  An  egg  is  deposited 
daily  until  the  set  is  ('ompleted.  Th<'  young  are  fed  jn-incipally  tm  in.sects  of 
various  kinds,  and  are  able  to  leave  the  nest  in  about  two  weeks;  they  are  cared 
for  i)\'  l)oth  parents  until  expert  enough  to  care  tor  themselves. 

The  eggs  of  the  Crested  Flycatcher  and  those  of  the  remaining  members 
of  the  genus  Mi/ianliKs  an;  most  peculiarly  marked,  and  differ  in  this  respect 
from  all  other  North  American  species,  excepting  the  White-necked  Haven,  whose 
eggs  resemble  these  .somewhat  in  the  style  of  n;arkings,  but  not  otherwise.  Tiieir 
ground  color  varies  from  creamy  to  vinaceous  buff,  and  this  is  overlaid  with  irreg- 
ular l)lotches,  longitudinal  streaks  and  scratches,  fine  hair  lines  of  different 
shades  of  claret,  liver  l)rown,  purple,  and  lavendt^r,  as  if  done  with  a  pi'u,  giving 
the  egg  a  uni(pie  ap]»earance.  In  the  majority  of  specimens  these  markings 
are  heaviest  about  the  laiger  axis  of  the  egg:  in  others  they  are  mone  evenly 
distributeil,  and  in  an  occasional  set  the  smaller  two-tliirds  of  the  eggs  are  nearly 
unspotted,  and  but  few  streaks  and  scratches  are  noticeable,  as  shown  in  one  of 
the  floured  t\i)es;  but  such  instances  are  rare.  Tlie\-  are  uh  stl\  o\at('  or  short 
ovate  in  shape,  varxing  occasional]\'  tr-  elliptical  or  I'loiigate  o\ate.  'IMie  shell 
is  do.se  grained,  rather  firm,  and  sliglitly  glossy. 

The  average  measurement  of  ninety-one  eggs  in  tiie  I'niteil  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  22.04  by  17.47  millimetres,  in-  about  (t.SIt  by  tl.(;!l  inch. 
The  largest  ogg  of  the  series  measures  24.;5S  i)y  17.78  millimetres,  or  O.lid  by 
0.7U  inch;  the  smallest,  20.u7  bv  15.24  millimetres,  or  0.81  bv  0.(J0  inch. 


TIIK  CHKSTKI)  l''I.VCAT(;ilKK. 


2<)a 


Tlie  type  speciinoii,  No.  "iOI.'id  (IM.  2,  Fiji'.  ^),  from  a  sot  of  four  cfrfi's,  liou- 
(lirc  collection,  was  takoii  in  Mlack  Hawk  (lounty,  Iowa,  Juno  19,  IST*;-,  and 
No.  2(!"2(!'2  (PI.  2,  Fijr. !)),  also  from  a  set  of  four,  near  Richmoml,  Mrjiinia,  .hmc 
7,  187!),  by  First  Lieut.  Wirt  Robinson,  United  States  Army.  'I'he  tirst  represents 
one  of  the  Imavier,  ilie  latter  onif  of  the  least  marked  type.*. 


96.     Myiarchus  mexicanus  (K.\[  i-). 

MK.XIC.AN  CKK.STKl)  ll.YCA  I'CHKK. 

Ti/r\niiinil(i\  mf.ricfuui  K.vfp,  Proceedings  Znoloffical  .Sdciety,  I.S,")1,  51. 
Myiarclum  mexwanux  Lawbknck,  Auiials  LyciMiin.  New  York,  IX,  May.  l.siilt,  202. 

(B  i;52.  V,  — .  li  .ni,  «'  Mi,  V  t.-..}.) 

riEoonAiMiicAL  HANOE:  FjOwit  Rio  Graiule  Valley  in  Texas;  south  tliroii;;li  eastern 
and  .soutliern  Mexico,  and  in  winter  to  (iiiateniala  and  Salvador,  Central  Anieiicii. 

The  Mexican  Crested  Flycatiiher  is  a  common  summer  resident  of  the 
table-lands  of  eastern  and  soutlnM'n  ^[exic(t,  and  reaches  the  northeiMi  limits  of 
its  breeding)'  ran<;e  in  the  lower  Kio  (Jrauile  \'a]ley,  in  Texa.-,  beyond  which  it 
apparently  (h>os  not  pass,  but  here  it  is  not  at  all  rare  in  suitable  localities. 

Dr.  James  1".  Merrill,  United  States  Army,  while  stationed  at  Fort  lirown, 
'i'exas,  tirst  discovered  this  species  as  a  sunnner  resident  of  f)ur  fauna,  and 
described  its  nest  and  ejif^s  in  the  Bulletin  of  the  Xuttall  Ornitholofiical  Club 
(Vol.  Ill,  1S7.S,  p.  100),  from  specimens  taken  on  May  10,  1S77.  The  nest  was 
placcfl  in  the  end  of  a  broken  branch  of  an  anacahuite  tree,  about  10  feet  from 
the  •i'round.  It  was  made  of  locks  of  wool  and  hairs,  and  contained  Ww  ejijis, 
slif>htly  advanced.  He  informs  me  that,  there  is  but  little  ditference  in  the  ji'cn- 
eral  habits,  food,  and  call  notes  of  this  species  from  those  of  the  better-known 
(^rested  Flycatcher  of  the  eastern  Unitisd  States.  Like  this,  it  is  only  a  sunnner 
resident  within  our  border,  arrivino-  in  the  lowi-r  Uio  Cirande  ^'aIley  al)out 
the  bejrinninfj:  of  A|iril  and  returnin<^  to  its  winter  home  in  Central  America  the 
latter  ])art  of  Septend)ei\  It  nests  mainly  in  natural  cavities  in  mes([uite  trees 
or  in  old  rotten  stumps,  and  occasionalh'  in  aliandoned  Iniles  of  some  of  the 
larji'er  Woodpeckers,  in  telejjraph  ])oles,  and  in  open  woods,  from  o  to  20  feet 
from  tin*  <iroiuid.  The  nests,  accordinji-  to  Sennett,  arc  com])osed  of  a,  matted 
hilt  consisting;'  of  soft  strips  of  bark,  feathers,  hair,  and  wool,  with  sometimes 
liits  of  snake  skins  intei'minjjled,  but  this  material  is  ajiparently  not  nearly  as 
fi'cnei'ally  used  by  this  spiv.'ies  as  seems  to  be  the  case  with  our  eastern  bird. 

Xiditication  commenci'S  sometimes  before  the  middle  of  .\pril  an<l  lasts 
tiu'oujih  .May.  The  Iat"st  date  I  have  is  .lune  .">:  the  earliest,  .Vpril  IS,  when  a 
set  of  live  fresh  e<rj>s  was  taken.  I'robabl\-  l)ut  one  brood  is  raised  in  a  season. 
i\Ir.  (i.  M.  Sennett  Hushed  a  male  from  a  nest  containinj;'  six  en'os  on  May  KJ, 
1S7S,  which  shows  that  it  assists,  occasionally  at  least,  'u  the  tluties  of  incubation. 
The  nimd)er  of  ejrji:s  laid  to  a  set  varies  from  four  to  six,  sets  of  five  beiiij;'  most 
fre(piently  fomid.     'Hiey  resendde   the  ej;';is  of  the  Crested    Flycatciier  very 


■% 


I  M 


264 


LIFIO  IliaTOKlKS  OF  NORTH  AMKKKJAN  UlliDS. 


\'.-i    ',4 


clitscly  in  size,  shape,  and  style  of  niiirkinj^s,  and  ran  not  l»e  positively  dis- 
tinj^uislied  tVoni  tlieni;  on  the  whole,  however,  dmy  are  not  (piite  so  heavily 
marked,  and  the  <frouud  eolor  is  t'requontly  more  of  a  light  cream  tint  tiiau  a 
cream  hntf. 

The  averajre  measurement  of  seventy-seven  egps  in  the  United  States 
National  Museum  collection  is  -22.3;")  l»y  17.;").'}  millimetres,  or  O.SS  liy  ().(;!)  inch. 
The  largest  egg  of  the  series  measures  23. HS  hy  18.211  millimetres,  or  0.i)4  by 
0.72  inch;   the  smallest,  l!).Sl    l)y  17.02  millimetres,  or  0.7S  hy  0.(;7  inch. 

Tile  type  specimens,  No.s.  '2493!)  and  2r)31H  (PI.  2,  Figs'.  10  and  11),  both 
from  .sets  of  five  eggs,  Ralph  collection,  were  taken  near  Hrowns\  ille,  Texas, 
the  former  on. Fune  o,  1S91,  the  latter  on  May  7,  1>^'J2,  and  represent  the  average 
and  lighter  styles  of  coloration. 


Mlll{;.H 


m 


97.     Myiarchus  mexicanus  magister  Ridgway. 

ARIZONA   CUESTKl)   I'LVCATCHER. 

MyiarcliUK  mvxivauun  nuujintcr  ItiDUWAY,  Proceedings  Hiolofj^ical  Society,  \Vasliiii};ftoii,  II, 
April  10,  1.S84,  90. 

(B  — ,  C  — ,  B  — ,  O  — ,  U  453(1.) 

(iHOOK  viuiiOAi,  RANGE:  Western  Mexico;  north  to  sontluu'n  Arizona  and  south- 
western New  Mexico;   south  in  winter  to  Tehuantcpec,  Mexico. 

Tile  Arizona  Crested  Flycatcher  is  tlu;  largest  lepreseutative  of  the  genus 
Mi/idtcliKs  found  within  our  boi'ders,  and  its  briM'ding  range  seems  to  be  confined 
mainly  to  the  giant  cactus  belt  of  southern  Arizona,  where  it  appears  to  i)e  a 
rather  irregular  summer  resident,  not  uncommon  in  souk*  seasons  and  rare  in 
others.  I  failed  to  notict;  it  whiles  collecting  in  the  vicinit\'  of  Tucson,  in  the 
spring  and  summer  of  1S72,  and  Mr.  Herbert  Hrown,  who  tried  to  si'cnrf  the  nest 
and  eggs  tor  the  United  States  National  ^^llseum,  in  ls!)3.  was  e(piall\'  imsncce.ss- 
ful,  while  Mr.  F.  Stephens  ri'])orted  tiiem  as  nitlier  common  in  the  same  locality 
in  the  latter  piirt  of  May  and  throughout  dune,  IKSl,  securing  over  a  dozen 
specimens  during  the  time.  Mr.  William  Brewster,  in  ,1  paper  on  ".\  ( '(ijlectiou 
of  .\rizoiia  ilinls,"  iiii.kes  the  following  remarks  on  this  siibs|)ccies: 

"The  collectorV  iiiites  (F.  Stephens)  relating  to  the  liaiiits  of  this  Fhcatchcr 
are  (iisap|)iiintiiigly  lirict'.  It  frcipicnted  ln«-  iiies(piites,  and  was  tame  and  rather 
noisy,  iiaving  a  \ariet\'  ot'  luiid  calls,  some  of  which  resembled  those  ul'  M/iiiir- 
chus  ciiirrascnin.  while  utiiers  were  'almost  T!iraslier-like.'  Its  food  seemed  to 
consist  largely  of  lieetles.  (  hi  .fnne  27  a  nest  was  foimd  at  ( "amp  L<iwell.  '  Moth 
parents  wei-e  distinctly  seen  and  positividy  ideiititied.  The  nest  was  in  an  old 
Woodpe 'ker's  hole  in  a  giant  cactus,  ait(viit  IS  feet  from  the  ground.  It  \\:i> 
lined  witii  soft,  dowiu'  wee(l  ^ee(ls,  and  contained  two  \oung  just  liatclie(l  and 
an  addled  r^X'^!:-'  The  egg.  imfortimateh-.  is  so  liailix'  broken  tlial  accurate  meas- 
urements are  impossible,  Init  an  apjiroximatioii  would  be  1.04  i)\'  0.74  inches.  In 
gronml  color  and  markings  it  (dosidy  resemliles  the  eggs  of  M/)iiin-lins  rri)iifi)s, 


TlUi;  ARIZONA. CKKHTKl)  PLYCATCIIKH. 


2()r) 


the  shell  beinj;  a  dull,  clayey  bufV,  ovor  which  are  nuiiu'roiis  louf,''itu(linal  lines 
niul  (liiHhoH  lit  purplish  in-own  or  lavender.  These  niarkinjis  arc  pretty  evenly 
(listrihutcd,  lint  arc  coarsest  at  the  larger  end  of  the  cj;'^."' 

Ml'.  Stephens  has  kindly  fnrnifhed  ine  with  some  additional  notes  on  this 
snhspccies,  and  says-:  "'i'hc  Arizona  Cri'.-ted  P'lycatcher  s<'enis  to  lirced  only  in 
tile  fiiant  cactus,  anil  is  rather  connnon  in  certain  localities.  A  set  of  li\e  e^'^s, 
tal\en  .May  '24,  1SS4,  near  ("amp  Lowt'M,  was  found  in  an  old  WoodjiecUer's  hole 
in  an  arm  of  a  <;iant  cactus,  "JO  feet  from  tlui  ji'round.  The  feiiiale  was  on' the 
nest,  ai:d  was  shot.  Incuhation  had  just  conuneiieed.  The  nest  was  lined  witli 
hail'  of  \arioi.is  liinds,  mixed  with  hits  of  snake  and  Tizard  skin." 

Mr.  W.  Iv  D.  Scott  also  met  with  this  Flycatcher  alxait  Tucson,  Florence, 
Riverside,  and  in  the  foothills  of  the  Catalina  Mountains,  uj)  to  about  4,r)(H)feet. 
He  states:  "In  t]ie  Catalinas,  altitude  4,000  feet,  this  subspecies  arrives  about 
April  20,  and  remains  until  late  in  Au<;ust  or  early  in  September.  T  found  a 
ni'st  at  this  jjoiiit  built  in  a  deserted  Woodpecker's  hole  in  a  dead  sNCiimore  stul). 
It  was  entirely  similar  in  construction  to  that  of  Miisiinijid  rriiiitiis.  even  to  the 
traditional  snake  skins,  and  contained  live  e^'j;s  nearly  ready  to  be  hatched,  very 
similar  to  those  of  Miisc'iaifxi  cr'ni'ihis,  save  that  they  are  a  little  larji'cr.  Ihit 
one  brood  is  reared  in  the  Catalina  refi'ion."'- 

From  three  to  five  e<;'ys  seem  to  constitute  a  set.  Nidification  commences 
sometimes  during- the  latter  part  of  May,  liut  more  freipiently  in  tiie  i)e^iniiin.n' of 
•lime.  .Fudji'iiifi'  from  the  oiilv  s|)eciineii  in  tlie  Unitt'd  States  National  .Miiseimi, 
the  Q\i\r  ot'  the  Arizona  ("rested  Flvcatciier  ri'stMubles  that  of  Mi/iiirchiis  nii.ri- 
{'(iiiiis  closer  than  that  of  Mi/iiitrliiis  criiuhis.  It  is  not  as  heavily  marked  as  the 
avi-raj^'c  ejiji's  of  the  latter;  tiie  jiTound  color  is  more  of  a  creamy  buff;  tile  maik- 
iiiffs  are  not  (piite  so  profuse,  and  resemble  those  of  the  first  more. 

The  only  e}i'<f  of  this  subspecies  in  tlu^  United  States  National  Museum 
collection  is  the  fioured  type,  No.  2,"iliir)  (I'l.  l',  V'v^.  12).  This  was  taken  liv 
Dr.  A.  K.  Fisliei',  dune  12,  1S!)2,  on  Killito  (Jreek,  near  Tucson,  Arizona,  from 
an  old  Woodpecker's  hole  in  a  j;iaiit  cactus,  about  S  feet  from  tlie  j;romid.  'i  he 
nest  contained  one  youiiji-  iiird  just  out  of  the  shell,  tlirt'c  ejiji's  on  the  point  of 
hatchiuf;-,  and  an  addled  ejij;-,  the  only  one  that  could  lie  saved;  this  me.isures 
20.6;")  by  lS.o;{  millimetres,  or  1.01  by  0.71  inches,  and  is  elliptical  ovjite  in 
shape.     The  shell  is  stron<i',  feels  siiiootii  to  the  touch,  and  is  somewhat  j;'loss\'. 

1  Bulletin  Nnlt.ill  Oniill.c.loiiicMl  (  liil..  Vol.  V  11,  1SHL>.  p.  L'i«. 
"Tlitj  Auk,  Vol.  IV,  1887,  pp.  17,  IK 


1 

1 

ll 

\\ 

It 

n 

•  L 

i;' 

. 

il 

fil: 


l^- 


260 


LIFE  lllSTOitlES  OF  NOUTll  .AMEUIUAN  HIKIKS. 


"i! 


ill 


98.     Myiarchus  cinerascens  Lawkknck. 

ASIl-TIII!()ATi;i)  I'LVCATCIIKli. 

Tyraniiula  cinerascens  Lawkencio,  Annals  Lyceum  of  Niituriil  History,  New  York,  V, 

1851,  liil. 
^JyiarchiiH  eiiicriiiicenii  IjWvnEUCi',,  Annals  Lycenin  ol"  Natural   History,  New  YfU'k,  VII, 

May,  ISOO,  -'85. 

(1!  i.n,  c  248,  It  aia,  c  375,  u  454.) 

(iKftOKArJiicAT.  RAN(ii;:  Western  Fnited  States;  noitli  to  sontliern  Oregon,  Nevada, 
Utah,  and  sontliern  (Colorado:  east  to  New  Mexieo  and  southwestern  Texas;  south  throuKh 
Aii/ona  and  Lower  Oalitbrnia,  and  over  the  table-lands  of  Mexico;  in  winter  to  Guatenuila, 
t'entral  America. 

Witliin  till'  ITnited  8tates  the  Asli-tliroatod  Flyentclu'r  is  only  a  sumiTipr 
resident,  iiinl  its  l)rcc(liiij^'  and  ^reonrnplijcji]  raiiji'e  correspond.  It  retnriis  t'roni 
its  winter  haunts  in  (Jiiateniala  and  soutliorn  Jrexieo  to  soutlnvestern  'I'exas  iuul 
sontliern  Arizona  alxnit  the  hef>innin<i'  of  March,  and  readies  the  more  northern 
points  of  its  run<4-e  aljont  a  niontli  hiter.  (!liniatic  conditions  do  not  se<!in  to 
affect  tile  Asli-throated  Flycatcher  to  any  extent,  for  it  is  us  much  at  lioine 
ill  tile  mountain  fastnesses  of  the  southern  Sierra  Ne^■adas,  wliere  Lieutenant 
IJeiisun  f(!und  it  Imnidine  commonly  in  the  Seipioia  National  Park,  in  Tulare 
County,  California,  at  an  altitude  of  11,000  feet,  as  in  Death  Valley,  probahly 
the  hottest  i)lace  in  tlu^  United  States,  where  a  ])air  of  these  l)irds  were  seen  at 
Furnace  (!reek,  oil  June  21,  1S!)1,  by  Dr.  \.  K.  Fisher.  It  is  fairly  common 
at  Redding  and  Baird,  in  Shasta  County,  and  at  Reil  Hlutf,  'IVIiama  ('ounty, 
California,  and  itiaiihes  ai)out  the  northern  limits  of  its  hreedino-  range  in 
southern  iJreg'«in,  wlure  it  is  rare.  1  found  a  single  nest  of  this  species  contain- 
ing live  young  birds  about  ten  days  old,  in  a  natural  cavity  in  a  juniper  tree 
near  Camp  Harney,  Oregon,  on  dune  20,  1876,  but  they  appear  to  be  very  rare 
there,  as  no  others  were  noticed. 

The  Ash-throated  Flycatcher  is  ratlier  retiring  in  its  habits,  and  is  oftener 
heard  than  .seen.  In  the  vicinity  of  Tucson,  Arizona,  in  tlu^  season  of  1S72,  I 
found  it  quite  common  and  e.xamined  a  number  of  nests.  Their  favorite  haunts 
were  the  denser  mesquite  thickets  in  the  creek  bottoms,  oak  groves  along  hill- 
sides, and  tlu^  shrubbery  in  canyons  leading  down  from  the  mountains,  but  I 
;dso  saw  them  occasionally  on  (Ik*  moi-e  open  plains  covere(|  with  straggling 
mes(pi.ite  trees  and  patches  of  cliolla  and  other  species  of  cacti.  It  is  not  nearly 
as  noisy  a  bird  as  Mji'iarrliHs  crhiituK,  but  otherwise  resembles  it  in  its  general 
liid)its.  Its  pi-inci])al  call  note  is  a  clear  "liuit,  liuit,"  a  number  of  times 
repeated,  which  sounds  very  much  like  the  ordinary  call  of  the  l'hn'niii}w})l<i ;  it 
also  nUers  some  low,  whistling  notes  which  are  not  at  all  disagreeable  to  tlu;  ear. 
In  the  spring  of  1S72  it  liecame  alinndant  aliout  the  latter  half  of  ^larch,  and 
severi'l  of  tliest;  birds  might  be  seen  chasing  each  o'-her  througii  the  mesipiite 
forests  in  almost  every  direction,  within  a  few  liundreil  yards  oi"  my  camp  on 
Rillito  Creek,  but  niditieatiuu  did  not  appear  to  begin  till  near  tlie  end  of  May. 


f 


THE  ASllTniJOATEI)  FLYCATCHEU. 


367 


Tlie  Asli-tliroiitod  Flycatclier  is  (jitito  expert  on  the  wiiiff,  but  never  indnlfres 
ill  protnicteil  Hiji'lits  it'  it  ciin  li(!l|)  it.  It  seems  to  ho  rather  (luarrelsoiiie  and 
intolerant  in  its  (lis])osition  toward  other  l)irils,  and  will  not  allow  any  to  nest  in 
dose  proximity-,  in  tact,  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  it  not  int'reriiiently  dispos- 
sesses some  of  the  smalltM'  Woodpeckers,  like  Drifohdlis  scalaris  hoirdi,  of  itH 
nestinfi'  sites,  as  1  have  found  its  nests  on  two  occasions  in  newly  excavated 
holes,  the  fresh  chips  lyin<:>'  at  the  base  of  the  tree,  showing  plainly  that  they 
had  only  recently  l)een  removed. 

Its  I'odd  consists  mainly  of  beetles,  Ijuttei-flies,  ijrnsshoppors,  flies,  moths, 
and  occasidiwdlv  ()f  l)erries,  especiallv  thost;  of  a  sjjecies  of  mistletoe  (a  pnriisitic 
plant)  jjTowinj;'  abundantly  on  many  of  the  trees  found  in  southern  Arizona. 

Hy  the  be<;inning  of  May  most  of  the  birds  are  mated,  and  nidification 
begins  shortly  afterwards.  Tlie  nests  are  usually  jdaced  in  knot  holes  of  mcs- 
(jiiite,  iish,  oak,  sycamore,  jmiiper,  and  cottonwood  trees,  as  well  sis  in  cavities  of 
old  stumps,  in  Woodpeckers'  holes,  and  occasionally  behind  loose  pieces  of  bark, 
in  the  manner  of  the  Creepers.  On  two  occasions,  near  Tucson,  I  found  the 
Ash-throated  Flycatcher  using  abandoned  nests  of  the  Cactus  Wren,  and  Mr.  A. 
W.  Antli.)ny  found  them  nesting  in  the  dry  blossom  stalks  of  the  yucca  and  Af/dif 
iiiiiiricdiKi  in  southwestei-n  New  Mexico.  They  also  nested  in  similar  localitii's  in 
Lower  California,  in  the  San  I'edro  Martir  Mountains,  where  he  observed  them 
Mt  nltituiles  of  !l,()t)()  feet.  In  a  letter  dated  duly  S,  1S1I4,  he  informs  me  that  this 
l''lycatcher  was  the  most  connnon  species  about  his  camp  south  of  San  (k)uentin, 
I. ower  California, and  that  many  n(!sted  there. fis  well  as  about  tlit^  Mission  of  Sun 
Fernando,  in  holes  made  by  Woodpeckers  in  the  giant  cactus.  Mr.  II.  1'.  Attwiiter 
repoi'ts  this  liird  as  conunon  about  iSan  Antonio,  Texas,  and  in  this  locality  it 
reiU'hes  al)out  the  eiistern  limit  of  its  range  in  the  (niteil  States,  Mr.  Robert 
h'idgway  met  with  it  in  various  placs  in  Nevada,  and  iis  far  e;ist  iis  tiio  AVasatch 
Moiuitaiiis  in  I'tah. 

The  .Vsh-tiu'oati'd  Flycatcher  uests  at  various  heights  from  the  ground, 
rarely,  however,  at  greater  distiinces  than  "JO  feet.  The  nest  vai'ies  consider- 
Ml)ly  in  l)ulk  according  to.  tiie  size  of  the  cavity  used.  Where  this  is  large, 
tia'  bottom  is  Idled  uj)  with  small  weed  stems,  rootlets,  grass,  and  l)its  of  dry 
cow  or  horse  maiuire,  and  on  this  foundation  the  nes^  proper  is  built,  'i'his 
consists  principally  of  a  felted  iiuiss  of  hair  and  fur  from  dill'ei'eiit  iinimals,  and 
occiisionalK'  of  exuvia'  of  siiid<es  ami  siuidl  lizanls;  iiut  these  iiiiiterials  m'e  not 
iiciU'ly  as  generaliv  used  iis  in  tlie  nests  of  our  eastern  ('rested  FKciitcher — in 
fact,  it  is  tile  exception  and  not  the  rule  to  tiiiu  .-micIi  reuiiiins  in  their  nests. 
.\Miong  about  litteen  nests  of  this  species  examined  by  myself  1  only  found  it  in 
tle'ce  cases.  As  nearly  as  1  have  l)een  abh'  to  observe,  1  tiiink  the  female  does 
liMst  of  the  work  on  the  nest,  but  the  male  follows  her  around  while  in  search  of 
material,  iind  a])parently  guards  and  sings  to  her.  I  have  known  a  pair  of  tlies<! 
))irds  to  finish  a  nest  in  one  day.  This  was  placed  in  a  knot  hole  in  a  mesipiite 
stu'u]),  alxiut  (S  feet  from  the  ground,  and  composed  entire!  v  of  deer  hair.  Some  of 
my  Indian  guides  had  dressed  a  couple  of  skins  near  l)y,  and  this  fuinished  the 


.liii 


A 


in 


li 


\y  I. 


1]!|;.!' 


2(58 


\AVK  IIIHTOKIKH  OF  NOItTII  AMKIMCAN   lUIlDS. 


h'wih  ill!  .ihimdiint  supply  of  sultiiMc  Imildin^  nuitcrinl,  <>(  wliirli  tlicy  prouipflv 
a\ail()(l  tlu'iiisolvcH.  Wliih^  tlu'  \vi\\U  in  sdiik^  iirsts  iirc  thick  iiiiil  wi-ll  lined,  in 
otliorH  tlioro  is  but  littlo  iittcnipt  nt  lininiic  tlio  Hides  of  tlio  ciivity,  mid  only  a 
small  anioinit  of  liuir  is  placed  in  the  liottoni  of  tli(^  liolo  on  which  the  eji'^'s  arc* 
deposited.  It  d(>pends  entirely  on  the  ainotmt  of  room,  and  it  is  snrprisinj;'  how 
little  space  is  really  recpiired  l>y  them  in  wiiicli  to  rear  a  family.  The  iimer  cup  of 
a  well-preserved  nest  of  this  l'"lycatcher,  |(laced  in'hind  a  loose  piece  of  hark  of  an 
old  Cottonwood  stump,  measures  aliout  2\  inches  in  diameter  l)y  2  inches  in  depth. 
'I'he  walls  of  this  nest  are  composed  exclusi\('ly  of  cattle  hair,  which  is  well 
(piilted  toiretlier  and  forms  a  fairly  stronj;  felt.  The  hase  is  formed  of  dry  jyrnss 
roots,  and  it  was  placed  iietweeii  the  soft  inner  and  tiie  outer  l)ark  of  the  tree, 
which  kept  it  intact  and  held  itfirndy  in  position. 

1  discovered  the  first  nest  of  this  species  in  a  dense  piece  of  mesquite  woods 
on  Mav  ■_*(;,  1S72,  and  between  this  date  and  .Inne  24  1  found  lifteen  others,  with 


mil  several  witn  \inm 


th 


bird 


s,  son 


le  of  these  beiuti' full \  tledt'cd.      Not  one  of 


tliese  nests  contained  more  tlian  four  eji'^js,  (piite  a  nuiMl)ei' only  tiu'ee,  and  I  do 


not  I 


H'heve 


that 


more 


th 


n  on(>  lirood.is  raiseii  m  a  seaso 


attends  to  thi*  duties  of  incnbatit 


111.     'i'lu!  female,  1  tliink, 
■xchisivch',  which  lasts  aliont  iifteen  da\s. 


HI  I 


le  is  not  a  cl()S(;  sitter,  and  often  leaves  tiie  nest  for  hour? 


,esi)eciall\-  dnrm 


;;th 


heat  of  the  day,  but  ronuiins  close  liy.     The  younji'  are  fed  on  tlu^  soft  portions 
of  insects,  and  leave  tlu^  nest  in  about  two  weeks,  followiufj'  the  parents  about  for 


line  time  before^  thev  are  able  t 


o  can 


tor  tl 


emseixcs. 


This  Khcatcher  leave: 


for  its  winter  home  aixmt  the  latter  part  of  Se|tt<iid)er. 

'V]\i'  number  of  ejj-fi-s  to  a  xet  ranjj'es  from  three  to  six,  lint  sets  of  the  latter 
nuinl)er  are  very  rare;  four  are  more  fre(piently  found;  iind  an  e;;;;'  is  deposited 
daily.  The  ^iroimd  color  varies  from  a  lijilit  <'reain  to  a  jiinkish  liutl,  and  tliis  is 
covered  more  or  less  profusely  with  fine  lonj;itudinal  streaks  and  liair  lines  of 


lark 


iiiriile  ;in< 


1  hi 


1  vender,  rarel\-  \\  ith  larn'e,  ii 


jjfeneral  pattern  ( 


rej^ularly  sliaped  iiiofciies,  Tiie 
of  these  niaiikinjis  is  finer  tiiaii  in  the  ej:'<is  of  Mi/inrdnis  <ilinliis, 
and  the  majority  can  be  readily  distiiifiuished  fidiii  those  of  the  latter,  lint  not  so 
easil\-  troin  the  lij^hter-colored  types  i)^  Mji'idirlnis  nic.iicdinis.  In  shape  tlu^y 
vary  from  ovate  to  elliptical  ovate.     Th,'  shell  is  line-uTiiiiu'd,  rather  .stronji',  and 


ifi'htly  ^'lossy. 


The  averajre  measurement  of  fifty-fi»ur  efynrs  in  the  rnitiMl   States  National 


y\ 


useu 


m.  colhiction  is  22.40  bv  l(!..''tl  ir.illimetres,  or  alxiiit  O.SS  1)\-  O.6.")  incii. 


The  larj;-est  ejj'fi' of  the  series  measures  2.'<.SH  by  17.7.S  millimetres,  or  0.114  liy 
0.70  inch;  tlu^  smallest,  20.;i2  liy  1.5.24  millimetres,  or  O.SO  by  O.CO  inch. 

The  type  s])eciinen,  No.  2,521  H  (1*1.  2  V\'^  li!, ,  is  from  a  set  of  five  efrpfw. 
and  was  taken  by  First  IJent.  TIarrv  ''.  Heiisoii,  I'liited  States  Army,  in  Sequtiia 
National  Park,  Tulare  County,  California,  un  May  2a,  1892. 


NU'lTINd'S  I'LYCATCIIKU.  2()5) 

gg.     Myiarchus  cinerascens  nuttingi  (ItiDuwAv). 

NiriTiM.s  i'i,v(AT(jiii:n. 

MiliiitrlniH  nitltiniji  IllDdWAY,  I'lococdiiifis  IT.  H.  Niitiriiml  Must'iiin,  V,  I.S82,  .■t!»4. 
Mjliiii-vhiin  viitfranvviin  iiitlliniii  Allen,  itullutiu  Ainericnii  Miisuiitti  Xatiiral  History,  IV, 
DtMriiilicr,  IHitl.',  ■•IKf. 

(1!  l.H,  pint;  (!  L't8,  part;  HM.i,  \mvt;  (!.I75,  pint;  11  l,j|((.) 

<ll':<>(iRAi>iiii'\L  it\N<ii;:  Aii/imii  niid  soiilliward  tliruu;;h  western  Mi'xico;  in  wiiitur 
to  (.'ostii  l{l('a,<'t'iilriil  AiiiL'rifii. 

Niittiii;;'s  l''l\  rjiri'licr  lias  only  recently  i)eeii  adileil  tii  our  avifauna.  Dr. 
A.  K.  Fishei',  wliile  on  a  coilet'tinii' trip  tliron;;!)  .Vrizona,  tor  the  I'niti'il  States 
Deiiartineiit  of  Ai;ricnltin"e,  in  the  sprin;;-  and  sinnnu-r  oi'  ls;i-_*,  stopped  a  lew 
days  at  'I'ncson  and  visited  Uillito  ('nsek,  ou  .Jinie  12,  IHICJ,  in  eoinpany  with 
Mr.  ilerliert  l?rown.  who  acted  as  jiuide.  While  ili'iv'n;.;'  aliont  anion;;'  the  ;;ioves 
of  niesipiite  and  ^iant  cactus  a  Flycatcher  was  ihished  from  an  (dd  Wood- 
pecker's hole  in  a  ;;iant. cactus.  The  liird  was  securetl,  as  widl  as  u  stit  of  four 
fresh  cfi'^s.  On  comparing'  the  specimen  with  tim  type  in  the  United  States 
National  Mus(!um,  it  |troved  to  lie  Mi/iiuihiis  r/«('/v^s(77^v  initfiiif/i,  a  small  southern 
representatise  of  Mi/i(ii<liiis  ciiicni.so'iis,  not  yet  recorde(l  fi'om  the  I'nited  States. 

Sul».se(piently  Mr.  J.  .Mden  Lorin^-  took  another  female  at  I'rescott,  Arizona, 
on  dime  22;  ami  in  the  V.  S.  Department  of  A^^riculture  collection  there  is  still 
another  .specimen,  taken  liy  Mr.  Vcrnoii  liailoy  at  Oracle,  xVrizuna,  June  Ifj, 
18H!).' 

As  yet  little  is  known  alxmt  the  ran^o  and  <!reneral  habits  (.f  this  suh- 
species,  but  it  would  appear  from  the  above  that  it  is  pretty  generally  distributed 
over  at  least  the  southern  half  of  this  territory,  ami  the  most  surprising'  thin;;'  is 
that  it  has  been  o\-erlooke(|  so  Ion;;'.  It  probably  differs  but  sli;;'htly  in  its  food 
and  call  notes  from  the  other  mendiers  of  the  genus  Mi/iunliiis,  ami  its  nestin;;' 
habits  seem  likewise  to  be  similar. 

Its  nest,  wdiich  in  construction  res(Mnblos  that  of  the  precedin;;'  species,  was 
placed  in  an  (dd  ^\'oodpecker"s  lude  in  a  ;;'iant  cactus,  about  4  feet  from  the 
;;round,  and  contained  four  fresh  e;;';;s.  These  do  not  materially  dill'er  in 
ap[)earance  from  the  e;'';;'s  of  the  Ash-throated  Flycatcher,  'i'hey  are  (dliptica! 
ovate  in  shape,  and  measure  2  b;58  by  17.02,  24.18  by  IC.Ki,  24.,S!J  by  17.02, 
and  2.'5.««  by  17..");{  millimeter.s,  or  0.'J(i  hy  U.(i7,  O.'J'j  l)y  ().(J(;,  O.DS  by  ().(i7,  and 
U.U4  by  O.dlJ  inch. 

The  type  specimen,  Xo.  2.")r.i|  (I'l.  2,  1''!;^'.  14),  is  the  last  one  whose  meas- 
urement is  ;;'i\en,  and  was. taken  as  alri-aily  stated. 


'  Suu  I'hu  Auk,  \  ul.  IX,  1»'J3,  p.  3\H. 


♦' '  1 


'  ■! 

'4 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


lii|28     125 

f  1^  IS 

^  u&  lllllio 


1.8 


1.25     u  |i.6 

■• 6"     

► 

V 


7] 


Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WIST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  873-4S03 


■> 


,<>l 


5 


ii 


i 


It  */  • 

mi- 


270  LIFE  HISTOUIES  OF  NOUTII  AMERICAN  BIEDS. 

100.    Myiarchus  lawrenceii  (Giraud). 

LAWRKNCK'S  FLYCAT(;iIEK. 

Muscicapa  lawrenceii  OiKAt'D,  Sixteen  Si»ecies  of  Texas  Birds,  1841,9  (by  actual  counting, 

the  test  not  being  pagi-d). 
Myiarchus  laicrenoeii  liAiKD,  ISirds  of  North  America,  1858, 181. 

(IJ  133,  (J  248,  It  314,  C  370,  U  [455].) 

Oeoobaphical  range:  Eastern  Mexico;  north  to  the  lower  Uio  Grande  Valley,  in 
Texas;  south  to  Uuateuiala,  Central  America. 

Lawrence's  Flycatcher  holds  u  place  in  our  avifauna  on  Giraud's  record 
from  the  htwer  Uio  Grande,  m  Texas,  but  it  has  not  since  been  obtained  there 
by  any  of  the  numerous  collectors  who  have  visited  this  region.  At  best  it  (^an 
only  be  regarded  as  a  rare  straggler  within  our  borders.  Although  a  coninion 
species  in  many  parts  of  eastern  Mexico,  very  little  has  been  written  about  its 
general  habits,  which  probably  differ  but  .slightly  from  those  of  its  somewhat 
better-known  western  representative,  Myianhus .Uiwrencei  olivascem. 

There  is  a  short  reference  to  the  eggs  of  this  species,  in  the  "  Proceedings 
of  the  ZooU)gical  Society  of  London,  186'J"  (p.  384),  based  on  specimens  vaken 
by  M.  A.  Boucard,  at  Talca,  Oaxaca,  Mexico.  They  are  described  as.i)ure  white, 
with  spots  of  two  sha<les  of  brown,  jjrincipally  toward  the  larger  end,  where  they 
form  a  ring,  and  measure  0.70  by  0.525  inch. 

I  doubt  this  ideii(ification,  for  so  far  as  known  none  of  the  genus  Myiarchus 
lay  eggs  in  which  the  ground  color  can  l)e  called  i)ure  white,  ^md  their  small 
size  also  renders  it  probable  that  they  are  not  of  this  species. 

loi.     Myiarchus  lawrencei  olivascens  Ridgway. 

OLIVACEOUS  FLYCATCHER. 

MyiarchuK  lawrencei  olimseen»  KiDOWAY,  Proceetlings  liiological  Society,  Washington,  II, 
April  10,  1884,  »1. 

(H  _,  C  — ,  It  — ,  C  — ,  U  455o.) 

Geographical  range:  Western  Mexico;  north  to  southern  Arizojia;  south  in 
winter  to  southern  Mexico,  including  Yucatan.    Accidental  in  Colorado. 

This  interesting  subspecies,  which  is  the  smallest  of  the  Mijinrrhi  found 
within  our  borders,  was  first  discovered  as  a  summer  resident  in  tiie  8anta  Uita 
Mountains,  Arizona,  close  to  the  Mexican  boundary  line,  by  Mr.  V.  Stt^plu-ns,  in 
the  spring  of  1881,  and  added  to  our  fauna  by  Mr.  William  Brewster  shortly 
afterwards.' 

Mr.  Stejjhens  sent  me  the  following  notes  on  the  Olivaceous  Fl\  catcher: 
"  1  have  seen  this  bird  only  in  the  Santa  Uita  Mountains,  where  it  is  conunon.  I 
have  taken  iiKuibating  females  in  May  and  June,  but  never  saw  their  eggs. 

>  Uullvtin  uf  the  NuttuU  Uruilliolugicul  L'liib,  Vul.  VI,  1881,  p.  iai. 


ii'-SMi 


^ip: 


THE  OLIVACEOUS  FLYCATCHER. 


271 


I  suppose  they  breed  in  knot  lioles,  Woodpecker's  liolcs,  etc.,  and  I  opened 
many  such  where  they  were  present,  l)ut  found  no  ejjjjfs,  and  but  tme  hole  that 
seemed  to  be  occupied  by  them;  this  was  an  old  Woodpecker  hole  well  lined 
with  liair." 

Mr.  William  Brewster,  in  a  paper  on  Arizona  ])ird8,  Ijased  on  material 
collected  by  Mr.  Stei)hen8,  makes  the  following  olwervations:  "This  pretty 
Mifiarchiis,  scarcely  lar<^er  than  our  common  Ph«jebe,  was  met  with  only  among 
the  Santa  Rita  Mcmntains,  where  it  was  apj)arently  not  uncommon,  although  its 
disti'ibution  seemed  to  be  very  local,  mt»st  ci"  Stephens's  specimens  being  taken 
in  a  single  canyon.  They  haunted  the  banks  of  streams,  perching  on  dead 
limbs,  and  taking  frecpient  flights  after  insectc.  The  only  note  heard  was  a 
short,  mournful  'jjeeur.'  No  nests  were  foimd,  but  a  female,  shot  May  17,  was 
laying."' 

Since  then  the  Olivaceous  Flycatcher  has  also  been  taktjii  in  the  ITuachuca 
Mountains  by  Lieut.  II.  C!.  Hen.son,  United  States  Army,  iw  well  as  by  Dr.  A. 
K.  Fisher,  who  tells  me  that  they  frecjuent  the  low  scrub  oaks  in  the  canyon 
bottoms,  where  they  ue  moderately  common  in  both  these  and  the  Chiricahua 
Mountaiuf.  Mr.  W.  K.  I).  Scott  likewise  obtaiiuxl  specinunis  in  a  canyon  of 
the  Catalina  Mountains,  at  an  altitude  of  rt,(lOO  feet,  on  .lune  13,  1S84;  and  a 
■  .'figgler  has  also  been  recorded  from  Colorado,  taken  by  Cajit.  1*.  M.  Thome, 
Twoii  •  -oo>"^nd  Infantry,  Unit<*d  States  Army,  near  Fort  Lyon,  May  11,  1884. 
Its  K^.  ling  range  evidently  extends  through  the  mountain  regions  of  southern 
Arizona,  wher.)  it  appears  to  be  confined  to  the  luimerous  canyons,  whose  bot- 
toms and  sides  are  covered  with  low  shrubbery;  it  seems  to  avoid  the  larger 
river  valleys  and  the  open  cactus  and  mesijuite  covered  plains. 

The  late  (.'ol.  A.  .J.  (}rayson  says :  "  This  little  Flycatcher  is  very  abundant 
in  the  Mi'rias,  where  I  met  with  them  every  day  in  all  parts  of  the  woods. 
The  islands  nmst  be  their  most  natural  and  favorite  abode."" 

Nothing  positive  seems  to  be  known  about  the  eggs  of  the  Olivaceous  Fly- 
catcher. There  is  a  set  of  tour  eggs  in  the  Uuite«l  States  National  Museum 
collection.  No.  13327,  taken  by  Dr.  E.  Palmer,  near  Camp  Grant,  Arizona,  in 
18G7,  entered  as  Myiarchns  imxiraHus,  which  I  believe  belong  to  this  subspecies. 
They  resemble  the  eggs  of  tlus  Ash-throated  Flycatcher  very  closely,  but  are 
somewhat  smaller  than  tlu;  averagt^  egg  of  this  species. 


'Hullotln  Xiittftll  OrnithciloBiciil  C'liib,  Vol.  VII,  ISSa,  pp.  204,205. 
'PruccoiliugH  lioatoii  Suciety  uf  Nuturul  HiHtory,  1871,  p.  278. 


r'l 


m 


■4m 


272 


LIFE  niSTOUlES  OF  NOltTU  AMERICAN  UIBUS. 


H 


1 


loa.     Sayornis  phcebe  (Latham). 

I'IKKIIK. 

MuHvimpa  phwbe  Latham,  Index  Oruithologiciil,  II,  171)0, 48U. 
Su>jiirni»  pkaibe  Ste.inehke,  Auk,  II,  Jiui.,  188r),r)l. 

{H  135,  (J  25;{,  It  315, 0  379,  U  456.) 

(lEOGKAPiiKAi.  i».an(1E:  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  New  Urunttwick  and  the 
Provinces  of  (juubec,  Ontario,  Manitoba,  Haskatt-hewaii,  and  Noutliern  Athabaw^a  to  (ireat 
Slave  Laiie,  Forts  Hae,  Hiii:;)8on,  and  Uenolution,  Northwest  Territory,  ]>oniinion  of  Canada; 
west  to  eastern  North  and  bouth  Dakota,  eastern  Nebra.ska,  Kansas,  the  Indian  T«u-rltory, 
and  western  Texas;  uasni'l  to  eastern  Coh>rado  and  British  (Jolunibia;  south  in  winter  to 
eastern  Mexi(u)  and  Cuba. 

The  Pluilu',  iilso  lociilly  known  as  tlie  "Pluubo  Hird,"  "I'ewee,"  "Hritlfri," 
"Bum,"  or  "ll(»us«!"  IV'weo,  "P«wit  Flycatclier,"  and  in  the  Piedmont  re<^ion  of 
South  Curolina  as  "Giiatcatcher,"  is  pretty  {generally  distributed  as  a  sunnner 
resident,  and  breeds  throu<>hout  all  the  States  eiist  of  the  ^[ississi|)|>i  River,  except- 
inj(  Florida  and  the  southern  portions  of  South  Candina,  Georj^ia,  Alabama, 
and  Mississippi,  where  it  is  only  found  in  the  mountainous  parts.  It  has  been 
recorded  as  breediuff  in  southern  Louisiana  and  juu-tions  of  Texas.  The  most 
southern  breedin^jf  records  I  have  been  able  to  find  are  those  <jiven  by  Dr.  Lev- 
erett  M.  Loomis,  in  Pickens  and  Greenville  counties,  8outh  Carolina,  in  ''The 
Auk"  (Vol.  VII,  l«itO,  p.  39,  and  Vol.  VIII,  18!)1,  j).  328);  by  lilr.  Frank  51. 
Coonis,  in  St.  Mary's  Parish,  Louisiana,  in  "The  Auk"  (Vol.  IX,  1H1)2,  p.  20.f)); 
and  by  Mr.  II.  P.  Attwater,  in  canyons  alonjjf  the  mountain  streams  in  the  hilly 
country  west  of  San  Antiaiio,  Texiis,  in  "The  Auk"  (Vol.  IX,  18i>2,  p.  23(;). 

Longitude  100°  (west  of  Greenwich)  marks  about  the  western  limits  of  its 
breeding  range  i?i  the  United  States,  but  in  the  Northwest  Temtory  it  reaches 
west  to  nearly  122^  at  Fort  Simp.son,  on  the  Mackenzie  River,  in  latitude  (!2^  12' 
N.,  where  Mr.  IJ.  U.  Ross,  «»f  the  Hudson  Ray  Comj)any,  obtained  a  ftMuale,  No. 
22G13,  ui  May,  1S(!1,  which  is  now  in  the  United  States  National  Museum 
collection.  This  point,  as  far  as  yet  known,  marks  both  tiie  westiM-n  ami  north- 
ernnuwt  limits  of  its  range.  Its  nests  and  eggs  have  al.so  been  talien  on  Lesser 
Slave  !.,ake,  in  southern  Atbaltasca,  by  Mr.  S.  .I«>nes;  and  near  Fort  Rae,  (Jreat 
Slave  Lake,  by  Mr.  R.  MacFarlane;  it  has  also  been  obtainetl  by  Mr.  James 
Lockliart,  at  Fort  Resolution;  and  Mr.  A.  McKay  found  the  Phu-lte  common 
about  Pelican  Narrows,  Keewatin,  in  June,  18511,  sending  several  .sets  of  eggs 
from  there  to  tiic  United  States  National  Museum  collection,  lie  says  in  his 
notes  accompanying  them  that  "here  they  build  in  natural  cavities  in  trees  and 
in  crevices  of  rocks.  The  Indians  call  tiiem  'Moose-ldrds,'  as  they  often  use 
m<u)se  hair  in  lining  their  nests;  they  lay  in  June,  and  are  very  bcdd  for  their 
siz«',  often  chasing  Hawks  and  Crows." 

Many  of  these  birds  remain  in  Florida  and  the  Southern  States  l)or<lering 
the  (Julf  i-oast  during  winter,  but  the  majority  pass  beyond  to  Cuba  and  eastern 
Mexico.     Their  flight  is  swift  and  strong  when  in  pursuit  of  an  enemy  or  while 


THE  riltEBli;. 


273 


ill  quest  of  food,  but  ordinarily  it  consiMtM  of  slow,  flutturin}i;  movements  from 
point  to  point,  especially  durin<f  tlio  nmtin<(  seiison,  and  it  is  then  never  protracted. 

Tlie  I'luebe,  like  our  e([ually  well-known  I{ol)in  and  Bluebird,  is  one  of  the 
first  migrants  to  return  from  its  winter  home,  and  is  ([uito  as  well  known  and 
fully  as  popular.  It  usually  arrives  in  our  Middle  States  during  the  first  half  of 
March,  and  a  little  later  farther  north,  although  occasional  stragglers  have  been 
observed  in  Maine  and  northern  New  York  during  the  first  week  in  this  month. 
The  males  pnM-ede  the  females  by  about  a  week  or  ten  days,  and  move  direct 
to  their  breeding  grounils;  mating  and  nest  building  usually  beginning  about  a 
month  later.  Few  of  our  native  birds  are  more  esteemed  than  the  Iiomely  and 
plainly  colored  I'ha'bc,  and  its  return  to  the  (dd  haunts  is  generally  looked  for 
with  pleasure  No  Ijird  is  more  attached  to  a  locality  once  chosen  for  a  nesting 
site,  and  no  reasonable  amount  of  annoyance  and  disturbance  will  cause  it 
ti>  foi*sako  its  old  home.  It  may  jjossibly  change  the  location  for  good  cause, 
but  if  it  does,  it  will  usually  select  another  in  the  iimnediate  vicinity.  It 
would  l)e  difficult  to  nanu*  many  native  birds  who  do  more  good  in  a  general 
way  and  less  harm  than  tiie  l'luel)e.  Its  foctd  consists  mainly  of  small  beetles, 
flies,  moths,  buttei-flies,  etc.,  of  which  it  destroys  an  enormous  number,  as  it  is 
scarcely  ever  at  rest,  dailing  after  ])assing  insects  and  catching  them  both  on  the 
wing  and  on  the  groimd.  It  seems  to  be  always  hungry,  and  invariably  finds 
room  for  an<»th('r  choice  moi-sel.  It  is  said  to  help  itself  occasionally  to  trout 
fry,  but  the  damage  caused  in  this  respect  nuist  be  very  trifling,  and  is  fully 
compensated  for  l)y  the  good  it  does  through  tiie  destruction  of  many  noxious 
insects;  and,  in  my  opinion,  it  deserves  the  fullest  protection.  After  the  berry 
season  c«>mmences  it  also  feeds  to  some  extent  in  sunnner  ou  raspberries,  straw- 
berries, mulberries,  and  p!)keberries,  and  in  winter  on  cedar  berries,  palmetto  ber- 
ries, smilax  berries,  and  wild  grapes.  It  is  one  of  the  most  restless  little  creatures 
I  know;  even  while  perching  ou  a  fence  i)ost,  the  gable  of  an  outbuilding,  or  a 
a  weed  stalk,  its  crest  is  often  raised  and  lowered,  its  tail  is  forever  twitching, 
and  it  appears  to  l»e  unable  to  remain  motionless  for  more  than  a  minute  at  a  time. 

Dr.  Ralph  tells  me  that  in  Florida  the  I'luebe  frecpU'ntly  alights  on  the 
backs  (tf  cattle  and  follows  them  around,  catchhig  the  flies  on  these  animals,  and 
tlutti'ring  above  them  in  search  of  in.sects.  Their  rather  plaintive  call  notes, 
given  by  most  writers  as  "plia-be,  pe-wee,  p)ie-be,"  and  "i)e-weet,"do  not  sound 
to  me  in  that  way;  they  appear  rather  to  apj)roach  the  words  "see-ln?c,  see- 
hec,"  Hud  are  sometimes  varietl  to  "see-bee,"  oi'  "see-wht'o,"  with  the  accent  ou 
the  last  syllable;  this  call  is  o(M'asi(»nally  followed  Ity  a  rattling  note.  Its  alarm 
note  sounds  like  "tchiik-tchiik,"  and  (hu'ing  the  mating  .season  the  male  indulges 
now  and  then  in  a  low,  twittering  warble.  It  utters  its  calls  very  frcnpiently 
and  persistently  in  the  early  spring  and  for  some  time  after  its  arrival,  but  less 
often  during  the  breeding  season,  when  the  cares  of  housekeeping  absorb  more 
of  its  time. 

Mr.  Kugene  I'.  Hickneil  makes  the  following  pertinent  comments  on  its 
song:  "It  is  one  of  those  which  appeal  to  the  sympathies  rather  than  to  the  ear, 


IIWUG— No. 


-i8 


ii 


I 


274 


LIF£  UISTOUIES  OF  NOUTU  AMEUIGAN  lilUUS. 


fully  making  up  in  sincerity  what  it  lacks  »)f  muHic.  Still  it  must  bo  relucttvntly 
ailniittod  that  later,  when  more  i^aceful  and  gifted  songHters  are  with  uh,  the 
plain  Phoebe  does  appear  a  trifle  luisophisticatod  and  its  notes  nmy  grow  monot- 
onous. Nevertheless,  their  jerky  character  seems  to  be  held  in  high  opinion  by 
their  author,  and  is  admirably  seconded  by  its  tail."* 

In  well-settled  sections  it  loves  to  frequent  outhouses,  bams,  etc.,  in  close 
proximity  tf »  human  habittitions  situated  near  springs,  etc. ;  here  it  becomes  very 
gentle,  tame,  and  confiding  when  not  molested.  I  have  frecpiently  seen  one 
alight  within  a  few  feet  of  my  head  and  fly  liack  and  forth  from  its  perch  after 
passing  insects,  as  undisturbed  as  if  1  had  not  been  there.  In  mountain  regions 
and  thinly  populated  tracts  it  is  often  found  about  rocky  cliffs,  along  water 
coiu'ses,  and  almost  invariably  near  the  point  where  a  bridge  spans  a  stream. 
The  Phujbe  is  the  earliest  of  our  Flycatchers  to  breed,  nidification  beginning 
sometimes  in  the  first  week  in  April,  but  ordinarily  not  much  before  May  1,  and 
in  the  northern  parts  of  its  range  rarely  before  June.  While  generally  of  an 
amiable  disposition  toward  other  birds,  often  nesting  in  close  proximity  to  the 
Barn  Swallow,  Robin,  and  Chimney  Swift,  it  will  not  allow  any  of  its  own  kind 
to  occupy  a  site  close  to  its  own,  fighting  them  persistently  until  driven  off,  and 
should  one  of  the  earlier  arrivals  presume  to  ap})ropriate  \U  old  nest,  war  is  at 
once  declared.  Such  a  case  is  recorded  in  the  "Scientific  American"  (April 
22,  1882,  p.  24.')),  by  Mr.  E.  H.  Davis,  of  Avon,  New  York,  who  writes  as 
follows:  "I  have  noticed  communications  in  late  issues  of  your  journal  upon 
the  subject  of  two  and  three  storied  birds'  nests.  Penuit  me  to  relate  the 
following,  which  I  will  personally  vouch  for.  Some  years  ago  a  Phoebe  Bird 
had  built  her  nest  on  a  small  projection  under  a  piazza  of  my  father's  house,  and 
occupied  the  place  for  several  successive  years  unmolested.  One  spring  a 
Robin  took  possession  of  it  before  the  anival  of  the  rightful  owner,  and  would 
not  give  it  uj).  The  quaiTel  between  the  birds  was  noted  by  the  members  of 
the  family,  but  nothing  more  was  thought  about  it  until  fall,  when  the  peculiar 
slia])e  of  the  nest  attracted  att(!ntion.  U|)on  examination  it  proved  to  bo  a 
double  nest,  one  built  upon  the  other,  and  in  the  lower  one  was  found  the 
vandal  Robin,  dead.  The  Pluvbe  Bird  had  built  another  nest,  completely 
inclosing  the  Robin,  and  reared  her  young  u})on  the  grave  of  her  enemy." 

The  same  psiir  of  birds,  apparently,  return  to  their  old  haunts  from  year 
to  year,  and  if  they  do  not  always  occupy  the  same  nesting  site,  they  usually 
select  one  near  by.  Occasionally  they  build  a  new  nest  on  the  top  of  the  old 
one,  and  this  is  sometimes  done  to  get  rid  of  Cowbirds'  eggs  that  may  have 
been  deposited  by  these  intruders,  but  ordinarily  they  do  not  appear  to  olyect 
much  to  such  additions,  and  care  for  them  as  faithfully  as  if  they  were  their 
own.  Their  favorite  nesting  sites  are  under  bridges  and  culverts,  even  when 
they  are  barely  large  enough  for  a  person  to  crawl  through,  provided  a  suit- 
able j)lace  can  be  found  on  which  to  place  the  nest;  next,  outbuildings,  such  as 
bams,  sheds,  etc.,  are  frequently  made  use  of;  jjorchos  of  houses,  window  sills, 

'The  Auk,  Vol.  II,  1885,  p.  254. 


TUB  PH(£BE. 


275 


etc.,  occasionally  furnish  suitable  sites;  overhanjjinjjf  rocky  shelves,  especially 
in  quarries,  upturned  roots  uf  trees  in  woods,  projecting  Itauks  of  small  streams, 
caves,  and  more  rarely  the  sides  of  open  wells  are  likewise  utilized  for  such 
jjurposes. 

Their  nests  vary  considerably  in  shape  as  well  as  in  the  manner  of  con- 
struction. If  attached  to  the  side  of  an  overhanjjing  rock,  it  is  neceswarily 
semicircular,  and  mainly  com))osed  of  mud  pellets  mixed  with  moss,  a  little 
f^rass,  and  occasionally  a  few  feathers,  somewhat  reseml)ling  the  nest  of  our  well- 
known  Barn  Swallow.  If  placed  on  •:  fiat  beam,  or  rafter,  or  on  top  of  a  post, 
it  is  circular,  and  sometimes  but  little  or  no  mud  is  used  in  its  consti'uction. 

A  well-preserved  nest.  No.  25587,  taken  by  Dr.  William  L.  Ralph,  near 
Floyd,  Oneida  County,  New  York,  on  May  17,  18'JO,  was  found  in  a  swampy 
part  of  a  large  wooded  tract,  about  5  feet  above  the  ground,  and  underneath  the 
roots  of  a  partly  overturned  tree;  the  upper  parts  of  the  roots  luid  fallen  over 
aud  the  nest  was  behind  this,  jjlaced  on  two  small,  swing-like  roots  that  crossed 
each  other  at  right  angles.  It  is  mostly  composed  of  mud  and  partly  covered  on 
the  outside  with  moss,  dead  leaves,  a  little  feni  down,  and  a  few  pieces  of  grass, 
and  lined  with  horsehairs,  tine  roots,  dry  mosses,  grasses,  etc.  It  measures  4^ 
inches  in  outer  diameter  by  4  inches  in  height,  the  inner  cup  being  2.J  inches 
across  by  IJ  inches  in  depth.  It  is  a  neat,  synunetilcal,  and  compactly  built 
structure. 

Mr.  J.  W.  Preston,  of  Baxter,  Iowa,  writes  me:  "A  pair  of  Phcdjes  have  a 
nest  on  a  post  in  our  bam,  just  below  tlie  hay,  over  the  feed  room,  to  which  tliey 
I'etuni  year  after  year,  having  varying  success  and  exhibiting  a  rare  jjci'sistence 
of  purpose.  One  season  the  eggs  were  destroyed  by  mice,  and  yet  a  second 
attempt  was  made,  i>nd  the  brood  came  off  rather  late.  Tiien  another  season 
tlie  young  died  in  the  nest  from  some  cause,  or  were  killed,  and  the  parents 
crowded  them  onto  the  outer  walls,  where  they  hung  for  more  than  a  year, 
seemingly  not  at  all  in  tlie  way  of  the  old  birds."  When  the  nest  is  repeatedly 
used,  tlie  old  inner  lining  is  iiu>stly  removed  and  replaced  l)y  new  material. 

Inculjation  lasts  about  twelve  days,  and  the  female  pert'orms  the  greater 
l)art  «)f  this  duty,  while  the  male  remains  in  tlie  vicinity  of  the  nest  on  the 
watch  for  j)ossible  intruders.  The  female  is  a  close  sitter  and  is  loath  to  leave 
her  nest.  Dr.  Ralph  tells  me  of  an  instance  where  he  found  a  Piurbe  sitting  on 
a  couple  of  eggs  and  a  small  pebble,  which  had  accidentally  fallen  into  the  nest 
and  cracked  sonie  of  the  eggs.  The  young  are  large  enough  to  leave  the  nest  in 
about  two  weeks,  and  a  second  brood  is  usually  reared  throughout  the  greater 
part  of  their  range. 

The  nestlings  are  fed  entirely  on  insect  food,  and  consume  an  enonnous 
(piantity  daily.  The  fenuile  I'arely  leaves  the  nest  to  go  any  considerable  distance 
to  gather  the  necessary  supplies,  but  the  male  makes  more  extended  excursions. 
I  have  observed  a  ])air  of  these  birds  feeding  their  young;  one  seemed  to  rojuire 
considerable  coaxing  to  take  the  jmtffered  morsel,  and  although  some  of  the 
others  clamored  loudly  for  it  the  parent  would  not  let  them  have  it,  ami  gently 
touched  the  sides  of  the  bill  of  the  sleepy  youngster  several  times  until  it  finally 


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276 


LIFE  IimTOUlES  UF  NUUTU  AMEltlCAN  UlUDS. 


(il>«iie«l  itH  miuidihU'H  to  ho  foil.  I  was  HtiiU(liii<r  within  4  foot  of  tho  ncut  all 
tho  tinm.  Tliu  iiiotli  of  the  nit  worm  seeiiis  to  Iju  oiiu  of  tlio  favorito  foods  of  the 
youiiff. 

Tiu)  Pluiiho  is  <HH»  of  tlie  last  of  our  Kly«'at('h«'rH  to  hsave  its  summor  lioiiio, 
usually  roinaiuiii};  in  our  Northern  Status  till  tlu)  lattur  |)art  of  Soptoinbcr,  and  in 
favorable  seasons  even  later.  Mr.  U.  M.  Kirhy  Smith  writes  me  from  Sewanee, 
'IViuiessee,  that  he  noticed  this  species  at  ditlerent  times  durin<r  the  months  of 
January,  February,  and  March,  and  beli«^ves  that  some  winter  there,  which  is 
([uite  i)rol)able,  as  numbei's  remain  in  Florida  and  the  Gulf  Coast  jyenerally 
throughout  this  season. 

The  number  of  ej^<^s  to  a  set  varies  from  three  to  ei<,'ht;  sets  of  five  are 
most  c(»nunonly  found,  while  the  extremes  are  very  rare;  an  ej;;}^  is  dei)osited 
(hiily,  and  the  l*h(ebe  is  not  infrecjuently  imposed  upon  by  the  Cowbird,  where 
this  pest  is  conunon.  There  are  several  sets  in  tho  United  States  Nati<»nal 
Museum  collection  containinjif  one  or  two  of  these  ])arasitic  eggs.  The  Phcebe's 
egg  is  usually  pure  white  in  color;  the  shell  is  ch)segrained,  smooth,  and 
moderately  glossy,  which  gradually  disa|)i»ears  in  time,  leaving  tho  shell  a  dull 
chalky  white.  Occasionally  some  of  these  eggs  aro  more  or  less  perceptibly 
Slotted,  with  a  few  specks  of  red<lish  brown  about  the  larger  end,  but  usually 
only  one  or  two  in  a  clutch  are  so  marked,  while  the  majority  of  sets  aro 
iimnaculate.     The  eggs  are  mostly  ovate  in  shaj)e. 

The  average  measurement  of  one  hundred  and  twelve  eggs  in  the  United 
States  National  Museum  collection  is  iK.Oo  by  14.48  millimetres,  or  0.75  by  0.57 
inch.  The  largest  egg  of  the  series  meas"res  20.32  by  14.il!>  millimetres,  or  0.80 
by  0.59  inch;  the  smallest,  l().7(i  by  13.72  millimetres,  or  0.(J()  by  0.54  inch. 

The  type  si)ecimen.  No.  25587  (IM.  1,  Fig.  28),  from  a  set  of  five  eggs  from 
the  llalpii  collection,  slightly  spotted,  was  taken  near  Floyd,  (hieida  County, 
New  York,  May  17,  18!K),  and  the  nest,  of  which  measurements  and  a  detailed 
description  have  been  given  above,  is  the  one  from  which  this  n'^}^  was  taken. 

103.     Sayornis  say  a  (Bonapakte). 

S.W.S  IMUEUK. 

Miigvicaim  Miiya  Honapaiitk,  Auici'icaii  Ornithology,  I,  16'S>,  'M. 
ISuyunuii  guyu»  liAlUD,  birds  o(°  North  America,  1858,  185, 

(H  13fi,  C  250,  R  31«,  (J  377,  U  457.) 

(iKOGEArniOAL  UANcii::  Western  North  America;  eastward  to  western  H;iskatchewaa 
and  Assiniboia,  Dominion  of  Canada,  and  in  tlio  United  States  to  easti'rn  Montana,  western 
South  Dakota  (!),  western  Nebraska,  western  Kansas,  and  western  Texas;  north  to  Fort 
Yukon,  Alivska,  and  Fort  Simpson,  Northwest  Territory,  Dominion  of  Canada;  south  to 
Lower  (California  and  through  Arizona,  New  Mexico,  and  western  Texas;  in  winter  to 
Puebla  and  Vera  Cruz,  Mexico.    Accidental  in  Massachusetts. 

Say's  I'lui'be,  a  somewhat  larger  binl  than  the  eastern  representativ*!  of 
this  gemis,  and  which  it  rejtlaces  in  western  North  America,  has  likewise  a  wide 
distribution,  the  northern  limits  of  its  breeding  riuigo  iu  Alaska  reaching  Avithiu 


1^ 


SAY'S  PIKEBB. 


277 


the  Arctic.  Circle.  Mr.  Luciou  M.  'riirnor  obtHiiUMi  Hcvoral  HpecimonH  noiir  Kort 
Yukon,  ill  iihoiit  liititiulo  <»7^  luirtli,  in  tlu»  latter  part  of  May,  187(5,  and  Mr. 
H.  U.  UoHH,  of  the  lliidrioii  Hay  Company,  took  it  at  Fort  SimpHon,  on  the  Mac- 
kenzie River,  in  .Inly,  1S(>I,  where  oin-  common  IMuehe  waH  also  found  l)y  liim. 
HkiiiH  from  both  places,  where  both  of  these  Hpeciert  are  known  to  breed,  are 
now  in  the  United  States  National  Museum  collection.  It  will  undoubtedly 
be  found  in  the  vast  interveniuj?  territory  north  of  our  Iwrder  and  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  in  Athabasca  and  Alberta,  as  it  is  reconled  from  western 
Saskatchewan  and  from  British  Columbia.  In  the  United  States  it  has  b«'en 
taken  at  various  ))oints  on  tin*  ejistern  slopes  of  tlm  Rocky  McMtntains,  l»ut  there 
it  appears  to  be  considerably  rarer  than  farther  wc^st.  Its  breeding  ranp^e  in  the 
United  States  is  coextensive,  with  its  geographi<-al  ranj^e,  exceptiuff  the  south- 
western ])arts  of  Texas. 

Say's  Pho'be  seems  to  be  more  at  home  in  rather  open  country,  and  is 
rarely  found  in  heavily  timbered  re<^ions;  still  it  occurs  in  such  localities 
at  times,  as  I  took  a  male  near  Fort  Klamath,  Orcfjon,  on  March  28,  18Hi{,  and 
saw  a  few  others  subseipicntly.  Durinff  my  various  wanderiufj^s  in  our  Western 
States  and  Territories  1  frenerally  found  Say's  Plucbe  rather  uncomuion,  except- 
ing at  Fort  Lapwai,  Idalxi,  where  several  pairs  were  breeding  within  tluf  limits 
of  the  garrison,  as  well  as  at  the  adjoining  Nez  IVrce  Indian  Agencj-,  and  I 
met  with  it  also  at  Fort  Custer,  Montana;  Camp  llaniev,  Oregon;  Forts 
C!olville  and  Walla  Walla,  Washington;  Cam))  Independence,  California;  an<l 
near  Tucson,  Arizona. 

Its  general  habits  and  actions  reseinlde  those  of  tlu>  eastern  I'ho'be;  like 
it,  it  is  one  of  the  earliest  sjn'ing  migrants  to  return  from  its  winter  haimts,  and 
it  is  ecpially  attache<l  to  its  old  home,  to  which  it  regularly  returns  from  yc^ar  to 
year.  It  ajjpears  to  be  nuich  more  tolerant  in  its  dispositi<tn  toward  other 
members  of  its  kind  than  the  I'luebe,  as  I  have  found  several  pairs  l)reediiig 
within  100  yards  of  each  other,  apparently  in  j)erfect  harmony.  Its  nuunuM- 
of  flight  is  also  similar,  but  its  ordinary  call  note  diflers  somewhat,  and  sounds 
really  pathetic;  a  jdaintive  "  i)hee-eur,"  fretiuently  repeated,  ex])resses  it  tol- 
erably well,  always  acconii)anied  with  a  twitch  of  the  tail  and  a  raising  and 
lowering  of  the  crest.  Resides  this  note,  during  the  mating  season  it  gives  vent 
occasionally  to  a  short,  phiintiv*',  twittering  warble.  I  consider  it  a  more  rest- 
le.ss  bird  than  the  I'luebe,  if  that  is  possible;  for  it  is  never  idle,  but  constantly 
darting  back  and  forth  from  its  perch  after  passing  insects,  which  form  the 
btdk  of  its  food  and  of  which  it  never  .seems  to  get  enough.  I  have  repeatedlj' 
seen  it  catching  good-sized  grasshop])ers  on  the  wing,  as  well  as  difterent  s|)ecies 
of  beetles,  flies,  moth.s,  and  buttei-flies.  It  has  a  habit  similar  ti>  the  Owls  of 
ejecting  the  indigestible  portions  of  its  food  in  the  shape  of  pellets.  My  atten- 
tion was  drawn  to  this  fact  by  oli.sorving  several  such  lying  on  the  porch  of  my 
(juarters  at  Fort  Lapwai,  Idaho,  where  a  pair  of  these  birds  nested  over  tin? 
door.  It  is  not  nearly  as  partial  to  localiti»'s  near  water  as  is  our  IMuebe,  and  it 
is  not  uiuisual  to  iind  it  nesting  fully  a  mile  from  such  places.    At  tliis  Post  they 


'k-l 


278 


LIFE  I1I8TOUIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  UIRDH. 


)?<M»orally  arrived  durinp  tlio  tliird  wet^k  in  Marcli,  tlio  innloH  prccodinj;  tlio 
f(*iiiaU>H  about  a  woolt,  and  nest  ropairin},'  or  huildinfif  coninionced  altojit  tlio  latt»'r 
part  oi'  HiiH  month.  I  liavo  taken  a  full  set  of  egps,  containing  Huiall  einbrvt»», 
on  April  17,  1H71.  Hero  they  noHted  inoHtly  under  tlio  eavoH  of  outhonM>H  and 
HtuhloH;  hut  one  i)air  Holeetod  the  jtlate  or  rail  ov»'r  the  nuiin  door  of  my 
quartern,  and  another  a  eorner  on  tlie  hoHpital  poreh.  In  thin  vicinity  I  also 
found  a  pair  occupyinff  an  old  Clifl"  Swallow's  nest  attached  to  an  (iviM-lianfjinfj 
ledge  of  rock  in  Soldiers'  Canyon,  on  the  road  to  lAnviston,  Idaho,  and  another 
in  a  very  unusual  position  in  the  sanu*  canyon,  in  an  (dd  liohin's  nest,  jdaced  in 
a  syringa  hush,  about  4  feet  from  the  {ground. 

Mr.  R.  S.  Williams  found  Say's  I'lnelto  nestinj^  in  a  deep  canyon  near  the 
Crooked  Falls  of  tlu*  IMissouri,  Montana,  and  sent  two  sots  of  eggs  to  the  United 
States  Natioiud  Museum  from  there.  These  nests  were  jdaced  on  a  sliirhtly  pro- 
jecting lodge  of  rocks,  anil  were  well  |)rotectod  l)y  overhanging  walls,  'j'he  first, 
(containing  six  oggs,  was  taken  May  21,  1888;  the  other  wiw  obtained  on  JuJie 
3,  188!). 

Mr.  W.  G.  Smith  reports  Say's  Pluebo  as  common  in  Tiarimer  County,  Colo- 
rado, where  it  usually  ntfsts  under  bridges  and  in  sheds  and  barns.  lie  says  it 
builds  a  bulky  nest,  mostly  composed  of  wool,  and  if  its  eggs  are  taken  or 
destroyed  it  often  lays  throe  clutches  during  a  s'sason,  and  not  infreijuently  in 
the  same  place. 

In  Colorado  it  reaches  an  altitude  of  about  7,000  feet,  and  hero  Mr.  .1.  Ahlon 
Loring  reports  it  as  not  uncommon  at  Grand  Junction,  and  Mr.  Denis  Gale  found 
it  1)reeding  near  Gold  Ilill  on  June  25,  1885;  but  it  is  evidently  much  more  (;om- 
mon  throughout  the  Great  l^asiu  region  in  southern  Idaho,  Utah,  Nevada,  and 
eastern  California,  where  its  center  of  abundance  occurs.  While  Say's  I'hci'bc 
is  fairly  connnon  in  suit.able  localities  in  northern  California,  as  in  the  vicinity 
of  Reil  Bluff,  Tehama  County,  Mr.  F.  Stephens  reports  it  as  a  rare  sunnner 
resident  in  the  southern  parts  of  this  State,  and  says:  "It  is  more  connnon  in 
winter,  though  scarcely  common  then.  It  breeds  early  along  the  western 
borders  of  the  Colorado  Desert,  where  I  have  found  m^sts  «'ontaining  young  in 
tlu*  latter  part  of  March.  The  nests  were  placed  on  shelves  mider  overhanging 
parts  of  cliffs,  in  shallow  caves  and  similar  jdaces;  the  eggs  usually  niunl)ered 
four;  the  nests  were  built  of  soft  fibers;  no  mud  was  used;  and  I  have  seen  none 
near  water.  These  birds  are  generally  seen  singly  except  in  the  breeding  sea- 
son; they  inhabit  open  country  and  lu-e  never  soon  in  forests.  Gn  Juno  1, 
1893,  I  flushed  a  Say's  Phoebe  from  a  nest  containing  fresh  (*ggs  near  Witch 
Creek,  California.  The  nest  was  placed  inider  a  shelf  of  rock  on  a  small  cliff 
over  a  brook.  The  nest,  of  nuid,  looked  like  the  nest  of  Sai/ornis  nii/rivan-s,  and 
perhaps  was  an  old  one  of  that  species  relined.  This  is  the  first  time  I  have 
found  this  species  nesting  on  the  west  side  of  the  mountains,  while  on  the  desert 
side  they  breed  regularly." 

Mr.  John  Swinburne  found  this  species  nesting  at  St.  Johns,  Ap;>cho  County, 
and  Mr.  W.  E.  D.  Scott  gives  it  as  a  rather  rare  sunnner  resident  in  the  Catalina 
Mk  '.intuins,  Arizona,  while  I  observed  it  in  the  vicinity  of  Tucson  in  winter  oidy. 


BAY'S  rUCEUE. 


279 


Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony  writes  mo:  "I  found  Say's  PhoDbo  breeding  in  compara- 
tive aV)un(lan(;o  near  Apache,  in  the  exti  omo  southwestern  corner  of  New  Mexico, 
in  tlie  midst  of  a  very  dry  and  barren  ranj^o  of  iiills,  in  May,  niigrating  after 
tiio  first  brood  was  raised,  about  June  20,  and  not  seen  again  until  Hupteniljer. 
Old  tuiniels  and  abandoned  mining  shafts  are  favorite  nesting  sites  witli  them, 
nests  having  been  found  by  me  in  Lower  California,  'irt  feet  from  the  surface, 
in  prospect  holes.  At  Apache  I  took  a  nest  with  four  fresh  eggs  on  May  23, 
1K8G,  and  near  San  Diego,  California,  I  found  one  in  an  old  endiaukment,  on 
August  8,  containing  young  and  eggs."  A  nest  taken  by  Mr.  J.  A.  Luring,  in 
Nephi,  Utah,  July  1,  18})3,  was  |,lacod  in  the  top  of  an  old  straw  hat 

Both  Mr.  L.  Holding  and  Mr.  A.  W.  Anthon}-  have  met  with  this  species 
in  Lower  California,  during  the  breeding  season;  and  it  i)robably  breeds  also  in 
northwestern  Texas  and  nortiiorn  Mexico.  It  returns  from  its  summer  haunts 
in  the  northern  parts  of  its  range  usually  about  Septeml)er,  and  winters  to  some 
extent  in  the  southwestern  parts  of  the  United  States;  the  majority,  however, 
pass  south  into  Mexico.  In  the  more  southern  portions  of  its  breeding  range 
Say's  Pluiibe  begins  nesting  early  in  March;  in  the  middle  parts  rarely  l)efoio 
May  1,  and  in  the  extreme  .northern  limits  of  its  range  not  until  Juno. 

Two  broods  are  usually  raised  in  a  season,  and,  under  favorable*  circtim- 
stances,  possibly  even  three.  This  species  is  fully  as  nmcli  at  home  about  human 
habitations,  and  seems  to  a<lrtpt  itself  even  more  readily  to  the  changed  condi- 
tions of  its  surroundings  than  its  eastern  relative,  and  about  every  cattle  rancli, 
stage  station,  or  mining  camp  a  pair  or  more  of  these  birds  will  surely  select  a 
nesting  site,  if  a  suitable  location  can  be  found. 

Besides  the  various  localities  already  nunitionod  in  which  Say's  Plincbo  has 
been  found  nesting,  burrows  of  Bank  Swallows  are  also  occasionally  ocuuipred. 
Ordinarily  mud  is  not  used 'in  the  construction  of  their  nests;  which  are  ratlier 
flat  structures;  the  base  usually  consists  of  weed  steins,  dry  gi-asses,  moss,  plant 
fibers  of  different  kinds,  wool,  empty  cocoons,  spider  webs  and  hair,  the  inner 
lining  being  generally  composed  of  wool  or  hair  aKaie.  A  well-preserved  nest, 
now  before  me,  from  the  Crooked  Falls  of  the  Missouri,  Montana,  taken  by  l\Ir. 
R.  S.  Williams,  Juno  3,  1889,  measures.5.J  inches  in  outer  diameter  by  2^  inches 
in  height,  the  inner  cup  being  2 J  inches  l)y  l\  inches  in  dei)tii.  This  is  a  (com- 
pactly built  structure,  the  materials  composing  it  being  well  worked  together, 
and  it  is  warmly  lined  with  cattle  hair. 

The  number  of  eggs  to  a  set  varies  from  three  to  six;  usually  four  or  five 
are  found,  and  one  is  deposited  daily.  Incubation  lasts  about  twelve  days;  the 
young  are  fed  entirely  on  insects,  mainly  on  small  butterflies,  which  are  abui.- 
dant  about  that'timo,  and  they  are  ready  to  leave  the  nest  in  about  two  weeks, 
when  the  male  takes  charge  of  them,  the  female  in  the  meantime  getting  ready 
for  a  second  brood.  The  eggs  are  ovate  and  short  ovate  in  shape,  and  resemble 
those  of  the  conunon  Phoibe  in  every  respect  excepting  that  they  are  a  triHe 
larger  in  size. 

The  average  measurement  of  forty-four  eggs  in  the  United  States  Nation.al 
Museum  c«dlection  is  VJ.bi)  by  14.!I0  milliiiiotres,  or  abtnit  0.77  by  0.5!)  incii. 


►  ' 


III'  Mi 


' 


280 


LIVE  IIISTOIUIW  OK  NOKTII  AMKKKJAN  ItllinS, 


Till'  Iiir};«'Kt  o}r;r  <»*  tlio  s(*ri('rt  iiiciwun^s  2 !.')!(   by  ir».ti>  inilliini'fi-oH,  or  0.85  hv 
0.(11  iiicli:  tlio  «mull('rtt,  IM.O.'J  l»y  l.S.!>7  milliiiiotros.  or  0.71  by  0.')r>  inch. 

'riut  ty|)»'  siHM'iint'ii,  No.  '2i)^iitii  (I'l.  I,  Kijr.  2!(),  from  a  not  of  four  cjjfTH,  Hcn- 
tiiro  collection,  t)ik«>ii  by  tlitt  writor  at  Koit  Lapwai,  Fdalio,  April  24,  1871,  Ih  an 
•ivora<?i)-sizc«l  vim,  and  one  of  the  nsnal  unt*potte<l  types. 


104.    Sayornis  nigricans  (Swainson). 

III.ACK    riDKilK. 

Tyrnnnvla  nififivann^vrnivnuv,  IMiilosopliical  Mafraziiic,  I,  May,  1827,307. 
tiuyoniiii  niyrkuHH  ItoNAfAKTio,  (Jolloetion  IVIuttrc,  IH.TI,  <sT. 

(inut,  (1  USl,  It  317,  C  378,  U  l.".8.) 

(rEOOUAiMlK^AL  i{AN(»K:  Fioiii  Moxico  itiiil  liowvr  Cnlilom'a iiortli  tliroiie))  wcKtoi'ii 
ToMiH.  New  Mi'xico,  Ari/oiiii,  mid  Oulil'oriiiii  into  Houtliwusturii  Oregon,  wi^st  of  tlic  <  'ascnilo 
Monntains;  Oiist  to  wcHtcni  Texas,  Houtlicrn  Xew  .Mexico,  Arizona,  anil  Huiitliern  ('aliforniii. 
Casually  to  Wnsliinjrton. 

The  Itreediii;;'  ranf^e  of  tlie  Hlack  I'litebe,  also  known  as  the  "Hlack  Klv- 
catrher,"  is  much  more  restricted  within  the  Tnited  States  tlinn  that  of  the  two 
preccdinj;'  species,  Imt  in  Mexico  it  has  a  widely  extended  <lislribution.  In 
sonthwostern  Orejion  it  has  been  ol)ser\ed  in  the  Umptpia  Valley  by  Dr.  .1.  S. 
Newberry;  and  IVof  ().  H.  .Johnson  reports  seeinj,'  a  single  specimen  near  Salem 
in  July,  1S7!>.  These  points  mark  about  the  northwestern  limits  of  its  r.iiige,  and 
none  have  as  j'et  been  observed  oast  of  the  Cascade  Monntains  at  poiijts  farther 
south  in  this  State.  Its  center  of  abundance  is  evidently  that  i)art  of  California 
west  of  the  Sierra  Nevadas,  where  it  has  been  reconh'd  from  many  places 
throu<,diout  the  year.  Mr.  Lyman  Heldiiifj;  reports  it  as  a  common  and  constant 
resident  at  Stockton,  Murphys,  and  Marysville,  and  as  a  sunnner  resident  near 
Hi};  Trees,  ('alaveras  County,  where  it  freciuents  the  willows  near  streams.  Mr. 
Charles  II.Townsend  found  it  breedino;  near  Haird,  Shasta  County,  and  it  seenm 
to  be  pretty  fjenerally  distributed  throufrhout  southern  California  as  well.  AVliile 
apparently  not  reachiii},''  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Sierra  Nevadas  in  tlm  northern 
j)arts  of  this  State,  it  has  been  observed  as  far  east  a.s  Furnace  Creek,  Death 
Valley,  Hot  Springs,  in  tlie  I'anamint  Valley,  and  Shepherd  ("auyon,  in  the  Argus 
Kange,  in  southeastern  California,  by  diHerent  mendters  of  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam's 
oxph)ring  i»arty  in  the  Death  Valley  country,  in  the  spring  of  1891;  but  it 
appears  to  be  somewhat  rare  everywhere  east  of  the  Sierra  Nevadns. 

Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony  writes  me:  "The  Hlack  I'laibe  breeils  throughout 
Lower  California,  from  latitude  "28^  northward  wherever  water  is  found,  build- 
ing under  the  eaves  of  adobe  houses  when  near  human  habitations,  and  on  the 
sides  of  ledges  along  streams  in  the  unsettled  parts." 

Li  southern  Arizona  this  sjjccies  is  resislent  throughout  the  year,  and  I 
have  ob,serve<l  it  at  all  seasons.  It  is,  however,  more  conunon  in  winter  than  in 
sunnner.  the  majority  of  these  birds  evidently  retiring  to  the  •canyons  in  Hie 
foothills  of  the  niountaius  to  breed.     I  found  lint  a  single  nest;  this  was  placed 


TIIK  lUiArK  IMKKItK. 


281 


HI  nil  Hl))in(I(Mu><l  well,  in  ii  kiuiiII  ciivity  in  tho  «i»lo,  cauHtMl  by  a  bowMcr  ilrctj)- 
pin^;  out,  altiMit  I  t'crt  Ix'low  tiic  hiiH'uco  of  flu*  f^rouml.  It  contaimil  yourt«r, 
iiearb  full  <fro\vn,  on  April  24,  1S72.  Mr.  W.  K.  I).  Scott  reports  tliis  Hpccics  aw 
not  iincoinnion  in  tli**  Santa  ( 'atalinn  McMintainH  to  an  altitutlcof  4,01)0  ft'ct.  Ih-. 
I'Mjfar  A.  MeariiH,  I'nitod  Statics  Army,  infortnrt  nm  that  lu*  fotnid  a  jtair  l»r»'«'(l- 
iiiff  at  tlu»  riwrvoir  from  which  tho  town  of  'PoinhMtono  derives  itw  wat«'r  Hnpply, 
in  MIIUm-h  Canyon,  lliiiu;lmca  MoiintainH,  Houthcrn  Arizona,  on  .Inly  ill,  1«!>4. 
TIiIh  is  locati*<l  in  the  Doujflass  spruce  zone  (I'ni'utlittsHifn  Uixijolia),  at  an  altitude 
of'-al)out  S.OOO  foet.  I  also  met  with  the  lilack  I'lia-lx^  in  wmthwestern  New 
Mexico,  (tn  the  Mimhres  Hiver,  and  Mr.  \V  illiam  Lloyd  <rives  it  as  a  rare  sununer 
visitor  in  Tom  Green  Oounty,  Texas,  whore  he  found  it  breedin};  on  April  4. 
Althoufjh  a  fjood  many  of  these  birds  winter  within  our  borders,  ovon  in  locali- 
ties whore  snow  occasionally  falls,  the  majority  mij^rato  south  into  Mexico  in 
( )ctol)er,  and  return  a<;ain  early  in  March. 

In  its  {joneral  habits  tho  Ithu^k  Pli(eb((  resembles  tho  common  IMi<irbe  more 
than  Say's;  like  tho  former,  it  is  usually  only  foinid  noar  water,  and  its  call  notch 
aro  also  very  similar.  Mud  soems  to  outer  lar<foly  into  tho  construction  of  its 
nests,  and  I  boliove  is  invariably  nsed.  These  aro  located  in  similar  situations  to 
those  of  tho  two  ijrecoflinj,'  species.  It  is  equally  attached  to  a  locality  onc(* 
chosen  for  a  neHtin<r  site;  and  instances  aro  roconh'd  where  four  dutches  of  e<jgs 
have  boon  laid  in  one  sea.son,  the  three  previously  laid  havin<jf  l)een  taken,  'i'wo 
broods  are  ^renerally  roared  in  a  year,  and  i>orhaps  three.  Tho  exterior  of  tho 
nest  consists  of  small  jtellets  of  nuid  mixed  with  bits  of  dry  j^rass,  weed  fibers, 
or  hair,  and  somewhat  rtwmbles  that  of  a  Barn  Swallow;  the  outer  mud  wall  is 
caiTied  up  ti»  the  rim.  Inside  it  is  lined  with  weed  fibers,  fine  roots,  strips  of 
bark,  •••rass  tops,  hair,  wool,  and  occasionally  feathers.  If  their  ojfjfs  aro  taken, 
they  <feiierally  lay  another  set  within  two  weeks.  A  nest  now  before  me,  taken 
bv  Mr.  II.  AV.  Ileiishaw,  at  Santa  Ysabel,  ( ialifoniia,  on  April  2H,  IH'J.'J,  measures 
!")  inches  in  outer  diainotor  and  3.J  inches  in  hoifjlit;  tho  inner  cup  is  '2'\  inches  in 
diameter  and  \\  inches  in  depth,  and  is  lined  with  jilant  fibers  and  tine  jjrass 
tops.  In  the  southern  part  of  its  breeding  ranj^e  nidification  be<;ins  usually  in 
the  first  half  of  April,  rarely  brfuiti,  and  corrospondinjfly  later  farther  northward. 

The  number  of  o<j<js  to  a  sot  varies  from  three  to  six,  usually  four  or  five. 
The)'  resemble  the  offj^'s  of  tho  two  precodinjjr  species  in  (-(dor,  l»ut  {^enorally 
averajje  a  trifle  smaller.  .Fudj^injf  from  those  before  me,  the  markinpfs  on  tlu^ 
s])otted  specimens  are  coarser  and  more  pronounced,  but  tho  jiroportirni  of  spot- 
ted opff^s  is  no  fp'eater.     Tlu*  ofj^ffs  aro  {jfenorally  ovate  in  shape. 

The  avera^'o  measurement  of  fifty-nine  spe«'imeiis  in  tho  United  States 
National  Museum  coUec'tion  is  18.73  by  14.3(i  millimotros,  or  about  0.74  by  0.r»7 
inch.  The  largest  ej^ir  of  the  series  measures  20.iJ2  by  ir).24  millimetres,  or 
O.HO  by  0.60  inch;  the  smallest,  17.7H  by  13.21  millimetres,  or  0.70  by  0.r)2  inch. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  20r)r)6  (I'l.  1,  Fifjf.  30^,  fnnn  a  set  of  three  efjffrs, 
Hendiro  collection,  was  taken  at  Nicasio,  California,  May  f),  1H77;  this  repre- 
sents a  well-spotted  and  averaj^o-sized  specimen. 


.1 


V  \] 


282 


LIFE  U1ST0B1£S  OF  NUBIH  AMEIUCAN  BIRDS. 


M'  \ 


105.    Contopus  borealis  (Swainson). 

OUVK-SIDH)  KLYCATCHKR. 

Tyrannwi  boiealU  Swainson,  Fanim  lloroali  Americana,  II,  18.'tl,  111,  PI.  .15. 
Contopus  boreali»  Baibd,  Birds  of  North  America,  1858, 188. 

(B  ia7,  0  253,  U  318,  0  .380,  U  45!).) 

GEOORAPHinAL  BANOK:  North  America;  north  in  the  eastern  parts  of  the  Dominion 
of  Canada  t4>  about  latitude  50°,  in  the  interior  of  the  Hudson  Bay  country  to  about  lati- 
tude 61°,  and  in  Alaska  to  latitude  G3°  \.;  south  in  winter  through  the  higher  niouutaina 
of  Central  America  to  Colombia,  South  America.    Accidental  in  Greenland. 

Tlie  breeding  ranofo  of  tlio  Olivo-sidod  Flycatcher  in  the  esiatcrn  parts  of 
the  United  States  is  confined  to  tlio  coniferous  forest  roj^ions  of  our  nortlieni 
border  from  northern  Massachusetts  and  northern  New  York  westward  to 
Minnesota,  and  probably  also  to  some  of  the  hij>;her  mountain  peaks  south  of 
those  Stjites;  in  Connecticut,  Pennsjdvania,  the  Vli-j^'iTiias,  antl  western  North 
Carolina,  etc.,  where  it  has  occiusionally  been  taken  durinjr  the  breediu}?  season 
and  possibly  nests  in  limited  numbers  in  suitable  localities.  It  has  also  been 
observed  in  the  mountains  of  western  Missouri  by  Mr.  W.  E.  D.  Scott  in  the 
spring,  and  possibly  breeds  there;  and  the  late  Col.  N.  S.  Goss  rejjorts  that  ho 
found  it  nesting  near  Wallace,  Kansas,  on  May  27,  1883,  an  unusually  early 
date  for  this  species.  In  the  eastern  ])rovinces  of  the  Dominion  of  Canada  it 
breeds  up  to  about  latitude  .'')0°  N.,  while  in  the  interior  it  ai)pears  to  be  fairly 
common  in  the  provinces  of  Manitoba  and  Saskatchewan,  the  type  coming  from 
Cumberland  House,  in  latitude  54°.  It  extends  noi'th  at  lea.st  to  Fort  Resolution, 
Gceat  Slave  Lake,  in  latitude  Gl°,  where  A[r.  li.  Kennicott  took  a  male  on  june 
20,  which  is  now  in  the  United  States  N  Honal  Jluseuin  collecticm.  On  the 
Pacific  Slope  it  has  been  tiiken  by  ^Ir  F.  Hislioff  at  Fort  Kenay,  Alaska,  in 
latitude  GI°,  and  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  obtained  a  single  binl  on  the  Lower  Yukon, 
in  latitude.  63°,  which  marks,  ns  far  as  known,  the  northern  limit  of  its  range. 
Mr.  J.  E.  McGrath  al.so  took  a  specimen  at  Camj)  Davidson,  Alaska,  on  May  18, 
1891,  which,  together  with  the  Hishoff  skin,  is  now  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection.  These  reconls  show  tliat  the  Olive-sided  Flycatcher  is 
pretty  generally  distributed  over  tlie  southern  coast  districts  of  this  territory. 
From  Alaska  its  breeding  range  extends  southward  through  Hritish  Columbia, 
Alberta,  the  forest  and  mountain  regions  of  the  western  United  States,  in(du<ling 
the  Rock)-,  Cascade,  and  Sierra  Nevada  mountains,  with  their  tributary  spurs 
and  outlying  ranges,  to  southern  Colorado,  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  tlie  San  Pedro 
Martir  Mountains  in  Lower  California,  the  Sierra  Madre  in  northern  Mexico. 
It  passes  thence  south  in  winter  through  the  higher  mountains  of  Central 
America  to  Colombia,  South  America. 

West  of  the  Rocky  Motnitains  the  Olive-sided  Flycatcher  seems  to  l)e 
generally  distributed  throughout  the  forest  and  mouiitainoiis  regions  to  tlie 
Pacific  coast,  although  it  is  nowhere  very  connnon.    Mr.  S.  F.  Rathbuii,  of  Seattle, 


Tllli  OLIVK  SIDMD  FLYUATCUER. 


283 


Waslilnpton,  writos  mo:  "This  Flycatcher  may  bo  called  common  aroimd 
Soattlo  as  a  sumiii(;r  resident,  arriviuff  about  May  1  and  remaining  into  Septem- 
ber. It  is  very  evenly  distributed,  not  iiidiscriniinatelj  scattered,  lus  are  sonu; 
species,  Itut  alon;f  the  sliores  of  Lake  Washington  about  every  one-half  to 
three-tburths  of  a  mile  you  can  hear  these  birds  and  find  a  ])air.  They  evince 
a  fondness  for  tlu^  watered  regions  in  preference  to  the  high  lands,  not  necessarily 
ak)ng  the  water's  edge,  but  only  a  short  way  back  in  the  woods,  and  i)refer 
the  rather  oiu'U  tiinl)er  wliere  miwt  of  the  original  forest  has  been  cut  away." 

In  northern  an<l  central  ('alifornia  it  appoai-s  to  be  moderately  ('oinnam 
throughout  the  mountainous  portions,  judging  from  the  numerous  records.  Mr. 
L.  Uelding  found  it  breeding  in  Calaveras  (Jtunity,  and  took  a  nest  and  throe 
eggs  on  .June  17,  1883,  the.se  being  now  in  the  United  States  National  Mu.seiun 
collection;  while  from  southern  Califi;rnia  Mr.  V.  Stephens  writes  me:  "It  is  a 
somewhat  rare  summer  resident  in  coniferous  forests,  seeming  to  prefer  the  firs.  I 
found  a  nest  on  June  f),  LSX!),  in  a  large  fir,  at  about  7, AGO  feet  altitude  in  the 
Cuyamaca  Mountains;  it  was  placed  about  40  feet  from  the  ground  and  H  feet 
from  the  trunk,  near  the  extremity  of  a  limb.  It  consisted  of  little  more  than  a 
lining  t)f  stitf  moss,  laid  in  a  thitrk  bunch  of  living  leaves,  and  contained  tiiree 
eggs.  While  taking  these  the  jjarent  came  repeatedly,  almost  within  reach  of 
my  hand,  snapping  her  bill  and  scolding  me.  Lower  down  in  the  same  tree 
was  a  nest  of  the  lA)uisiana  Tanager  containing  young." 

There  are  also  records  from  Arizona  and  New  Mexico  showing  that  the 
Olive-sided  Flycatcher  breeds,  to  some  oxtent  at  least,  in  the  higher  mountain 
regions  there,  and  in  Colorado  it  may  be  called  fairly  connnon.  Mr.  Denis 
Gale  writes  me  from  Gold  Ilill,  Colorado,  in  188!):  "I  have  found  a  nest  or 
two  of  Coiitojuts  hormlis  almost  every  season,  but  always  with  yoiuig,  until  this 
year.  Their  nests  are  \ery  small  and  fragile  in  ap])earance  for  so  large  a  bird, 
but  the  wiry  charactt-r  of  the  material  u.sed  in  their  comj)ositiou  is  so  deftly 
fitted  and  fastened  to  and  about  the  rasping  sprays  of"  our  spruce  trees  that  you 
could  scarcely  displace  the  nest  if  you  should  thrash  the  ground  with  the  bough 
upon  which  it  is  placed."  A  nest  with  tiiree  eggs,  taken  on  .Inly  3,  18S!>,  was 
kindly  ])resented  to  the  Fnited  States  National  Musevnn  ( (illection  by  Mr.  Gale, 
and  this  is  the  frailest-built  structure  I  have  yet  seen  of  these  birds.  In 
Colorado  the  Olive-sided  Flycatcher  reaches  an  altitude  of  !»,()0()  or  1(),()00  feet 
in  summer.  In  the  San  IVdro  Martir  Miamtains,  in  Lower  California,  Mr.  A. 
W.  Anthony  informs  me  that  tliis  Flycatcher  was-:  occasionally  obsei'vod  by  him 
up  to  1 1,000  feet,  and  evidently  r.<j.>ting. 

I  have  met  with  this  sppcies  in  the  pine  forests  of  the  Hitter  Root  JIcMintains 
in  ]\Iontana  and  Idaho,  in  the  numerous  parks  in  the  Hlue  Mountains,  and  at  Fort 
Klamath,  Oregon,  where  se\eral  pairs  nested  within  a  couple  of  miles  from  the 
Post,  in  largo  spruce  and  pine  trees  wliich  were  practically  inaccessible.  In 
suitable  localities  in  the  south  western  jtarts  of  the  Adirondacks,  in  llorkimei 
County,  New  York,  tiiey  are  i\ot  uncommon,  and  I  observed  several  pairs  iu 
this  vicinity.     Their  habits  seem  <'vorywhero  to  Ik-  alike. 


,  f 


»    ■ 

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M' 


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284 


LIFE  UISTUBIES  UF  NUUTU  AMERICAN  UIUDS. 


■3-.%  --  a     '  ■  ■ 


i 


Although  the  Olive-aided  Flycatcher  is  rather  evenly  and  widely  distributed, 
it  can  not  be  called  a  very  common  bird  anywhere  durin<f  the  breeding  aeiuson, 
which  irt  due  perhajjs  more  to  its  unsocial  and  quarrelsome  habits  than  to  any- 
thing else.  While  it  a])pears  tolerant  enough  toward  other  species,  it  will  not 
allow  any  of  its  own  kind  to  nest,  in  dose  proximity  to  its  chosen  home,  to  which 
it  returns  from  year  to  year.  lOach  pair  seems  to  claim  a  certain  rjmge,  whit^h 
is  rarely  less  than  half  a  mile  in  extent,  and  is  usually  located  along  some  stream, 
njar  the  shore  of  a  lake,  or  by  some  little  pond;  generally  coniferous  forests 
saem  to  bo  preferred,  but  mixed  ones  answer  their  purposes  almost  equally  well 
a-*  long  as  they  border  on  a  body  of  water  or  a  beaver  meadow  and  have  a 
few  clumps  of  hemlock  or  spruce  trees  scattered  through  them,  which  furnish 
suitable  perches  and  j)oints  of  lookout.  In  such  situations  one  is  reasonably 
curtain  to  find  this  species. 

Like  all  Flycatchera,  their  food  consists  almost  exclusively  of  winged 
insects,  such  as  beetles,  butterHies,  nuHhs,  and  the  numerous  gadfiies  which 
abound  in  the  places  frerpiented  by  these  birds.  A  dead  limb  or  the  decfiyed 
top  of  some  tall  tree  giving  a  good  outh)ok  close  to  the  nesting  site,  is  usually 
selected  for  a  perch,  from  which  excursions  are  made  in  different  directions  after 
passing  insects,  which  are  often  cliased  for  (juit<!  a  distance.  Tiiis  Flycatcher 
usually  arrives  on  its  breeding  grounds  in  the  northern  parts  of  the  United 
States  about  the  middle  of  May,  and  its  far-reaching  call  notes  can  then  bts 
heard  almost  constiintly  in  the  early  morning  hours  and  again  in  the  evening. 
Unless  close  to  the  bird,  this  note  sounds  much  like  that  of  the  Wood  I'ewee, 
which  utters  a  note  of  oidy  two  syllables,  like  "pee-wee,"  while  that  of  the  Olive- 
sided  Flycatcher  really  consists  of  three,  like  "hip-pui-whee."  'Vha  first  part 
is  uttered  short  and  (juick,  while  the  latter  two  are  so  accented  and  drawn  out, 
that  at  a  distance  the  call  sounds  as  if  likewise  composed  of  only  two  notes,  but 
this  is  not  the  case.  Their  alarm  ni>t(^  sounds  like  "puip-puip-pui)),"  several 
times  repeated,  or  "puill-puill-puill;"  this  is  usually  given  only  when  the  nest  is 
approached,  and  occasionally  a  jjurrfng  sound  is  also  uttered. 

Nidification  rarely  begins  anywhere  throughout  their  rang<*  before  June  1, 
usually  not  before  .lune  10,  and  in  some  seasons  Udt  before  .Inly.  Tall  ever- 
green trees,  such  as  pines,  hendocks,  spruces,  firs,  and  cedars,  situated  near  tlu^ 
edge  of  an  o])ening  or  clearing  in  tlu*  forest,  not  too  far  from  water  and  com- 
manding a  good  outlook,  or  on  a  blufi' along  a  stream,  a  hillside,  the  shore  of  a 
lake  or  pond,  are  usually  selected  as  nesting  sites  by  this  species,  and  the  nest 
is  generally  saddled  well  out  on  one  of  the  limbs,  when'  it  is  diflicult  to  see  and 
still  more  .so  to  get  at.  Only  on  rare  occiusions  will  this  species  nest  in  a  decid- 
uous tree;  one  instance  has  been  rec(»rded  of  a  pair  nesting  in  an  apj)le  and 
another  in  a  cottonwood  tree,  but  those  nmst  be  considered  as  exceptional  cases, 

While  on  a  collecting  expedition  with  Dr.  William  L.  Kalpli,  in  Herkimer 
County,  New  York,  a  nest  of  tliis  species  was  found  on  June  IS,  181I2,  in  a  spruce 
tree,  4h  feet  from  the  ground,  containing  thnte  eggs  about  oiu'-tliird  inrul»ate<l. 
The  nest  was  placed  on  a  horizontal  limb,  on  some  thi(!k,  leaf-covered  twigs, 


A 


V'^. 


TU1<]  OLIVE  SIDED  FLYCATUIIER. 


285 


aluuit  T)  foot  from  the  trunk;  the  troo  grew  on  a  hillside  near  a  little  Hwanip,  and 
several  tall  dead  stuniiw  were  still  standing  on  the  partly  cleared  hills  in  the 
vicinity.  The  birds  betrayed  the  location  of  the  nest  by  their  excited  actions 
and  incessant  scolding.  They  were  very  bold,  flying  close  around  the  climber's 
head,  snapping  their  bills  at  him,  and  uttering  angry  notes  of  defiance  rather 
than  of  distress,  sounding  like  "puy-pip-pip"  or  "wiip-wiip-wiip."  They  could 
not  j)ossibly  have  been  more  pugnacious.  This  nest,  which  is  now  before  me,  is 
a  well-built  structure,  and  measures  4.^  inches  in  outer  diameter  by  IJ  inches  in 
depth ;  the  inner  cup  is  very  shallow,  measuring  2ij  inches  in  diameter  by  1  inch 
in  depth.  It  is  outwardly  composed  of  tine,  wiry  roots  and  small  twigs,  mi.xed 
with  long,  green  moss  {Ustwa),  and  lined  with  tine  roots  and  moss.  It  is  securely 
fixed  among  a  mass  of  fine- twigs  growing  out  at  that  j)oint  of  the  limb,  which 
is  oidy  half  an  inch  thick  under  the  nest.  During  the  first  week  of  June,  1H!)3, 
we  visited  the  same  locality  again,  but  these  birds  did  not  make  their  appearance 
at  the  old  nesting  site  until  aVjout  June  15,  and  showed  no  desire  to  nest  up  to 
the  time  we  left,  June  28.  Two  other  pairs  were  also  located,  but  no  nests  were 
found.  I  am  of  the  opinion  that,  as  the  season  was  inuisually  late,  they  postponed 
uidificiition  until  at  least  three  weeks  later  than  usual; 

Mr.  lieldiny:  states:  "In  California  its  nests  are  usiuillv  40  or  50  feet  from 
the  ground,  rarely  as  low  as  20  in  cone-bearing  trees,  and  are  mostly  composed 
of  yellow  lichen  [Evernia  i; «//><««), lined  sparingly,  in  several  instances,  with  fine, 
wiry  rootlets."' 

The  nest  is  usually  jdaced  at  a  considerable  height  from  the  ground,  say 
from  40  to  60  feet,  and  always  out  on  a  limb;  occasionally  one  is  foun<l  not 
over  20  feet  up,  but  such  instances  .so  far  as  I.  know  ivre  not  connnon.  The 
nests  are  generally  hard  to  get  at,  and  a.s  tlicy  are  so  shallow  the  contents  are 
frequently  lost  in  trying  to  secure  them.  The  Olive-sided  Flycatcher  usually 
nests  late,  rarely  before  the  middle  of  ,hme,  and  sometimes  not  until  the  begin- 
ning of  July.  Only  a  single  brood  is  reared  in  a  season;  but  if'  tlio  eggs  are 
taken  a  second  set  is  laid,  and  not  infre([Uently  in  the  same  nest,  if  this  has  been 
left.  They  are  very  much  attached  to  localities  once  selected,  and  are  loath  to 
leave  them.  The  return  migration  to  their  winter  haiuits  begins  in  the  latter 
part  of  August,  and,  as  far  as  known,  all  of  these  birds  pass  beyond  our  Itorder. 

It  does  not  take  very  long  to  build  the  nest,  antl  incubation  lasts  probably 
not  over  fViurteen  days.  The  young  are  said  to  remain  in  the  nest  about  three 
weeks.  The  eggs  are  usually  three  in  number,  rarely  more  or  less.  l*ossil»ly 
about  one  set  in  twenty  will  contain  four  eggs,  and  although  it  has  l)een  stated 
that  from  three  to  five  are  laid,  I  do  not  believe  that  a  set  of  five  has  ever  been 
taken.  The  shape  of  these  eggs  is  mostly  ovate;  the  shell  is  delicate  and  not 
lustrous.  The  groiuwl  color  varies  from  a  jjale  to  a  rich  cream,  with  a  pinkish 
tint,  and  they  are  usualK  spotted  and  blotciied  with  iliffurent  shades  of  cliestnut, 
ferruginous,  heliotrope  piu'ple,  and  lavender,  these  markings  generally  forming 
an  irregular  wreath  about  the  larger  end  of  the  i'^'f. 


i 


V. 


'  Laud  Uirdi)  uf  the  I'ttoillc  District,  ItilH),  p.  UT. 


ii 


286 


LIFE  UldTOlllES  OF  NOUTU  AMEKICAN  BIRDS. 


The  average  moasureiiient  of  thirty-two  e<;|jf«  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection  in  21.51  by  16.10  millimetres,  or  about  0.8")  by  0.63  inch. 
The  largest  egg  of  the  series  measures  23.11  by  17.27  millimetres,  or  0.91  by 
0.6H  inch;  the  smallest,  20.32  by  15.24  millimetres,  or  O.HO  by  O.fJO  inch. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  23891  (PI.  2,  Fig.  15),  from  a  set  of  three  eggs 
taken  by  Mr.  GralC;  near  Gold  Hill,  Boulder  County,  Colora<h>,  on  July  3, 1889, 
represents  one  of  the  richer-colored  eggs,  while  No.  25(t85  (IM.  2,  Kig.  16),  from 
a  set  of  three,  Ualph  collection,  also  from  Colorado,  taken  June  16,  1892,  shows  a 
paler-colored  example;  they  also  show  the  ditferenco  in  size. 

io6.     Contopus  pertinax  Caiianis. 

COUES'8  FLYCATCHKH. 

MyiurvhuM  pertiiuu-  LiCH'i'ENSTEiN,  Nuiuoiiclator   Mueso   lioroliiiunsis,  1854,  W  (iioiuuii 

ContoiniH iwrtimuc  (Jauanih,  Musouiii  Heiiioaimin,  It,  Sept.  30,  1859,  72. 

(B— ,  0  254,  11  319,  C  381,  U  m).) 

Oeooraimiioal  uanoe:  Ilij^^lilaiuls  of  Ouatemala  itixl  Mexico;  uorth  to  Arizomi 
ami  soutUwL'steru  Now  Mexico.    Aeeuleutal  iu  Colorado. 

The  breeding  range  of  Coues's  Flycatcher  is  eoextonsive  with  its  geo- 
graj)hical  distribution  in  the  United  States,  where  it  is  only  a  sunnner  visitor.  It 
was  adtled  to  our  avifauna  by  Dr.  Elliott  Cones,  who  took  a  specimen  near 
Fort  Whipple,  Arizona,  on  August  20,  1864;  and  since  then  it  has  been  found 
to  be  generally  distril)uted  throughout  the  mountains  of  the  southern  half  of 
Arizona   and  southwestern  New  Mexico,  although  nowhere  very  connnon. 

The  best  account  of  its  general  habits  is  that  of  Mr.  11.  W.  TIenshaw,  who 
says:  "In  1873  I  obtained  a  pair  of  old  birds,  which  were  accompanied  by 
several  young,  in  the  White  Mountains,  near  Camp  Apache,  and,  not  meeting 
with  it  elsewhere,  supposed  it  to  be  rare.  Sucli,  however,  proves  not  to  l)e  the 
case,  as  the  past  s<*ason  it  was  found  to  be  one  of  the  most  numerous  and  char- 
acteristic of  the  Flycatcher  trilte,  being  seen  everywhere  in  tlie  mountainous 
districts  from  Cam[)  Apache  to  tlie  border  line. 

"In  general  appearance  as  well  as  liabits  it  is  (piite  similar  to  the  Olive- 
sided  Flycatcher,  and  shows  tlie  same  proclivities  for  inliabiting  the  pineries, 
often  on  the  edge  of  an  opening,  or  where  the  country  is  dixcrsilied  and  cut 
up  by  rocky  ravines  and  the  })ines  are  interspersed  witii  oak  woods.  In  such 
places  tlie  species  is  sure  to  be  present,  and  may  be  seen  circling  about  the 
high  pine  stubs  or  desceuiling  to  the  lower  trees,  as  the  oaks,  and  launching 
itself  out  from  the  branches  in  vigorous  pursuit  of  Hies  or  beetles,  which  it 
Imr  'th  the  greatest  energy  and  perseverance.  The  notes  are  loud  and  very 
t\)  ,  ri"'^'^'")  possessing  the  same  character  as  the  call  of  the  ( )livc!-sided 
Fi,.iiicher,  but  are  readily  distinguishable.  Tliey  resemble  the  .syllid)l('s 
'l>e-wee-ee,'  great  emphasis  being  laid  on  the  middle  syllable,  while  the  last 
is  (piite  prolonged  and  in  a  slightly  raised  key.     Each  pair  apparently  takes 


f  i 


COUES'S  FLYOATOUKlt. 


287 


possession  of  a  largo  area,  and  allows  no  intrusion  of  their  kind  within  tho 
limits.  Havinjf  spent  a  few  moments  in  one  spot,  the  bird  makes  a  hurried 
df  sh  and  in  a  few  moments  its  voice  ran  be  just  distinguished  as  it  is  sent 
back  from  afar  in  answer  to  the  mate  near  by.  A  short  inter^'al  elapsing,  it 
will  suddenly  reappear  from  lunong  the  trees,  and,  with  an  exultant  whistle, 
settle  firmly  down  on  s»»me  ])erching  place,  giving  short,  nervous  jerks  of  its 
long  tail  and  tuniing  its  head  ipiickly  here  and  there,  every  motion  betraying 
the  nervous  activity  of  its  nature.  These  sudden  erratic  flights  from  point  to 
point  are  quite  characteristic  of  the  bird.  By  the  middle  of  July  I  found 
tho  young  well  fledged  and  quite  numerous.  Tlius  tlie  eggs  are  probably 
deposited  in  the  fii-st  part  of  June.  By  tho  latter  part  of  September  many 
individuals  had  passed  to  the  southward,  but  at  Mount  Graluiui  at  this  time 
the  species  was  still  present.  I  noticed  them  on  several  occasions  on  tho 
outskirts  of  the  flocks  of  Warlilers  and  Nuthatches,  which  were  moving  slowly 
onward.  They  appeared  to  be  migrating  in  their  company,  fonning,  as  it 
seemed  to  me,  a  very  incongruous  element  iii  these  sociable  gatherings.  Their 
call  notes  at  this  time  were  given  almost  as  incessantly  as  during  the  sunnner."  * 

Mr.  F.  Stephens  writes  mo:  "I  have  taken  this  si)ecies  in  the  mountains 
north  of  Fort  Bayard,  New  Mexico,  and  in  tho  Cliiricahua  and  Santa  Rita 
Mountains,  in  southern  Arizona,  in  all  parts  of  which  it  is  a  rare  sunnner  resi- 
dent. The  female  of  a  pair  taken  June  27,  1880,  in  the  Cliiricahua  Mountains, 
was  incubating." 

Mr.'W.  E.  D.  Scott  .also  ob.Herved  them  in  the  Santa  Catalina  Mountains  in 
Ajjril,  and  Dr.  Edgar  A.  M'oarns,  United  States  Army,  in  the  MogolK>n  RangO; 
Ai'iz(ma,  dining  the  months  of  July  and  August,  where  a  pair  were  seen  feeding 
their  young  on  Baker's  Butte.  He  .says:  "Its  habits  resemble  those  of  the 
smaller  species  of  this  geiuis  ratlier  than  of  tho  Olive-sided  Flycatcher."" 

The  nest  and  eggs  of  Coues's  Flycatcher  were  first  described  by  Mr.  Samuel 
B.  Ladd,  West  Chester,  Pennsylvania,  in  "The  Auk"  (Vol.  VIII,  1891,  p.  315). 
"The  nest,  placed  on  an  oak  limb  20  feet  from  the  groui\d,  is  compact,  and 
reminds  (mo  of  the  nest  of  our  Voiitopits  rircti.s,  oxcei)ting  in  size.  Outside  diam- 
eter, 5  inches  by  2  inches  high;  hiside  diameter,  3  inches  by  1  inch  deep.  The 
body  of  the  nest  seems  to  consist  of  the  web  of  some  spider,  intermingled  with 
the  oxuvijc  of  some  in.sect,  fragments  of  insects,  and  vegetable  matter,  such  as 
staminate  catkins  of  Qitnrii.S'fiiiori/i,  a  pod  of  JlosacJiia,  and  some  Itiaves  of  Qiiercus 
cmonji  and  Qncrvii-s  tinditldfa.  Tiie  interior  of  tho  nest  is  made  up  of  grasses, 
l)rincipally  of  two  species  of  I'on,  also  some  f'raginonts  of  a  BoutcJona  and  a  Stijm. 
The  eggs,  three  in  number,  were  slightly  incubated,  l^he  ground  color  is  cream 
Imft',  spotted  in  a  ring  around  the  larger  end  with  chestnut  and  lilac-gray. 
Measurements:  0(53  l)y  0.8(i,  0:(i2  by  0.H3,  O.Ul  by  0.83  inch;  average,  0.(J2  by 
0.84.     Collected  June' 17;  1890." 

Through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  1  am  enabled  to  figure  an  egg 
of  this  species  and  add  tho  following  information  about  their  nesting  habits. 

'  I'liiteit  Stiit«s  Oeogriipliical  Surveys,  Vol.  V,  pp.  352-3. 
"Tho  Auk,  Vol.  Vll,  mm,  !>.  l'o«. 


.  i:, . 


ii- 


(  Iflf^': 


!l 


vt  1 


i'  i 


288 


LIFK  IIISTOIUKS  OF  NOKTU  AMEUICAN  BIKDS. 


II 


IIo  Hayw:  ^' Cotitoi>us  pcrtimu  is  ii  Hparingly  (listrilmtutl  HUiiiniur  n'sidi-nt  in  tlio 
l»iiu)-t'ore8tt'il  moiuitiuns  of  Hoiith  coiitral  Mexico,  botweuu  S, ()()()  anil  r2,()0(>  feot 
altitiido.  At  Los  Viji^as,  Vera  (y'ruz,  on  June  1-J,  18!)3,  a  nest  (containing  t\v<» 
fresh  eiffTs  was  found  in  a  pine  tree  at  an  altitude  of  al)out  S,()0()  feet.  Tlie  nest 
was  about  15  feet  from  the  {jfround,  on  the  outer  end  of  one  of  the  h»wer 
brandies.  It  was  phiced  upon  a  small  fork  of  the  main  l)raneli.  The  nest  is 
outwardly  composed  of  {frass  tops,  which  are  covered  witli  fni<fmi'nts  of  moss 
and  lichens,  and  it  is  lined  with  the  fine  heads  (seed  tops)  of  a  species  of  j^rass 
growinjj;  all  about  inider  the  pine  trees  of  the  vicinity.  The  locality  was  on 
a  •'•entle  slojje  at  the  northeast  imse  of  the  Cofro  de  I'erote,  nenr  Los  Vij^as,  in  a 
thitdi  {^rowth  of  snial'  pines.  The  parent  birds  paid  but  little  attention  to  the 
nest,  but  were  (juite  shy,  so  that  some  trouble  was  experienced  in  (d)tainin<j|;  one 
of  them;  each  time,  however,  the  birds  returned  to  .the  vicinity  of  the 'nest  after 
a  Ion}'-  detour  throuffh  the  woods.  !So  far  as  I  saw  them,  these  birds  are  very 
quiet  durintf  the  breediii}^  season." 

The  nest,  which  is  now  before  me,  is  a  compact  and  neatly  built  structure, 
and  measures  4^  iniches  in  outer  dia?neter  by  2  inches  in  hei{,dit.  The  inner  cup 
is  2.^  inches  wide  by  l\  inches  deej). 

Coues's  Flycatcher  leaves  its  sunnner  home  in  southern  Arizona  and  New 
Mexico  about  October  1,  and  apparently  none  winter  within  our  borders.  The 
eg}ifs  are  ovate  in  shape;  the  shell  is  frail  and  withou(>  luster,  of  a  rich  cream  tint, 
and  is  sparinjrly  spotted,  prin(cipallyal»out  the  larger  end  of  the  egg,  with  ditl'er- 
ent  shades  of  chestnut,  ferruginous,  and  lavender.  Tiiey  resend)le  very  nnich 
the  eggs  of  the  Olive-sided  Flycatcher,  but.  average  a  trifle  smaller,  measuring 
21.0H  ])y  1(1.51  and  ll».56  by  1.5.75  millimetres,  or  0,83  by  0(;5  and  0.77  by  0.(i2 
inch,  respectively. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  2(;222  (IM.  2,  Fig.  17),  United  Htates  National 
Jluseum  collei'tion,  the  smallest  v^'^  of  tlu'  two,  was  taken  by  ^Ir.  Nelson,  as 
already  stated,  on  June  14,  18!t;$,  near  Los  Vigas,  Vera  Cruz,  Mexico. 

107.     Contopus  virens  (Linn.eus). 

WOOD   I'KWKE. 

Miixricaim  riV<n«  liiNN.Krs,  Systcinii  Natiun',  i';il.  lli,  I,  17iiO,  .127. 
Contopus  firam  Cau.&Mij,  Jouriiiil  I'iir  Oriiitliolotiio,  III,  ^'ov.,  iJS.'i.'i,  47!t. 

(H  13»,  (J  I'oS,  U  320,  C  382,  U.4()l.) 

(iKOGaAl'liK^AL  KANiiK,:  Kiisteiii  Noftli  AiiiiTica ;  north  to  tlic  soutlicni  portions  of 
the  Dominion  of  ("iinaila,  from  New  HrnnswicU  to  Manitoba;  west  to  eastern  North  and 
Hoath  Dakota,  eastern  Ncl>raska,  Kansas,  the  Indian  Territory,  and  Texas;  south  in 
wiutoi'  throui^h  eastern  Mexico  and  (Uiateniala  to  Colombia  and  lOeuador,  t^outh  America. 

Tile  lu'ecding  range  of  the  Wood  Pewec,  also  locally  known  in  South 
Carolina  as  "Dead-limb  bird,"  extends  through  the  exstern  I'liitcd  States  north 
into  the  southern  ])arts  of  tlu;  Dominion  of  Cauaila  to  .ibout  latitude  4(!"  N., 
west  to  western    Manitoba,  the   eastern    jjarts  of   North   and    South  Dakota, 


THE  WOOD  I'EWEE. 


289 


Nebraska,  Kaiisn»,  tlio  Intlian  TeiTitory,  and  Homewliat  bevoiid  tlic!  oaHtoru  luilf 
(if  Texas,  wlicre  it  has  hocu  touiid  broediii};  in  Itexarand  Tom  (Jrecii  counties. 
In  tlio  extreme  soutlieni  parts  of  its  breeding'  ranjj^e,  in  Florida  and  tlie  Gulf 
f'oast,  it  is  rather  rare,  and  tliis  is  also  the.  case  north  of  latitude  4.')'',  in  southern 
New  Urunswick  and  the  jn-ovinces  of  Quel)ec  and  Ontario,  while  in  Manitoba 
it  a|i|K>ars  to  be  tolerably  connnon  up  to  latitude  50°. 

'J'he  \Vo<»d  Pewee,  as  its  name  implies,  la  a  common  sunnner  resident 
throuffhout  all  the  wooded  portions  of  its  ranfre  as  indicated  above,  and  is  one  of 
the  more  tardy  mijifrant  to  arrive  on  its  breedinj,'  {rrounds,  reachinj^  them  in  the 
more  southern  States  in  ilie  first  half  of  April,  and  in  Pennsylvania,  New  York, 
etc.,  about  a  month  later.  It  shows  a  decid(>d  preference  forojten,  mixed  woods, 
free  from  underbrush,  and  frecpients  the  ed<fes  of  such  as  bordi-r  on  fields, 
clearing's,  etc.,  either  in  dry  or  moist  situations.  In  Oneida  and  Herkimer  coun- 
ties, New  York,  1  found  the  Wood  Peweo  common  everywhere,  both  in  the 
ni<»re  extensive  forests,  as  well  as  in  orchards  or  shade  trees  alouff  the  country 
roads,  and  even  in  the  villajfes.  Its  plaintive  call  notes  could  be  heard  at  all 
hours  of  the  day  and  often  in  the  ni<;ht  as  well.  Its  sonjf,  if  it  may  be  called 
such,  is  uttered  in  a  sleepy,  listless  maimer,  while  perched  on  some  horizontal 
limb  or  branch,  usually  one  of  the  lower  dead  ones  of  a  wide-spreadinjr  tree,  on 
which  its  sits  very  erect  and  alert,  and  from  whence  it  darts  every  little  while 
after  some  jjassin^'  insect,  in  the  cajtture  t»f  which  it  is  as  expert  as  any  of  our 
Flycatchers.  The  ordinary  call  note  sounds  like  "iiee-a-wee"  or  " st'e-t'-wt'c," 
loll};-  drawn  out  and  plaiivtive  in  .sound.  Occasionally  a  short  note  like  "pee-e'er," 
"phee-het',"  or  "  hi'e-ee  "  is  also  given,  this,  if  possible,  in  a  .still  more  mcmiinful 
strain  than  the  former,  but  it  is  not  as  frecpiently  heard.  I  find  it  very  difficult  to 
reproduce  the  various  calls  on  pajter,  and  am  ])eifectly  well  aware  that  no  two 
])ersons  would  put  them  down  exactly  alike.  The  male  Wood  I'ewee,  during 
the  mating  season,  gives  vent  occasionally  to  a  low,  twittering  warble,  possibly 
an  indication  to  its  mate  that  all  is  well. 

Its  food,  like  that  of  all  Flycatchers,  consi.sts  almost  entirely  of  winged 
insects,  but  I  have  seen  now  and  then  a  Wood  I'ewee  tluttenng  about  a  leaf  i>r 
small  twig,  as  if  it  was  jiicking  off  minute  caterpillars  or  jdant  lice.  Mr.  Gyorge 
A.  Seagle,  superintendent  of  tiie  Wytheville  (Virginia)  Fish  ('onnnission  station, 
states:  "This  little  bird  has  frecpiently  been  seen  to  catch  young  trout  from  the 
ponds  soon  after  they  had  been  transferred  from  the  hatching  house."  It  is 
possible  that  it  may  occasionally  do  a  little  harm  in  this  maimer,  but,  on  the 
wliole,  it  certainly  is  an  exceedingly  useful  bird,  fairly  well  behaved  toward  its 
neighlnirs,  as  long  as  they  do  not  encroach  too  close  on  its  nesting  site,  and  it 
deserves  protection.  It  nests  rather  late;  throughout  our  Middle  States  rarely 
before  the  first  week  in  June,  and  somewhat  later  farther  north.  In  the  vicinity 
of  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  full  sets  of  eggs  may  be  looked  for  in  the 
first  half  of  June,  while  in  the  more  northern  States  nidification  is  at  its  height 
during  the  latter  part  of  this  month  and  the  first  week  in  July. 

In  the  choice  of  nesting  sites  the  Wood  Pewee  is  not  very  partieidar;  it 
t  home  among  human  habitations,  in  villages  or  near  farmhouses,  sis 


equal 


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290 


LIFE  niSTOEIES  OF  NOUTU  AMEKICAN  DIUDS. 


amidst  tlio  oxtonsivo  forest  rcfifionH  of  tlie  Adirondncks  and  Himilar  trncts.  Tlio 
trees  most  frequently  selecited  for  nestinj^  nro  o«k,  elm,  iisli,  maple,  liickory,  pine, 
locust,  poplar,  cedar,  and  ai)i)le,  the  nests  heinfif  placed  from  5  to  50  feet  from 
the  ground,  ordinarily  from  12  to  20  feet  up.  Tiiese  are  rather  neat  and  hand- 
some stnictures,  consisting  generally  of  thick  side  walls  and  very  thin  bottoms; 
they  are  sometimes  securely  saddled  on  a  horizontal  limb,  but  more  frequently 
at  the  i)oint  of  juncture  of  a  fork  on  the  same,  and  generally  some  distance  out 
from  the  main  trunk.  A(!Cording  to  my  f)bservations,  decayed  moss  and  lichen 
covered  limbs,  growing  out  horizontally  from  the  trunk,  appear  to  l)o  their 
favorite  nesting  sites,  but  many  of  their  nests  are  built  on  live  limbs,  especially 
in  oak,  locust,  and  old  apjdo  trees.  The  .nest  is  not  readily  discovered  on 
acctmnt  of  its  i)eculiar  construction  giving  it  the  ajjpearance  of  a  knot,  and  tho 
bird  is  exceedingly  alert  and  usually  slii)s  off  before  one  sees  her,  and,  although 
she  remains  close  by,  flying  from  place  to  jdace  and  uttering  her  jdaintive  calls, 
she  will  not  reveal  its  location  by  returning  to  it  while  the  intruder  is  in  the 
neighborhood. 

Air.  J.  W.  Preston,  of  liaxter,  Iowa,  writes  me:  "A  pair  of  "Wood  Pewees 
built  on  a  horizontal  branch,  12  feet  above  a  path  over  which  I  traveled  several 
times  each  day,  and,  though  the  female  became  more  and  more  accustomed  to 
my  presence,  she  never  remained  on  the  nest  while  1  passed.  She  would  fly  to 
a  certain  dead  snag  and  })eer  down  on  me  with  her  large  eyes;  but  the  young, 
after  leaving  the  nest,  became  (piite  tamo." 

Fine  grasses,  small  piec(ts  of  moss,  thin  strijjs  of  bark,  rootlets,  and  plant 
fibers  constitute  the  body  of  the  nest,  which  is  coated  externally  with  bits  of 
lichens  found  on  rotten  limbs,  and  which  are  fastened  to  its  sides  with  spider 
webs  and  cocoons,  similar  to  those  of  the  lllue-gray  Gnatcatcher  and  RuViy- 
throated  Hummingbird.  All  the  different  materials  are  well  interwoven,  and 
tho  inner  cup  of  the  nest  is  usually  lined  with  finer  materials  of  the  same  kind, 
and  occasionally  with  a  little  wool,  down  of  plants,  a  few  horsehairs,  and  bits  of 
thread.  An  average  and  typical  nest  of  the  Wood  Pewee  measures  2^  inches 
in  outer  diameter  by  1^  inches  in  depth;  the  inner  cup  is  about  1;{  inches  wide 
by  1^  inches  deep. 

Mr.  J.  L.  Davison,  of  Lockport,  New  York,  kindly  sent  me  for  examination 
a  unicpie  nest  of  this  specie.s,  taken  by  him  from  a  horizontal  lind)  of  an  apple 
tnio,  jvlwut  8  feet  from  the  ground,  which  well  deserves  mention.  This  nest, 
which  is  well  preserved,  is  exteriorly  composed  entirely  of  wool.  It  measures  2.\ 
inches  in  outer  diameter  by  2^  inches  in  depth;  the  inner  cup  is  1.^  inches  wide 
by  1  inch  deep.  It  is  very  sparingly  lined  with  fine  grass  tops  and  a  few  horse- 
hairs, while  a  single  well-preserved  apple  leaf  lies  perfectly  flat  and  exactly  in  the 
center  and  bottom  of  the  nest.  It  contained  three  eggs  when  taken,  and  bears 
not  the  slightest  resemblance  to  any  other  nest  of  this  species  I  have  ever  seen. 

I  believe  that  ordinarily  but  a  single  brood  is  raised  in  a  season;  but  there 
are  probably  exceptions,  as  Mr.  Frank  II.  Hitchcock  informs  me  that  at  Somer- 
ville,  Massachusetts,  ou  September  8,  1890,  he  found  u  paii'  of  Wood  Pewees 


THE  WOOD  I'BWBB. 


291 


Pftrinff  for  a  brood  of  iiowly  hatched  young  in  a  wnall  j^rovo  near  hin  lioine.  If 
th«  first  noHt  iiiid  v^ffH  arn  taken  thoy  will  jinnnptly  build  a  now  ono,  an«l  oven  a 
third,  frc(>uontly  in  iho  Haino  tree.  An  egfj  '.h  dopomfod  daily.  Incubation  hwtH 
about  twolvo  dayw.  I  have  novor  Hcen  the  malo  aHsist  in  tluH  duty,  but  ho 
stays  close  by  the  nest  and  jjuards  it.  Tlie  youn}f  leave  the  nest  in  about  six- 
teen days,  and  an*  cared  for  l)y  both  parents.  From  two  to  four  ejjgs  are  laid 
to  a  set,  jfenerally  three,  and  sets  of  four  I  consider  rare.  They  usually  start 
on  their  return  niigration  in  September,  and  I  do  not  bolievo  that  any  winter 
within  our  fjorders. 

The  offf^s  of  the  Wood  Pewee  vary  in  shape  fi'om  ovate  to  short  or  rounded 
ovate;  the  sliell  is  close-fif rained  and  without  jjloss.  The  ground  color  varies 
from  a  jiale  milky  white  to  a  rich  cream  color,  and  the  markings,  which  vary 
considerably  in  size  and  niunber  in  different  sots,  are  usually  disposed  in  the 
shape  of  an  iiTogular  wreath  around  the  larger  end  of  the  egg,  and  consist  of 
blotches  and  minute  specks  of  claret  brown,  chestnut,  vinacoous  rufous,  helio- 
trope, purple,  and  lavender.  In  some  specimens  the  darker,  in  (»tliers  tlie  lighter 
♦iliades  predominate.  In  very  rare  instances  only  are  the  markings  foimd  on  the 
smaller  end  of  tlu*  v.<!;i!:. 

The  average  measurements  of  seventy-two  eggs  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  18.24  by  IS.Gf)  millimetres,  or  about  0.72  by  OIA  inch. 
The  largest  egg  of  tiie  series  measures  2().(>7  by  13.97  millimetres,  or  0.71)  by 
0.55  inch;  the  smallest,  Ifi.ol  by  12.!*.')  millimetre!*,  or  0.(i.'')  by  O.ol  inch. 

The  typo  specimen.  No.  25414  (1*1.  2,  Fig.  18),  from  a  set  of  three  eggs, 
taken  by  Dr.  A.  K.  Fi.sher,  near  Sing  Sing,  New  York,  Juno  15,  1879,  represents 
ono  of  the  lin-ger  and  well-marked  eggs  of  this  species,  while  N(».  25584  (I'l.  2, 
Fig.  1!)),  from  a  set  of  three  eggs,  Ualph  collection,  taken  near  Holland  Patent, 
Now  York,  .Time  30,  1882,  rei)resents  one  of  the  smaller-sized  and  oddly  marked 
specimens. 

io8.     Contopus  richardsonii  (Swainson). 

WESTKRN  WOOD  PKWEK. 

TyraaHula  rhhanlnoHii  Swainson,    Fauna    Boreali    Aiiicricaiia,  11,   1831,    146,   PI.   40, 

lower  lig. 
t'ontopm  ricli(ir(honii  HAiiii),  Hirds  of  North  America,  ISTyS,  189. 

(15  138,  O  USua,  R  3U1,  0  383,  U  4«2.) 

GEonBAPniOAL  RANGE.  Wcstcm  North  America;  north  to  llritish  Columbia,  the 
Provinces  of  Alberta  and  Sn.skatchewan,  and  probably  farther  in  this  direction;  ca.st  to 
Manitoba,  western  North  and  South  Dakotit,  western  Nebraska,  Kansas  and  Texas;  south 
to  Lower  California,  and  in  wiutor  through  Mexico  and  Central  America  to  Ecuador  and 
Bolivia,  South  America. 

The  Western  Wood  Pewee,  also  known  as  "Richardson's"  and  "Short- 
legged"  Pewee,  is  a  conunon  sunnner  resident  and  breeds  in  suitable  localities 
throughout  the  western  United  States  from  the  western  edge  of  the  Great  Plains 


'* '  t        ■■:.'■  ^'7! 


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292 


LIFE  UISTUUIUU  OK  NUUTII  AMEItlCAN  UlltDH. 


to  the  I'licitic  Ocouii.  Itmii^us  iKii'tliwanl,  uHiar  iih  known  at  proHont,  to  HritiHh 
C«)liiiiibia,  Alborta,  and  nortlicrn  SaHkatclunvan,  and  \n  ill  probably  b«<  found  in  Htill 
lii{^lier  latitudoH.  Southward  it  iH  found  during  tlut  brucdin^r  HcaHon  in  Ari;!ona, 
Nt'W  Mexico,  and  wcwttirn  'IVxas,  and  in  tlio  nioiuitain  roj^ioim  of  Lowur  Cali- 
fornia. In  caHtcrn  Manitoba,  according;  to  Mr.  IlinoHt  K.  TlionipHon,  it  overlapH 
tlM3  ran^o  of  tlio  Wood  IVwcc,  both  Hpocies  bcinjf  found  in  tlio  vicinity  of 
Winnipfjr,  and  it  in  "not  raru  in  othor  localitii's  in  this  province.  Nono  winter 
witliin  our  bordorw. 

In  its  f^onoral  habit»  tiic  WoHtcrn'Wood  I'owcc  rcHcinblcH  tlic  prcccdin},' 
»pecics  \cry  closely,  but  not  in  its  call  notes.  Tlu'se  are  shorter,  nmch  harsher, 
and  are  uttered  with  much  more  emphasis — not  in  tlu;  plaintive,  listless  manner 
of  the  former.  They  resemble  the  sounds  "pee-i'c"  or  "pee-eer,"  occasionally 
varied  to  "pee-ah."  Dr.  James  C.  Mt-rrill,  United  States  Army,  {fives  the  note 
as  "tweer"  or  "deer."  On  the  whole,  the  Western  Wood  I'ewee  is  not  as  often 
found  in  e.\tensive  forests  as  the  pri'cedinj^  species.  It  prefers  the  less  heavilv 
timl>ered  creek  i)ott«>nis,  the  edj^es  of  mountain  parks,  and  {{'enerally  mort;  open 
country,  but  avoids  the  dry,  aritl  plains  and  desert  re^rions.  It  has  been  found 
at  altitudes  up  to  11,000  feet  in  summer. 

Its  food  <-onsists  of  insects  of  ditl'erent  kinds,  :md  in  southern  ('alifornia, 
Mr.  F.  Stephens  informs  me,  this  species  is  occasionally  very  destructive  to 
lionoy  bees.  Ho  says:  "1  have  known  apiarists  to  bo  compelled  tc  sln)ot  a 
{jreat  many  to  protect  their  bees;  <»no  in  San  I)ie<^o  County  t(dd  me  that  he 
shot  several  hundred  in  a  season.  Thoy  cajtturo  l)oth  workers  and  drones,  and 
I  have  examined  many  stomachs  which  had  stings  sti(;king  in  them."  Such 
condu(!t  on  their  part  is  probaidy  exce|)tional. 

Dr.  A.  K.  Kisher,  in  his  IJcport  on  the  Ornitholofiy  of  the  Death  Valley 
Expedition,  says:  "One  day,  when  the  wind  was  very  high,  a  number  were 
seen  sitting  on  the  bare  alkaline  Hats  near  Owens  !.,ake,  where  they  were  picking 
lip  from  the  ground  the  Hie.s  which  swarmed  there,  as  grain-eating  birds  do 
seeds."' 

Mr.  U.  II.  Lawrence  writes  me:  "At  Ilumptulips,  Washington,  this  Fly- 
catcher wi>uld  rarely  come  within  jtroper  range  of  my  shotgun  until  well  along 
in  the  morning,  say  half  past  1)  o'chu-k,  when  they  came  down  lower  in  the  trees. 
Probably  they  sought  the  upper  stratum  of  air  in  the  early  hours  because  the 
sunlight  set  the  insects  stirring  there  before  it  did  tho.so  of  the  undergrowth. 
,  This  was  seen  to  be  so  on  my  trips  to  the  little  })rairios,  where  a  comj)aratively 
extended  view  could  be  had.     1  noticed  this  in  May  and  June,  1891." 

The  Western  Wood  Pewee  amves  rather  late  on  its  breeding  grounds;  even 
in  the  southern  jjortions  of  its  range  it  is  rarely  seen  before  the  last  half  of 
Ajnil,  and  not  until  a  month  later  in  the  more  uorthoni  localities,  while  niJifica- 
tiou  rarely  begins  anywhere  before  Juno  1. 

Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  makes  the  following  statement  regarding  the  position 
of  the  iKJsts  of  the  Western  Wood  Pewee:  "The  nest  of  this  species,  as  is  well 


■North  Aiuericuu  Fuuua,  Nu.  7, 1893,  p.  64. 


THR  WK8TEUN  WOOD  PRWEE. 


293 


known,  (liffora  very  romnrkiihly  from  timt  of  Contoput  virens,  boinj;  almost  invii- 
riiilily  plnccul  in  t\w  crott'li  li«*two(!n  nearly  U|»ri;rlit  forkw,  liko  that  of  ccrlain 
I'^mpitlomum,  an  I'JmpidoHK.r  iiiiniinitii  aiul  Kmpiiloiidx  obsvurus,  iuHtuail  of  lu'hifj 
Haildlctl  upon  a  lioriz  mtal  Imnicli,  ( 'c.'" 

My  ohsorvations  r»><far<linjy  the  pctnition  of  tlio  nest  of  tlic  Wt'stcrn  Wood 
I'cwoe  aro  radically  dirtV-ront  from  tli<'  aliovc,  and  all  tliat  I  liavo  sucn,  some 
twtfuty  in  nnmhur,  were  saddled  dinefly  on  limits,  or  at  points  wlioro  Itranclies 
forked,  and  never  in  erotclies;  an<l  tlu»  seventeen  specimens  now  before  me 
were  all  similarly  placed.  Anion;;  these*  is  one  collected  l»y  Mr.  Hid;;way 
himself,  No.  15200,  United  StatcM  National  Museum  collection,  collector's  No. 
1"2H2,  from  Parley's  Park,  .Func*  25,  ISII!),  which  is  catalo^fU'-d  in  the  above- 
mentioned  rejxH't  as  "Nest  in  crotch  of  a  dead  aspen  alon^y  stream,"  hut  which 
shows  distinctly  that  it  was  saddled  on  a  hori/oiital  fork  and  not  /'//  an  iipri^rht 
crotch.  If  tlio  Western  Wood  Pewcu*  phu-ns  its  ni-st  occasionally  iu  a  crotch, 
which  I  do  not  deny,  it  is  exceptional  and  n(»t  the  rule,  and  the  many  rec<trds 
I  have  of  its  nesting,'  from  Texas,  Arizona,  Nevada,  Ttah,  Colorado,  California, 
and  Ore^jfon  confirm  my  assertions  fully,  and  show  conclusively  that  this  species 
does  not  ditfer  in  this  respect  from  the  Wood  Pewee.  The  nests,  however,  do  not 
resemble  tho.so  of  the  former;  they  are  better  and  more  solidly  constructed,  and 
iU'(*  usually  deeper.  The  outer  ])rotective  coatin^j  consisting;  of  bits  of  lichens 
is  disj)ensed  with;  decayed  ^irass,  wood,  plant  fibers,  down,  fine  strips  of  the  inner 
bark  of  juniper  and  sa;;e,  as  well  as  the  tops  of  wiry  ^^rasses,  enter  larjjfely  into 
their  compositi(m.  These  materials  arc*  compactly  interwoven,  and  the  outsid(! 
of  tli(*  nest  is  occasionally  well  covered  with  spider  web.s.  They  an*  usually 
lined  with  fine  ;;rass,  down,  and  plant  filters,  and  rarely  with  a  few  fitathers. 
A  handsome  nest,  No.  242S5,  United  States  National  Museum  collection,  taken 
May  31,  1S!)1,  by  Capt.  W.  L.  Car})eiiter,  United  States  Army,  near  Prescott, 
Arizona,  containing;  two  eg<;s  of  this  species  and  one  of  the  Dwarf  Cowbird, 
measures  2 J  inches  in  outer  diameter  by  1^  inches  in  depth;  the  inner  cuj)  is  2 
inches  wide  by  \\  inches  deep.  Althou;;h  the  walls  of  this  nest  aro  very  thin, 
it  is  a  well-built  structure,  and  apparently  stron;;er  than  many  bidkier  nests. 
It  was  placed  on  a  lind)  of  a  cottonwood  tree,  al)out  10  feet  from  the  ;>Tound. 

Nests  of  this  species  may  be  looked  for  in  pine,  cottonwood,  tamarack, 
aspen,  alder,  maple,  oak,  hack))erry,  ash,  an<l  orchard  trees,  from  (!  to  40  feet 
from  the  ground.  In  the  vicinity  of  Uort  Klamath,  Oregon,  where  it  is  a 
common  summer  resident,  the  nests  were  usually  placed  on  horizontal  limbs  of 
black  pine  trees,  both  on  live  and  dead  ones,  and  in  a  single  in.stancii  I  found 
one  in  a  small  aspen.  Among  curious  nesting  sites  the  following  are  worth 
nieutitming: 

"    "'  "'  ^  "*         "       '  ^   '  <  near  Twin  Lakes,  Coha'ado, 


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294 


LIFK  IIIHTOKIKH  OK  NOltTII  AMKItKJAN  lilltDB. 


Mr  OlinrloH  K.  Aik«'n  Htjitow:  "1  liiivo  found  Hovoriil  Hcttl«'«l  in  tho  nnfjlo 
t'onnoil  hy  t\w  trtmk  of  thu  ti'«*o  anil  a  liorizontal  l)i'an«^li,  anil  in  ono  instunf«>, 
wlu'nt  a  lar^ro  liinl)  huil  biton  torn  from  tliu  truo  by  thu  wind,  a  noHt  waH  ])la(;ud 
Hatly  niM>n  a  hroiul,  l)oaril-lik(t  Hplintor."' 

Mr.  li.  lUflilinjf,  in  liiH  MinlM.  of  tlio  Pacific  Di«trict,  1890  (p.  !»!l),  niakoH 
till)  followinfr  HtatDinont:  "It  ainumt  alwayH  plucoH  itn  nuHt  on  n  (load  horizontal 
liml),  at  leaHt  thin  !«  according  to  my  obHorvationH,  and  I  have  soon  many 
noHtrt  which  wcro  hiuIiIKmI  on  limlw.  In.  a.  solitary  inHtancc,  howovor,  tho  ncut 
was  in  or  on  horizontal  diver}jinir"twij,''H  in  a  dcciduouH  oak,  wliero  it  was  partly 
hidden  by  foliaf^o;  ajjain,  (»no  was  nicely  Hurronnded  and  to  a  gron4  extent  con- 
cealed by  having  been  bnilt.in  a  bunch  of  yellow  lichen  (/v'/vTW/rt)." 

Most  of  these  birds  nest  in  iJune;  the  earliest  breeding  reirord  I  haA'o  otit 
of  thirty-nin(*  is  May  iU,  from  IVescott,  Arizona.  I  believe  that  but  one  brood 
is  raised  in  a  season,  although  I  have  fotnid  nests  with  fresh  eggs  as  late  as  July 
If),  jn'obably  second  layings  where  the  first  had  been  taken  or  destroyed.  Tho 
Western  Wood  I'ewee  is  very  much  attached  to  its  nesting  site  when  one  has 
been  once  chosen,  and  will  frequently  build  a  second  nest  in  the  same  spot,  or  only 
change  the'location  .to  some  other  liird)  of  the  same  tree.  It  usually  leaves  its 
breeding  grounds  for  the  south  in  Septend)er. 

The  nundjer  of  eggs  to  a  set  varies  from  two  to  four;  sets  of  threo  are  7riost 
often  found,  while  those  of  four  are  very  rare.  They  can  not  be  distinguished 
from  those  of  tho  preceding  species,  and  tho  same  description  will  answer  for 
both,  but  they  are  a  trifie  smaller. 

The  avorago  measurement  of  eighty-eight  eggs  in  the  United  StJites  National 
Museum  collection  is  17.!)7  by  13.61  millimetres,  or  about  0-71  by  0..')4  inch. 
The  largest  ogg  of  the  series  measures  IDO.")  by  16.24  millimetres,  or  0.75  by 
O.GO  inch;  the  smallest,  Ifi  by  1'2.!)5  millimotres,  or  0  63  by  O.Hl  inch. 

The  typo  specimens,  Nos.  20r)36  and  20541  (PI.  2,  Figs.  20  and  21),  from 
tho  Hendire  collection,  were  taken  by  the  writer  at  Fort  Klamath,  Oregon,  on 
Juy  7,  1882,  and  July  18,  1883,  respectively,  each  set  containing  three  eggs, 
and  these  represent  the  heavier  and  lighter  colored  patterns  of  markings,  while 
No.  2(i063  (PI.  2,  Fig.  22),  from  a  set  of  two  eggs,  taken  near  Santa  Ysabel, 
Califoniia,  by  Mr.  II.  W.  Ilenshaw,  ou  June  9,  1893,  represents  an  intermediate 
type  of  (ioloration. 

■  Survoyit  Went  of  tho  lOOtb  Heridliui,  VoL  V,  1876,  pp.  3i>l-355. 


Till-;  YKLLOWHKI.LIKI)  l-'liYCATCIIKK. 


295 


log.    Empidonax  flaviventris  IUird. 

VKLM>W-HKI<MKI»  KI.V(!AT(lli:H. 

Tj/rnHHula  flnrirfntriM  FUiun  (W.  M.  »tH.  I''.),  l'r(M'<'»«liiij{H  AciMlf'iiiy  Nuliiml  S«'it'iiooM, 

l>liiliMl<'l|iliiu,  I'u.,  .Inly,  IHI.'t,  i>.s:<. 
h'miiiiloHOjrfdrii'eHtiiii  llAlRii,  lilnlH  of  Nortli  Aiiicruui,  IMS,  1!W 

(H  lit,  <!  2511,  u .122, 0  asM,  II  im.) 

OKOOKAiMlirAi.  KANOK:  KaHtom  Xortli  Ainnricit;  iiortli  to  tlii>  HontluMii  )>ortl<)iiH  of 
Lithi'iidiir  iiikI  llio  NorlliciiHl  Territory;  wcHt  to  Mikiiltnbii  luiil  MiiiiKMotii;  Noiitli  in 
winter  thruiiKli  ciiHttTii  Mexico  iiiiil  Cuiitnil  Ainorira  to  Piiiiiinut.    Cikmnilly  to  OrtMjnIiuiil. 

'riio  Ycllow-hi'lliol  Flycatclior  is  n  Humiiicr  roHidciit  in  tlu*  ii<»rtlu»rn  toroHt 
iiiul  iiKmntniii  rofjioiiH  «it'  tli«»  United  States,  and  In'oeds  from  Massaelmst'tts 
and  N<^w  York  northward  tliron}^li  tlie  maritime  provinces  of  tiie  Dominion  of 
Canada  to  sontliern  Laltrador  and  tlio  Northeast  'I'c-rritory,  where  I'rof  Jolin 
Maconn  reports  this  species  as  common  about  Lake  Mistassinni,  in  hititiwU)  r)l°, 
h>n;ritude  72"  and  7.'{^,  and  it  probably  ])asses  beytaid  this  point.  It  lias  also 
been  recorded  as  breedinfj  rejfidarly  in  th(»  Alhf^hany  Mountains,  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  probably  will  yet  be  fomid  its  a  rare  summer  resident  at  points 
considerably  farther  south,  as  in  tlu»  Smoky  Mountains  of  North  Carolina,  etc. 
In  the  west  it  is  recorded  as  a  rejfular  suninu^r  resident  in  eastern  Manitoba  and 
Miimesota,  and  probably  breetls  also  in  northern  Wisconsin.  It  passes  smith  in 
winter  tlirou<jfli  eastern  ^[exi(•o  and  Central  America  to  Panama.  Several 
8pe(uniens  have  iieeii  recorded  from  Greenland. 

Within  the  limits  of  the  Unitetl  States  the  YoUow-belHed  Flycatcher  seems 
to  bo  fairly  common  in  the  northern  New  Eiif^land  States,  while  in  the  Adiron- 
dacks  and  Catskil's,  in  New  York,  it  must  be  considered  as  rather  rare.  This 
apiiarent  rarity  is  due  jierhaps  more  to  its  unobtrusive  habits,  its  retirinj^  nature, 
and  favorite  haunts  duriiifr  the  breedinj^  season;  as  it  fretjuents  the  dark,  moist 
recesses  of  the  forests,  which  at  this  time  of  the  year  abound  with  bitinjf  insect 
pests  of  all  kinds,  and  which  for  that  reason  are  usually  shunned  by  all  but 
truly  enthusiastic  ornitholofifists  and  ofilogists.  As  far  as  my  observations  go 
(and  they  are  rather  limited)  I  consider  this  species  the  mo.st  silent  and  retirinjj^ 
of  all  our  Flycatchers,  and,  althoii},di  it  may  be  much  more  coniinoii  in  suitable 
localities  durin<^  the  brecidiiiff  season  than  it  appears  to  be,  it  is  but  rarely  seen 
at  this  time  indcss  accidentally  flushed  from  its  nest.  In  the  Adirondack  moini- 
tains,  where  I  have  met  with  it,  it  was  observed  only  in  ja-iniitive  mixed  and 
rather  open  woods,  where  the  {around  was  thickly  strewn  with  decaying,  moss- 
covered  logs  and  boles,  and  almost  constantly  shaded  from  the  rays  of  the  sun. 
The  most  gloomy-looking  places,  fairly  reeking  witli  moisture,  where  nearly 
every  inch  of  ground  is  covered  with  a  luxuriant  car|)et  of  .spagnum  moss,  into 
w»  li  one  sinks  several  inches  at  every  step,  regions  swarming  with  mosquitoes 
and  olack  tli(fs,  are  the  localities  that  seem  to  constitute  their  favorite  sunnner 
haunts,  and  it  is  not  surprising  to  me  that  the  eggs  of  this  Flycatcher  are  still 


:•  '  f 


1i'l 

^■■i. 


ilt  :■ 


296 


LIFE  HISTOKIES  OF  NOllTU  AMEltlCAN  BIRDS. 


mm^ 


f  1 


'  .J"    .v.<? 

f-i'-    r.  ' 


so  raro  in  most  oolofyic-al  colloctions.  I  have  only  been  able  to  observe  this 
species  in  the  vicinity  of  its  nest,  and  can  not  add  much  infctrmation  in  regard 
to  its  general  habits.  Its  call  note  is  a  low,  plaintive  "jieeh  peeh,"  the  last  part 
more  emphasized ;  another,  an  alarm  note,  sounds  like  "turri  turri;"  the  same 
note  I  put  down  the  previous  season  as  "trehe-eh,  trehe-eh,"  with  the  remark 
that  it  reminded  me  »(unewhat  of  the  sound  produced  by  slidinj>'  a  fin<,fer  over  a 
vi(din  strinjjf. 

Its  food  probably  consists  exclusively  of  small  insects,  which  ccfrtainlj'  are 
abundant  c  >u{,di  in  the  places  fre(|uented  by  it.  It  arrives  on  its  breediiifj^ 
•jrttunds  in  our  Northern  States  during  tlu^  last  two  weeks  in  May,  and  nidifica- 
tion  usually  begins  about  the  second  week  in  June,  occurring  somewhat  later 
farther  north. 

We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  11.  A.  Purdie  for  the  first  authentic  description  of 
the  nest  and  eggs  of  the  Yellow-bellied  Flycatcher  (see  "Hulletin  Nuttall  Orni- 
thological Club,"  Vol.  Ill,  1873,  pp.  irjn-KJH),  and  siiute  then  the  correctness  of 
his  identification  has  been  fully  verified.  Dr.  A.  K.  Fi.sher  took  a  handsome  set 
of  four  eggs  on  June  26,  1882,  in  the  Catskill  Alountains,  Ulster  County,  New 
York,  near  the  aunnnit  of  Slide  Mountain,  at  an  altitude  of  over  i\,fA)0  feet. 
'IMiese  he  generously  presented  to  the  United  States  National  Museum,  which 
was  the  first  genuine  set  in  this  collection.  The  locality  where  it  was  found 
and  the  nest  itself  are  thus  described : 

"On  the  slope  whereon  tlu^  ])irds  had  made  their  home  an  al)undant  growth 
of  bright-green  moss  invested  the  rugged  configuration  of  the  surfiice  and 
enfolded  the  scattered  remains  of  trees — ancestors,  ])erhaj)s,  of  the  yotnig  growth 
of  balsams  which  clustered  about  the  spot  and  afi'orded  seclusion  to  the  little 
pair  that  had  come  among  them.  The  nest  was  built  in  a  cavity  scooped  in  a 
bed  of  moss  facing  the  side  of  a  low  rock.  The  cavity  had  l)een  e.\cavated  to  a 
depth  of  2J  inches  and  was  2  inches  across.  The  opening,  but  little  le.ss  than 
the  width  of  the  nest,  was  9  inches  from  the  ground,  and,  partially  hidden  by 
overh.anging  roots,  revealed  the  eggs  within  only  to  close  inspection. 

"The  primary  foinidation  of  the  nest  was  a  layer  of  brown  rootlets;  ui)oii 
this  rested  the  bulk  of  the  structure,  consisting  of  moss  matted  togetlier  with 
fine-broken  weed  stalks  and  other  fragmentary  material.  The  inner  nest  coidd 
l)e  removed  entire  from  the  outer  wall,  and  was  comi)oscd  of  a  loosely  woven 
but,  from  its  thickness,  somewhat  dense  fabric  of  fine  materials,  consisting 
mainly  of  the  bleached  stems  of  some  .slender  sedge  and  the  black  and  shining 
rootlets  of,  apj)arently.  ferns,  closely  resemljling  horsehair.  Between  the  two 
sections  of  the  structure,  and  ajjpearing  otdy  when  they  were  separated,  was  a 
scant  layer  of  the  glossy  orange  pedicels  of  a  moss  (rnh/trirlinm)  not  a  fragment 
of  wlii(!h  was  elsewhere  visible.  The  walls  of  the  internal  nest'were  about  on(*- 
half  an  inch  in  thickness,  and  had  doubtless  been  accom})lislied  with  a  view  of 
protection  from  dami)ness. 

"Prof.  Daniel  C.  Eiiton,  of  New  TFaven,  very  kindly  assumed  the  task  of 
determiuiug  the  difi'ereut  species  of  moss  which  entered  into  the  composition 


THE  YELLOW-BELLIED  FLYCATCHER. 


297 


of  th(i  nest  and  of  tlio  moss  hed  in  which  it  rested,  and  liis  iiive»ti<;ation  disclohcd 
tlie  fart  that  the  mosses  whieli  ahoinided  immediately  about  the  nest  liad  not 
heen  utilized  as  buildin;,''  material.  As  dc^termined  by  l*r(»fessor  Katon,  the 
species  of  niosH  coin|iosin},'  the  bed  were  IhfpHHin  iinihiatmii,  Jl//j)niii)i  spliiitlem, 
][ff}titii))i  .srhnhni,  Jfi/pintm  tri.std-ca.stmisis.  Thosc^  appeariuff  in  tlm  nest  were 
Jli/ptiitm  iindlrrionKm,  lljipiium  mnhktihcrl'ii  (?),  DicniiiKiii  loufiifoVixm,  Diciaiiiiiii 
Jiai/cllinr,  J'i)li)trirlium  commune,  and  /'oli/trirlntmfoimosiim.  With  these  occurred 
the  following  ne|)atica>:  Ifasfii/tihri/Km  frilolxiiiim,  Scapaiiid  alhicans,  and  Cvpha- 
loz'ut  hicKspiiliitd.  In  addition  there  were  found  amonj"'  the  materials  of  construc- 
tion catkin  scah's  of  the  birch,  leaves  of  the  balsam,  and  fnrgments  of  the  dried 
pinna'  of  ferns;  but,  as  su'i<,'estod  by  Professor  Katon,  the  presence  of  somo 
of  these  was  probably  accidental.  Sprin^iinj;-  from  the  verdant  mo.ss  beds 
iinme-iiately  about  the  nest  were  scattered  plants  of  Oralis  (udosdla,  Trieiitafis 
(niirriciiiKi,  Si>liilni/i)  fhi/rsnitlcii,  nnd  Cliiihoiia  horciilis."^ 

I  am  indeltted  to  Dr.  William  L.  Ralph  for  the  opportunity  of  .studyinpf  the 
nestin;.5'  habits  of  this  interestinff  Flycatcher.  While  on  a  tour  of  observation 
iu  the  southwestern  portions  of  the  Adirondack  mimntains  in  Herkimer  C<mnty, 
New  York,  while  j)assin<^  throuj^h  u  swampy  piece  of  mixed  woods  which  waa 
free  from  undergrowth  in  this  particular  spot,  l)ut  mostly  covered  with  dense 
alder  thickets  in  the  innnediate  vicinity,  a  nest  and  four  eggs  of  this  species  was 
found  on  .hme  17,  1H!(2.  The  nest  was  placed  among  the  u])turned  roots  of  a 
medium-sized  s[)ruce  tree,  to  which  considerable  soil,  which  was  entirely  covered 
with  a  Uixuriar.t  growth  t»f  si)agnum  moss,  was  still  attached.  This  perijcndio 
ular  moss  and  fern  covered  surface  measm-ed  about  (j  by  8  feet.  The  nest  was 
sunk  into  the  moss  and  soil  behind,  about  14  iiuOies  above  the  ground;  the 
entrance  was  partly  hidden  by  some  ferns  and  the  growing  moss  around  it,  and, 
taken  all  in  all,  it  was  one  of  the  neatest  and  most  cunningly  hiildeii  pieces  of  bird 
architecture  1  have  ever  seen.  I  might  have  walked  ])ast  a  dozen  times  without 
noticing  it.  It  contained  four  eggs,  in  which  incubation  was  about  one-third 
advanced.  The  entrance  was  nearly  circular,  and  measured  about  1^  inches 
iu  diameter.  The  inner  cup  of  the  nest  itself  measured  al)out  2  inches  iu 
fliaineter  and  1^  inches  in  depth.  It  was  composed  of  tine  grasses  and  a  few 
lilack,  hair-like  rootlets  and  flower  stems  of  mosses.  A  couple  of  days  after 
iinding  tliis  nest  a  Y('llow-l)elli<'d  Flycatcher  was  seen  flitting  about  the  upturned 
roots  of  a  tree  about  150  yards  from  when!  the  first  was  taken,  but  a  most 
careful  search  failed  to  reveal  the  location  of  the  nest,  if  a  second  pair  bred 
there. 

On  a  sub.sequent  visit  to  the  same  locality,  on  Juno  H,  180.3,  a  second  ne.st 
was  found,  containing  two  eggs;  the.se  were  left  until  .June  10,  when  there  were 
fiiiu'.  This  nest  was  placed  not  over  10(»  feet  from  the  former,  and  was  proliably 
built  by  the  same  pair  of  birds  which  nested  there  the  previous  year.  The 
nesting  site  was  in  a  swampy  wood,  composed  mostly  of  spruce  and  tamarack 
trees,  in  a  slight  hollow  in  the  side  of  and  at  the  foot  of  a  suiall  mound  alxmt  one 


■  TruUBiictiuuu  Liiimi'mi  Society,  \'ol.  I,  18S2,  pp.  Kit,  161'. 


t? 


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U'l 


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fl 


.►J  ;  '.1.  ii«*x. 

mm 


lil 


IP 


298 


LIFK  niSTOltlES  OF  NOKTH  AMERICAN  BIBDa. 


foot  high,  covered  witli  Hjiafriuiiii  moss,  Ccptis  tri/olia,  Oxalis  acetosella,  and  there 
were  also  a  few  other  small  plants  growing  from  it.  A  single  stem  of  a  small 
bush  protmded  from  the  top  f)f  the  opening.  The  hollow  in  which  the  nest  was 
placed  was  lined  with  fine,  dry  gi-ass  and  black,  hair-like  rootlets. 

I  think  only  one  brood  is  raised  in  a  season,  as  a  most  carefid  search 
failed  to  reveal  a  second  nest  in  the  vicinity.  'Hie  birds  were  not  seen  afterwards, 
although  the  locality  was  visited  several  times.  The  return  migration  com- 
mences usually  in  the  hitter  jiart  of  August,  and  none  winter  in  the  United 
States.  Four  eggs  aie  ordinarilylaid  to  a  set;  veiy  rarely  five.  Their  shape 
is  usually  ovate;  the  shell  is  close  grained,  rather  frail,  and  without  hi.ster.  The 
ground  color  is  dull  white,  and  the  fine  markings,  which  are  u.sually  minute 
and  generall)-  heaviest  about  the  larger  end  of  the  egg,  vary  from  (unnamon 
rufous  to  walnut  brown ;  o(!casionally  a  specimen  shows  a  speck  or  two  of 
heliotropes  purple. 

The  average  measurement  of  sixteen  eggs  in  the  United  States  Nation.-d 
Museum  collection  is  1(!.94  by  I2.!>l  millimetres,  or  about  0.(>7  by  O.f)!  inch. 
The  largest  egg  measures  17.5;$  by  13.21  millimetres,  or  O.fil)  by  O.o2  inch;  the 
smallest,  16.2fi  by  12.70  millimetres,  or  O.fU  by  01)0  inch. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  25.597  (PI.  2,  Fig.  23),  Ralph  collection,  from  a.  .set 
of  four  eggs,  was  taken  by  Dr.  William  L.  Ralph,  June  17,  1892,  near  Wilnmrt, 
Herkimer  Comity,  New  York,  and  represents  about  an  average-marked  o'^g  of 
tliis  species. 

1 10.     Empidonax  difiicilis  Raird. 

WESTERN  FLYCATCnKR. 

Empidonax  lUffivilis  Baiud,  Birds  of  Nortli  Anuirica,  1858,  198  (in  text). 
(B  lUn;  C  2.->i»,  part;  It  323;  C  .380;  U  404.) 

(lEOOUAi'iiioAL  UANOE:  Western  North  America ;  east  to  tbo  eastern  foothills  of  the 
Bocky  Moniitsii'is  and  adjacent  ranges;  north  to  southern  Ahiska;  south  to  Lower  Cali- 
fornia, and  in  winter  through  western  Mexico  to  Costa  Rica,  Central  America. 

The  breeding  range  of  the  Western  Flyciatcher,  also  known  as  the  "West- 
era  Yellow-bellied"  and  "Raird's"  Flycatcher,  extends  through  western  North 
America  from  Hot  Si)iing  Ray  in  southern  Alaska  (where  Dr.  T.  H.  Reaii  took 
a  specimen  on  June  5,  18S(),  and  informs  me  tliat  it  is  not  at  all  uncommon), 
through  Rritish  Ci>lumbia  and  the  Pacific  Coast  States,  south  to  northern  I^ower 
California,  Arizcma,  New  Mexico,  and  probably  weste.n  Texas,  and  in  tlie  inte- 
rior, through  Utah,  Nevada,  Idaho,  western  Montana,  Wyoming,  and  (■olonido. 

Judging  from  the  various  records,  the  Western  Flycatcher  sei'ins  to  lie 
much  more  common  in  the  coast  districts  west  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  and('ascade 
ranges  than  in  the  interior,  Imt  it  is  also  fairly  common  in  C!olorado,  Arizonn, 
and  portions  of  New  Mexico.  Mr.  R.  S.  Williams  found  it  Ijrceding  in  Relt 
Canyon,  Montana,  and  kindly  sent  to  the  United  States  National  Museuin  col- 
lection both  skins  and  eggs  from  that  locality. 


THE  WESTEllN  FLYCATCEER. 


299 


Personally  I  have  never  met  with  this  species  in  eastern  Washington  or 
Idaho;  and  only  once  near  Fort  Klamath,  Oref{'on,  where  I  found  a  nest,  con- 
taining four  half-grown  young,  among  tlie  roots  of  a  spruce  tree  growing  close 
to  the  banks  of  Anna  (^reek,  a  small  mountain  stream  some  4  miles  north  of  the 
fort,  on  July  6,  1882. 

Mr.  Charles  A.  Allen,  of  Nicasio,  Califoniia,  has  kindly  furnished  me  the 
following  notes  on  the  Western  Flycatcher:  "1  tind  it  a  very  widely  distributed 
species  throughout  this  ])art  of  the  Sta+3,  both  among  the  forests  on  the  highest 
hills,  where  there  is  not  a  drop  of  water  for  long  di.stances,  and  along  the  banks 
of  brooks  and  streams  in  the  lowlands;  in  fact,  anywhere  where  it  can  find 
shelter  and  shade,  of  which  it  is  very  fond.  I  have  found  its  nests  in  all  sorts  of 
situations;  .sometimes  in  a  small  tree,  placed  in  the  upright  forks  of  the  main 
stem;  again  on  the  side  of  the  stem,  where  a  small  stub  of  a  limb  or  some 
sprout.',  grew  out;  or  in  a  slight  cavity  in  a  tree*  trunk;  against  an  old  stump  or 
a  root  which  had  been  washed  down  during  a  flood  in  the  middle  of  a  stream; 
among  cm"led-up  roots  near  the  water,  etc.  1  have  foimd  a  nund)cr  of  nests, 
when  fishing  for  trout,  by  flushing  the  bird  from  under  a  bank;  and  on  stooping 
down  and  l(M)king  I  found  the  nest  nicelj'  concealed  by  the  deeji-groen  moss, 
such  as  covered  the  surrounding  stones.  They  always  use  this  jjarticular  kind 
of  moss,  no  matter  where  the  nest  is  placed.  Occasionally  they  nest  in  deserted 
woodcutters'  huts,  in  outbuildings  near  cover,  and  a  friend  of  mine  has  s(jme 
large  water  tanks  in  the  woods  back  of  his  house,  where  for  nineteen  consecu- 
tive years  these  l)irds  have  built  imder  the  covered  roofs  of  these  tanks.  I 
know  of  no  place  in  this  locality  where  they  do  not  breed,  excepting  in  very 
open  country. 

"Its  song  consists  of  a  soft,  low  note.  It  shows  much  distress  when  its 
nest  is  taken,  uttering  then  a  low,  wailing  note,  like  '})ee-eu,  pee-eu,'  and  fre- 
quently flutters  about  the  person  taking  it  and  snapj)ing  its  mandibles  together. 
Its  food  consists  of  insects,  which  are  caught  by  darting  after  them  from  its 
perch  on  some  dead  twig  or  Hnd»,  and  it  seldom  fails  to  cai)ture  its  victim." 

Mr.  II.  P.  Lawrence  writes  me:  "I  occasionally  met  with  this  species  on  the 
coast.  In  my  diary  I  find  this  description  of  their  call  noti-s  or  song:  June  14, 
IHDl,  at  Quinnaidt  Lake,  Washington,  'ix'-wit,  jjc-wit,'  uttered  energetically,  or 
'wo-twee-eet,'  witli  vigor.  On  June  "Jd,  IS!) I,  at  Huniptulips,  same  .State,  they 
a"e  put  down  as  sounding  like  'per-tee-t-weet,'  or  'thweet'-put'-twcet','  uttered 
in  jerky,  spiteful  accents." 

In  Hclt  Canyon,  i^fontana,  on  July  0,  188!>,  Mr.  U.  S.Williams  found  the 
Western  Flycatcher  nestiiig  in  a  narrow  fissinc  of  limestone,  about  7  feet  al)ove 
the  base  of  the  wall.  A  nest  ol)served  i»y  Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony,  near  Iloward.s- 
ville,  San  Juan  County,  Colorado,  on  June  "Jo,  was  placed  on  a  h^dge  of  rock, 
about  10  feet  abovt^  a  wagon  road,  and  looked  like  a  largt!  ball  of  green  nio.ss, 
with  a  neat  littht  cup  in  tlu*  center,  liiie<l  with  cow  and  ]iors(^  hair.  It  contained 
a  single  ii'^<x  when  first  fitund,  and  a  set  of  four  on  July  .'i.  Nests  of  this  species 
have  also  been  taken  by  Mr.  Denis  Gale  on  ditferent  occasions  near  Cndd  Hill, 


'lA 


:.-  i 


'  ■  I 


300 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


mi  I 


M. 


liil 


Colorado.  A  nest  and  four  fresh  egg«,  kindly  presented  by  him  to  the  United 
States  National  Museum  collection,  wore  found  at  an  altitude  of  OifjOO  feet, 
on  June  27,  1S8!).  It  was  placed  in  dense  woods,  30  inches  from  the  ground. 
Mr.  A.  M.  Injfei-soll  reports  findiufy  a  nest  of  this  species  at  the  bottom  of  a  hole 
5  inches  deo]),  made  by  a  Ked-shafted  Flicker  in  a  live  oak;  nests  have  also  been 
taken  in  piles  of  driftwood,  on  beams  under  bridjyes,  etc.  Dr.  C.  T.  Cooke  also 
found  several  of  their  nests  and  ej^gs  near  Salem,  Oregon,  in  willow  and  cotton- 
wood  thickets. 

The  Western  Flycatcher  usually  anives  in  the  more  soiithern  parts  of  its 
breeding  range  about  April  1,  imd  con-espondingly  Later  farther  north.  In  the 
southern  half  of  California  it  nests  sometimes  as  early  as  the  last  ten  days  in 
April,  but  moi'e  frequently  during  the  first  week  in  May,  while  in  the  mountains 
of  Colorado  and  Montana  it  delays  nidificaticm  until  the  last  half  of  June,  and 
occasionally  oven  later.  I  believe  that  in  California  two  broods  are  sometimes 
raised  in  a  season,  and  this  Flycatcher  will  lay  as  many  as  four  sets  of  eggs  in 
a  year,  if  those  jireviously  laid  are  taken. 

A  coiTespondeut  of  the  Nidiologist,  writing  from  Alameda,  California,  and 
signing  himself  D.  A.  C[(dien],  makes  the  following  interesting  statement  in  the 
December  number,  1H!»3,  p.  51: 

"In  May  of  1886  I  found  a  nest  of  the  Western  Flycatcher,  Emphhmtx 
difficiUs,  situated  on  a  ri?fter  in  a  cow  barn  and  only  4  feet  from  the  ground.  As 
I  approached  closely  to  the  nest  four  young  birds  of  this  species  fluttered  down 
to  the  ground  and  shutlleti  along  and  out  of  sight  In  the  bottom  of  the  nest 
was  a  set  of  four  eggs,  which,  upon  l)eing  blown,  showed  that  incubation  had 
begun  at  different  periods  for  each  egg,  but  the  eml)ryos  had  not  formed  yet 
in  any  of  them.  Had  the  young  birds  not  been  disturbed  they  would  have 
remained  in  the  nest  two  or  three  days  longer.  The  mother  had  deposited  the 
eggs  so  the  heat  from  the  nestlings  Avould  save  her  about  a  week's  time  sitting 
on  the  eggs." 

In  the  southern  portions  of  their  breeding  range  they  rarely  leave  for  their 
winter  homes  before  the  latter  part  of  October.  Mr.  L.  Holding  states  that  lie 
saw  a  specimen  in  San  Diego  County,  California,  in  December,  and  thinks  a  few 
remain  there  dining  ordinary  winters. 

From  what  has  already  been  stated  it  will  be  seen  that  the  Western  Fly- 
catcher is  not  at  all  particular  in  the  selection  of  a  nesting  site;  it  may  be  on  the 
ground,  well  hidden  from  view,  or  in  a  tree,  in  a  more  or  less  exposed  situation 
from  5  to  20  feet  \i\). 

The  nest  is  composed  of  weed  stems,  dry  grasses,  plant  fibers  and  <lown, 
strips  of  the  inner  bark  of  the  redwood,  fine  rootlets,  dead  leaves,  and  bits  of  moss. 
It  is  usually  lined  with  finer  materials  of  the  same  kind,  and  occasionally  with 
horse  and  cattle  hair  or  a  few  feathers.  Tiie  outside  of  the  ne.st  is  usuall}'  coated 
with  green  mctss  when  ol)tainal)le,  but  some  nests  before  me  show  no  trace  of 
this  in  their  composition.  They  are  generally  i)laced  not  far  from  water,  but 
there  are  exceptions  to  this.     A  well-preserved  uest  now  before  me,  taken  by 


TIIK  WESTEKN  FLYCATCUEU. 


301 


Mr.  R.  8.  Willituiis  on  July  6,  1H91,  in  liolt  River  Canyon,  Alontana,  measures 
4  indies  in  outer  dianieter  by  2  inolies  in  height.  The  inner  cup  measures  2^ 
inches  by  1:|  inches  <leoi).  It  is  a  rather  hiosely  built  structure,  and  a  good  deal 
of  moss  enters  into  its  construction.  Three  or  tbin-  eggs  are  laid  to  u  set,  usually 
four;  I  know  of  a  single  instance  only  of  five  having  been  taken.' 

The  eggs  vary  in  slia])e  from  ovate  to  short  and  rounded  ovate;  the  shell  is 
smooth,  close  grained,  and  without  luster.  The  grouml  color  is  usually  dull 
white  or  pale  creamy  white,  and  the  eggs  are  blotched  and  spotted  with  cinna- 
mon rufous  and  lighter  shades  of  buft'  pink.  In  the  majority  of  sjiecimens  these 
markings  are  heaviest  about  the  larger  end,  but  in  a  few  they  are  more  evenly 
distributed  over  the  entire  egg.  Wiiile  they  resemble  the  eggs  of  the  Yellow- 
bellied  Flycatcher  c(»nsideral)ly,  and  are  of  nearly  the  same  size,  the  sjwts  are, 
an  a  rule,  coarser  and  heavier. 

The  average  measurement  of  fifty-eight  eggs  in  the  United  tStates  National 
Museum  collection  is  16.8G  by  13.12  millimetres  or  about  (>.(J(!  by  01)2  inch. 
The  large.st  egg  of  the  series  measures  18.80  l)y  13.72  millimetres,  or  0.74  by 
0.54  inch;  the  .smallest,  15.24  by  12.45  millimetres,  or  0.(J0  l»y  0.4!)  inch. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  24l)()0  (I'l.  2,  Fig.  24),  from  a  set  of  four  eggs,  Kalj)h 
ctdlection,  taken  near  llaywai'ds,  California,  June  4,  18S2,  rejiresents  one  of  the 
smaller  and  lightly  marked  eggs,  while  No.  25072  (I'l.  2,  Fig.  25),  from  a  set  of 
three,  taken  by  Mr.  William  G.  Smith,  near  I'inewood,  Colorado,  June  12,  1890, 
shows  a  larger-sized  and  heavier-marked  specimen. 


III.     Empidonax  cineritius  Hhkwstkk. 

ST.  I.UUAS  I'l,Y(ATCni:i{. 


,  m 


fi>i 


Empidonax  eineritim  ItiiEWsrioit,  Auk,  V,  .lun.,  ISSS, !»((. 

(H  — ,  C  — ,  U  — ,  C  — ,  I)  4(i4,  1.) 


(iEoGKAiMUCAi,  UA.Mii;:     Ijowei' Ciilit'oriiiii. 

Very  little  is  yet  known  al)out  this  recently  described  species.  It  ai)peais 
to  occin-  only  in  the  I'eniiisida  of  Lower  Calitoruia.  The  type  was  obtained  at 
La  Ijaguna,  and  since  then  specimens  have  also  been  taken  on  Santa  Margarita 
Island,  Comondu,  and  San  Menito.  Mr.  W.  A.  Anthony  writes  me  that  he  found 
the  St.  Lucas  Flycatcher  abundant  along  tlie  willow-lined  .streams  of  the  San 
I'edro  Martir  Mountains  in  the  spring  of  1.S1I3,  an<l  cpiite  rare  in  the  mes(piite 
thickets  in  an  iirroifa  near  the  old  mission  of  San  Fernando,  not  far  from  San 
Quentin,  Lower  California,  evidently  nesting,  but  as  no  nests  and  eggs  could 
be  found,  they  still  remain  imknown,  and  nothing  farther  has  yet  been  recorded 
about  its  habits,  etc. 


w 


'tin 


:-'r.i 


I  See  BuUetiu  Nuttull  Oiiiitliiilogicul  Club,  Vol.  VI,  18S1,  p.  ll'J. 


1 1 


ii 


302 


LIFE  UISTORIE8  OF  NOllTil  AMEIUUAN  lilliDS. 


0':i:} 


h^t 


•  i^  i 


'\i 


1  ^".i 


I 


112.    Empidcnax  acadicus  (Gmklin). 

ACADIAN  FLVCATCIIEU. 

MiiHcivapa  avntUra  Omiolin,  Systeinii  Xatunc,  F,  ii,  1788,  917. 
Empidonu-x  avudkuH  ItAiiJl),  Itirds  of  North  Ainericii,  1858,  l!)7. 

(B  14;5,  (J  Uati,  K  ,{L'4,  (J  ;t84,  U  405.) 

Oeooraphical  eanqe:  Eastern  North  Amcrit'a;  north  to  southern  New  England, 
southern  New  York,  Peniiaylvania,  southern  Miebijtan,  Wisconsin,  and  Minnesota,  to 
southern  Manitoba;  west  to  eastern  Nebraska,  eastern  Kansas,  the  eastern  ]>arts  of  the 
Indian  Territ<ny,  and  Texas;  south  in  winter  through  eastern  Mexico  and  Central  Auieriia 
to  Ecuador,  South  America,  and  the  Island  of  Cuba. 

Tlio  bree(lin{T  ran<?o  of  tlio  Acndian  Flycatclier,  also  known  as  tlio  "(Irceu- 
crested  Flyfatclior,"  oxtends  from  Florida  and  our  Southern  States  bordcrin}"; 
the  Gulf  coast,  north  to  southern  New  York,  the  lower  Hudson  Hivcr  Valley, 
and  possibly  occasionally  to  the  Connecticut  Hiver  Valley  in  southern  New 
Enjrland,  the  }>reater  part  of  i'ennsylvania,  Ohio,  southern  Michi<^an,  Wisconsin, 
and  Minnesota,  to  the  Province  of  Manitoba  Dominion  of  Canada.  In  the  West  it 
reaches  to  eastern  Nebraska,  eastern  Kansas,  the  Indian  Territory,  and  somewhat 
beyond  the  eastern  half  of  Texas,  where  Mr.  II.  P.  Attwater  found  it  breediujjf 
on  the  Medina  River,  \b  miles  south  of  San  Antonio,  Texas,  in  ,June,  181)1, 
and  sent  mo  the  nest,  which  mupiestionably  is  of  this  sj)ecies.  Mr.  Frank  M. 
Chapman  found  it  l)reedinj'-  near  (Jainesville,  Florida,  takinjf  a  nest  and  two 
half-incu))ated  ejij^s  on  May  !».  Dr.  Leverett  M.  Loomis  reports  it  as  a  conunon 
summer  resident  in  Chester,  Greenville,  and  Pickens  counties.  South  Candina. 
■Phe  late  Dr.  William  C.  Avery  stated  that  it  is  conunon  in  .southern  Alabama. 
It  is  known  to  bree<l  in  Louisiana  and  I'astern  Texas,  and  may  be  called  fairly 
counaon  in  suitable  localities  throuj^hout  our  Middle  States.  The  northern 
limits  of  its  breediu};-  ran^e  are  not  as  positively  estaldished  as  they  might  be, 
due  to  the  facit  that  this  species  is  ciften  mistaken  for  Eiup'tihiid.r  jiksiUiih  tniilli, 
wiiich  it  somewhat  resembles,  as  do  the  efifis,  but  tiiere  is  no  resemblance  in  the 
nests. 

Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher  found  the  Acadian  Flycatcher  a  regular  sununer  visitor  in 
the  vicinity  of  Sing  Sing,  New  York,  ami  took  several  nests  and  eggs  there, 
which  arc*  now  in  tiie  Fnited  States  National  Museum  collection;  tiiis  locality 
marks  about  the  most  northern  point  of  its  range  in  the  east.  1  believe,  how- 
ever, that  it  occasionally  breeds  ,-:"'l  farther  north  in  this  State,  as  Mr.  W.  F. 
Webit  sent  me  a  nest  and  three  eggs  which  he  identifieil  as  ludonging  to  this 
species,  taken  July  4,  1S!)1,  near  Meridian,  Cayuga  County,  New  York.  The 
nest  certainly  looks  like  a  typical  one  of  Eiii})iili))i(ix  ticiidiciis,  and  there  is  a 
skin  now  in  the  United  States  National  Mu.seum  collection,  taki'U  at  Amsterdam, 
Montgomery  County,  New  York,  June  f),  188;"),  which  further  confirms  this  sup- 
position. In  Penn.sylvania  it  is  a  common  sununer  resident,  and  also  in  south- 
ern Michigan,  where  tiie  late  Cai)t.  H.  V\  Goss  found  it  breeding,  and  whence 


\h^!=rsi 


THE  ACADIAN  FLYCATCUElt. 


303 


ho  Hcnt  a  nest  and  a  sot  of  oggs  to  tlio  3[u8oiiin  (collection.  Mr.  .J.  W.  Preston 
writes  nio  that  it  is  (common  in  Hanlin  County,  lown,  describinj^  tlio  nest  as  a 
frail,  seniii)onsilo  structnro,  fastened  to  a  fork  near  the  extremity  of  drooping 
branches,  G  or  8  foot  from  the  jfrountl,  and  fo;med  of  vines  of  Lathijrus,  inter- 
woven with  a  few  f^rasses  and  oak  catkins,  fastened  with  spider  webs,  in  thick 
iniderbrush,  but  near  openings.  Dr.  P.  L.  Ilatcii  states  that  it  is  fairly  common 
in  Minnesota.  Mr.  Ernest  E.  Thompson,  in  his  "Hirds  of  Manitoba,"  gives  it  as 
(piito  common  in  the  vicinity  of  Duck  Mountain,  and  Col.  N.  S.  Goss,  in  his 
"Birds  of  Kansas,"  says:  "Not  uncommon  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State,"  and 
ho  also  records  it  from  eastern  Nebraska. 

'I'ho  Acadian  Flycatcher  is  one  of  the  later  migrants  to  an-ive  on  its  breed- 
ing grounds,  and  none  winter  witliin  our  borders.  It  reenters  the  United  States 
from  its  winter  haunts  usually  about  the  middle  of  April,  and  moves  leisurely 
northward,  arriving  on  its  l)reeding  grounds  in  tlie  more  northern  portions  of 
its  range  during  the  last  half  of  May.  In  the  mountain  regions  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, tlie  Virginias,  Nortii  Carolina,  etc.,  it  is  rarely  found  above  an  alti- 
tude of  3,000  feet.  The  favoritcf  summer  haunts  of  this  species  are  generally 
deep,  shady,  second-growth  hard-wood  forests,  on  rather  elevated  gi-ound,  espe- 
cially beech  woods  with  little  inidergrowth,  or  bottom  lands  not  subject  to 
periodical  overflow,  and  not  far  from  water.  In  such  localities  its  pecidiar  call 
notes,  resend)ling  "wick-up"  or  "hick-up,"  interspersed  now  and  then  with  a 
sharp  "(pxeep-queep"  or  "chier-(iueep,"  the  first  8yllal)le  very  (piickly  uttered, 
and  another,  somewhat  like  "whoty,  whoty,"  may  be  fre(piently  heard;  but 
the  bird,  althougli  not  particularly  shy,  is  rarely  seen  while  moving  through  the 
dense  foliage  of  the  lower  limbs  from  tree  to  tree.  I  have  several  times  failed 
to  detect  the  bird  wlieii  I  was  perfectly  certain  it  was  within  20  feet  of  me. 

Like  nearly  all  Flycatchers,  tlu;  Acadian  is  rather  unsociable  and  (piarrel- 
some  with  its  own  kind,  especially  during  tlie  mating  season.  Its  food  consists 
almost  entirely  of  small  insects,  which  are  caught  on  the  wing  and  rarely  missed, 
and  to  a  small  extent  only  on  wild  berries.  It  is  an  extremely  lieneficial  sjtecies, 
doing  no  harm  whatever,  and  deserves  tlie  fullest  jirotection. 

In  our  Northern  States  iiidification  rarely  commences  before  June,  while 
in  the  more  southern  States  it  iiests  sometimes  during  the  first  week  in  May.  In 
the  vicinity  of  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  where  the  Acadian  Fljcsitcher 
is  a  common  summer  resident,  it  usually  breeds  during  the  first  ten  days  in 
.Tune.  Their  favorite  nesting  sites  are  in  drooping  branches  (if  various  sorts  of 
trees  and  bushes,  mostly  beecii,  witch-hazel,  dogwood,  sweet  gum,  hickory,  and 
oak,  and  less  often  in  wild  crab  apjde,  hawthorn,  hemlock,  pine,  cypress,  willow, 
and  birch  trees,  at  heights  ranging  from  about  4  to  20  feet  fnnn  the  ground. 
The  nests,  many  of  which  are  rather  shallow,  open-work,  sieve-like  structures,  are 
seniipensile,  their  upper  rims  being  attached  to  the  foi'k  of  some  .slender  twig,  like 
the  nests  of  the  Vireo.s;  but  do  not  resemble  these  in  any  other  respect,  and  .show 
great  variation  in  size  and  in  the  character  of  the  materials  of  which  they  are 
built.     In  tho  South  many  are  constructed  almost  exclusively  of  Spanish  moss ; 


% 


m 


804 


LIFE  111STOU1E8  OK  NOUTIl  AMEUICAN  UJUDS. 


v.^ 


ill"  *\' 


in  tlio  Nortli  tlu*  body  (if  tlio  newt  is  cninposcd  principally  of  (li'('!iyo<l  fibrous 
nmtcrial,  dark-colored  rootlets  interwoven  with  a  lew  blades  »»t'^rass,  catkins,  dry 
blossoms,  and  usually  decorated  more  or  less  abundantly  with  the  male  aments 
or  catkins  of  oak  or  other  trees.  There  really  is  no  inni-r  lininj;',  and  the  Intttoni 
«»f  the  iiest  is  usually  so  thin  that  the  e;;;;s  can  very  readily  bo  seen  throuj^h  it 
from  below.  In  some  nosts  the  outer  decorations  of  catkins  are  omitted,  and  the 
walls  are  coni|)osed  of  fine  weed  stems,  silky  plant  fil)ers,  and  fin(!  strijjs  of  bark, 
nii.Ned  with  plant  down,  cocoons,  and  spider  webs.  This  style  of  nest  is  appar- 
ently considerable  stron;;er  than  the  former,  and  usually  somewhat  larf^er.  A 
rather  well-built  specimen,  taken  by  Mr.  Charles  W.  Richmond,  .Funo  14,  IHH;"), 
near  Washin^^ton,  District  of  {.'olumbia,  measures  '2'\  inches  in  outer  diameter  by 
2  inches  in  depth,  while  another,  already  mentioned  as  taken  by  Mr.  II.  1*.  Att- 
water  on  the  Medina  Kiver,  Texas,  measures  likewise  2.'j  inches  in  outer  diameter, 
but  only  \\  inches  in  dejjth;  the  inner  cavity  is  »»nly  2  inches  wide  and  about 
three-quarters  of  an  inch  deeii.  There  are  several  other  ni'sts  in  the  collection 
equally  shallow.  Attached  as  they  are  to  slender,  droopinj."-  branches,  it  is  sur- 
prisin<>-  how  the  ejf<;s  are  prevented  from  rollin<i'  out  in  a  heavy  wind  storm  uidess 
the  parent  is  on  the  nest.  Occasionally  one  is  fouiul  which  has  some  of  the 
materials  of  which  it  is  built  hanging  down  from  the  sides,  giving  it  a  very  untidy 
ajtpeaiance 

Mr.  Witmer  Stone  showed  me  a  very  peculiar  nest  of  this  Flycatcher  which 
he  took  on  the  lower  Sus(piehanna  Kiver,  in  York  County,  Pennsylvania,  in  June, 
IS'JO.  It  was  situated  on  the  extremity  of  a  low  branch  of  a  hemlock  tree, 
about  (!  feet  from  the  gnanid,  and  was  con.structed  entirely  of  the  long,  gray 
lichen,  Umm  harhafd.  In  fact,  there  are  three  distinct  types  of  these  nests;  the 
first  and  most  connnon  one  is  more  or  less  abundantly  decorated  with  the  male 
aments  of  dirt'erent  8i»ecies  of  trees;  a  second,  in  which  these  exterior  (trnamonta- 
tions  are  dispensed  with,  and  the  la.st,  where  the  nest  is  liuilt  entirely,  or  in  large 
part,  of  dirt'erent  kinds  of  tree  mosses.  Occasionally  the  Acadian  Flycatcher 
Ijuilds  a  double  ne.st — for  instance,  when  a  (Jowbird  has  deixtsited  an  vi>:<!;  in  one 
just  conq)leted,  before  the  owner  has  laid  in  it.  Mr.  W.  F.  Loucks,  of  IVoria, 
Illinois,  sends  me  such  a  record.  The  nest  foinid  l)y  him  containe<l  a  Cowbird's 
egg  in  the  lower  story  and  three  fresh  eggs  in  the  upper  one.  The  Acadian  Fly- 
catcher is  one  of  the  species  on  which  this  parasite  inqioses  occasionally.  1 
believe  that  but  one  brood  is  raised  in  a  season.  During  the  latter  half  of  Sep- 
temlK'r  the  return  mignition  to  their  wint«'r  homes  commences. 

Th(^  number  of  eggs  to  a  set  varies  from  two  to  four,  while  sets  of  three  are 
most  often  found;  but  sets  of  four  in  certain  sections  of  its  range,  in  Pennsylvania 
for  instance,  are  .said  to  be  not  especially  rare;  an  v^*!;  is  deposited  daily.  In 
shape  they  range  from  ovate  to  an  elliptical  ovate;  the  shell  is  close  grained,  and 
occasionally  slightly  lustrous.  The  ground  color  varies  from  |)ale  cream  to  buff 
color,  and  the  markings  consist  of  moderate-sized  spots,  and  again  of  nun-o  specks, 
ranging  from  livei  brown  and  ferruginous  to  a  light  rufous  tint.  None  of  the 
eggs  are  heavily  spotted,  and  most  of  these  markings  are  generally  concentrated 
about  the  larger  end  of  the  {i'^y;.    Occasionally  one  is  almost  entirely  unspotted. 


' 


Till':  ACADIAN  FLYCATCIIKU. 


:.\():) 


Tim  iivcriiffe  iiU'iisiir<Miu'iit  of  scvciity-Hix  cffijfs  in  tlio  (Tiiit«Ml  Stntos  National 
lyiiisHun  colhM'tion  is  IS. ,'{7  l»y  l.S.M  niilliniotreH,  <tr  about  0.72  hy  (>.r»3  iiicli. 
Tln^  larjjt'st  ('}••{;•  ot"  tho  series  iiu'asuri's  20.07  hy  14.7iJ  niilliim'trcs,  or  0.7!(  l>y 
0.5H  inch;  the  smallest,  16.7(>  hy  12.70  niillinietres,  or  O.tKi  hy  O.AO  inch. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  24S1(;  (PI.  2,  Fiff.  2()),  from  a  set  of  three  ejffrs, 
taken  hy  Mr.  (i.  K.  iMitcIiell,  .Inne  l.'l,  IHHK,  near  Washinj-ton,  District  of 
( 'olnmhia,  represents  one  of  the  li}jhter-coh)re(l  ard  least-marked  specimens, 
while  No.  241M1)  (I'l.  2,  Fi^'.  27),  also  from  a  set  of  three  e^fjjs,  Ralph  collection, 
taken  Jlay  2.H,  18X0,  near  Washinjifton,  Pennsylvania,  represents  ahont  an 
average  egg  of  this  species.' 


113.     Empidonax  pusillus  (  Swainson). 

MTTI.K  I'l.yCATCHEFJ. 

I'ltttiirhynvhnit  inmilluH  SwAiNso.N,  Philosophical  Magazine,  I,  May,  18u'7,  'MHi. 
Kinpiiloiiax  pnnilliiH  (Jaiianis,  .Iiiurnal  fiir  Oruitholngin,  185i»,  4.S0, 

(H  141,  ("  1«7«,  K  325,  C  380,  U  4(i«.) 

(lEOORAi'iiiCAi-  rancjk:  ChieH>  western  and  portions  of  eastern  North  America; 
north  to  soatlieni  Hritish  Columbia  and  the  northern  border  of  the  western  I'nited  States, 
in  tho  drier  and  more  open  districts;  east  to  about  the  easttu'n  limits  of  tln^  (rreat  Plains 
and  tlie  Mississippi  Valley,  in  Arkansas,  Mis.souri,  Illinois,  Indiana,  and  probably  still 
farther  in  this  direction,  as  well  as  in  most  of  the  intervcMiing  regions;  south  in  winter 
through  the  Mississippi  Valley,  Texiks,  and  Mi^xico,  to  Central  Anieri(;a. 

The  hree<ling  range  of  the  fjittle  Flycatcher,  also  known  as  tiie  "  Little 
Western  Flycatcher,"  extends  north  to  the  interior  <»fsonthern  Hritish  (Jolnmhia, 
and  sporadically  farther  east  to  the  northern  horder  of  onr  adjoining  States,  in 
Idaho,  Montana,  and  western  North  Dakota.  Still  farther  east  it  reaches  the 
western  portions  of  North  and  Sonth  Dakota,  the  greater  part  of  Neltraska,  por- 
tions of  Kansas,  Mis.sonri,  Arkansas,  Illinois,  and  prohaldy  to  sonthern  Indiana 
and  Ohio;  while  to  the  southward  it  is  fonnd  in  all  the  intervening  country, 
including  ('alifornia,  Arizona,  New  Mexico,  northern  and  western  Texas,  and 
portions  of  the  Indian  Territory,  exc(!pting  tlu*  <lry  and  arid  desert  regions. 

The  Little  Flycatcher  is  an  ahundant  snnnner  resident  in  all  suitable 
localities  tlnoughout  the  western  United  States,  its  favorite  haunts  being  the 
willow-covered  islands  and  the  shrubbery  alonjr  water  (bourses,  beaver  meadows. 


int 


I  the  borders  of  the  more  open  numntain  parks;    in   such   places  it 


some- 


times reaches  an  altitude  of  8,000  feet  in  sinnmer,  especially  in  (-alifornia, 
Colorado,  and  I'tah.  It  is  ])retty  generally  distributed  at  this  time  through 
Washington,  Oregon,  Idaho,  Utah,  Nevada,  California,  Mtmtana,  Wyoming,  VaAo- 
rado,  New  Mexii'o,  Arizona,  and  western  Texas,  and  it  probably  also  breeds  in 
tho  higher  mountains  of  Lower  California.     I  have  found  this  species  in  many 

'Mr.  WilliiiMt  HrcwHtiT  hiiH  rerftiitly  coiirliiKively  <1i>inoiiHtriit<Ml  thiit  tlit'  niiiiio  of  Ktnpidomu,  vireHtrim 
( Vicii.i.oi )  will  liitvii  lo  lie  NiiliHtltiiteil  fur  (but  i>(  Am^mluniix  acadiciia  (U.MKLIN),  sue  "Tbu  Aiik,''  Vol.  Xll, 
IS'.iri,  ii|i.  l,-.7-iri!l. 

lti«!t«— No.  3 W 


,ii 


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if 


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mm 


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fi 

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300 


LII'K  UlSTOltlUS  OF  NOUTH  AMERICAN  BlUDS. 


)l. 


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ifiil!- 

Ills© 

lite" 


m' 


l(icaliti«'N  in  tlit*  Wi'st,  but  it  was  csptM-ially  coininou  in  the  vicinity  "t  Kort 
Kluniatii,  ( >rt'j;un,  wiiero  I  took  a  innnbi-r  of  its  ut^stH  and  Offffs. 

Dr.  Clinton  T.  Cooko  lias  kimlly  xent  nio  tlio  foUowinjj^  notim  on  tliia 
»|H>cieH,  baHod  on  obscu'vatioiiH  niado  by  liini  in  tlio  vicinity  of  Salem,  Orc^fon, 
diunn<,'  tiio  years  IHHH  to  18111.  IIo  writn-s:  "Tho  Littlu  Flycatdicr  arrives  at 
Salnni  about  May  20,  and  for  a  week  or  two  is  very  silent,  seldom  seen,  and 
rather  inclined  to  seek  the  Imavy  under},'rowth  ahiuff  water  courses,  where  1 
have  found  it  silently  but  industriously  capturiuff  insects,  much  as  the  Western 
Flyt-atcher  {EtuiiiiUnmr  dijfii'ilix)  does  later  in  the  season.  About  .Fune  I  they 
bejifiii  to  frenuent  the  more  o|Msn  places,  old  pastures  j^rown  up  with  rosidiushes, 
the  small  islands,  and  the  gravel  bars  covered  with  a  dense  {growth  of  small 
willows — in  short,  any  open  jdace  near  water  whore  there  is  a  p'owth  of  bushes 
from  ;{  to  8  foet  hi<jfh.  Their  imml>ers  increase  in  tlie  open  localities  until  tlu» 
middle  of  June,  decreasiuff  at  the  same  tinu',  and  finally  disapjx'unnj^  alto<;ether 
from  the  woods.  As  their  numbers  increase  in  the  open  places  they  become 
pufifnacious,  and  their  .shrill,  .sharp  notes  can  be  heard  constantly.  Their  note, 
given  only  during  the  breediuji-  .si'asou,  reseud)les  the  syllables  of  'pree-pe-deer,' 
delivered  rather  hurriedly  and  shrill.  This  call  is  (piite  characteristic  of  the 
energetic,  aggressive  disposition  of  the  bird.  In  July,  1891,  I  hoard  it  several 
evenings  in  the  twilight,  and  once  while  out  late  in  the  night.  As  might  be 
expected,  the  male  calls  incessantly  in  the  early  twilight. 

"Construction  of  the  nest  begins  soon  after  Juno  10,  and  ordinarily  con- 
sumes al)out  a  week,  so  t'.iat  oiui  may  begin  to  search  for  set**  of  fresh  eggs  l»y 
the  20tii  of  tile  mouth.  Along  tiio  Willamette  River  tho  nest  is  usually  placed  in 
n  small  cluni[)  of  willow  l)ushos,  preferably  a  bush  well  covered  with  cotttm,  and 
it  is  apt  to  bo  pretty  well  concealed  in  an  upright  crotch,  about  4  feet  from  the 
ground,  sand,  or  gravel,  as  the  case  may  bo.  I  have  foiuid  only  one  nest  in  a 
rose  bush,  on  a  bar  where  willows  were  connnou  enough.  One  nest  which  I 
found  was  placed  in  a  slender  willow,  fully  IX  foet  from  the  ground,  in  an  upright 
crotch;  another  was  placed  in  a  willow  bush  growing  in  the  water,  and  was 
taken  from  a  canoe,  ami  several  wore  plactnl  within  a  foot  of  the  sand  or  gravel. 
The  material  uniformly  used  as  a  foundation  for  the  nest  is  the  inner  bark  of 
small  dead  willows  which  have  been  killed  by  high  water  and  subsequently 
bleached  by  the  weather,  some  fine  rootlets,  a  little  fine  dead  grass,  a  lining  of 
cotton  down,  with  occasionally  a  piece  of  string  and  a  few  horsehairs.  This  is 
often  an  artistic  structure,  but  .sometimes  only  a  loose  flimsy  atTair.  Once  I 
have  seen  as  nice  a  lining  of  hor.sohair  as  a  Lazuli  Bunting  could  j)Ut  in;  twice 
a  lining  of  fine  rootlets,  once  <»no  of  green  grass,  anil  t)nce  one  of  fine  green 
rushes,  which  wore  common  in  that  locality." 

Dr.  Cooke's  observations  agree  with  my  own;  but  at  Fort  Klamath,  Oregon, 
the  Little  Flycatcher,  besides  nesting  in  willows,  is  also  rather  partial  to  small 
aspens.  In  California,  in  tho  Santa  Clara  Valley,  they  occasionally  build  in 
blackberry  Inishes,  and  Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony  found  several  nests  near  Beaverton, 
Oregon,  placed  in  tho  forks  of  rank  ferns  from  a  foot  to  20  inches  above  the 


THE  LITTLE  FLYCATCUEU. 


307 


groiiii)!.  Ill  Coloriulo  Mr.  Uoiiis  Galo  hiw  found  this  Hpocion  hroodiiijf  in  Hinull 
aldor  1)Uh1iom.  A  nost  and  livo  ef?f?s,  ono  of  flutso  hoin<f  tli«  o}^}^  of  ii  Cowbird, 
were  tukoii  l)y  liiin  July  "2,  188!),  at  an  altitude  of  5,r)()()  ftuit,  and  prosonttxl  to 
tint  United  Statos  National  Musoum  collu(;tion;  and  in  Colorado  the  Ijittlu 
Flycatidior  soonis  to  bo  not  infroquontly  iinposcd  upon  by  tliirt  pariwito,  as  ho 
has  taken  several  nests  eontainin^  ono  of  their  e),''},'s. 

Until  quite  recently  the  birds  found  breedin<;  thr<»U}jh(tut  the  ^^ississi|)pi 
Valley,  in  Missouri,  Illinois,  etc.,  have  generally  been  referred  to  Kinpidimax 
pitsillus  tmillii,  and  my  attention  was  first  drawn  to  this  discTopaney  by  Dr.  A. 
K.  Fisher,  who  showed  me  a  i)erfectly  typical  breeding  female  taken  by  Mr.  W. 
8.  Catleigh,  near  Canton,  Illinois,  on  Juno  2"),  18114,  whieh  is  clearly  referable 
to  Kmiilihmu  pnsilliia,  and  other  such  instan(!es  have  since  then  come  under  my 
ol)servation,  establishinjf  without  a  doubt  the  «u»rrectn(iss  of  the  I)octoi''s  views, 
and  comi)elling  mo  to  rewrite  my  articles  on  these  birds.  Although  not  (juite 
positive  regarding  the  Ohio  birds,  I  fool  certain  that  these  will  also  be  found  to 
be  referal)le  to  this  spo(!ioa,  and  the  subjoiimd  notes  from  some  of  my  Kastera 
correspondents  are  all  mu(d>  more  likely  to  refer  to  Kmpidonax  pitsillus  than  to 
Empkhiim.r  pnsilliis  tmillii,  but  1  jn'efer  not  to  alter  them. 

Mr.  Lynds  Jones,  of  Oberlin,  Ohio,  writes  mo:  "I  have  lived  in  a  locality 
where  Traill's  Flycatcher  was  common.  I  mot  with  it  first  on  the  site  of  an  old 
locust  grove  where  the  young  sprouts  wore  allowed  to  grow  up;  the  ground  was 
low  and  marshy,  and  elder  and  willow  bushes  grew  in  profusion,  together  with 
Ambrosia  here  it  nested  in  willows  close  to  tlio  ground.  Later  I  learned  to 
look  for  this  bird  elsewhere,  and  found  it  also  in  thickets  of  hazel  and  small 
shrul)s,  often  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  water,  where  the  nest  was  placed  in  the 
darkest  parts  of  these  thickets.  I  also  found  it  nesting  commonly  in  white- 
willow  hedges  and  in  the  shrubbery  found  along  the  l)anks  of  streams.  If 
possible,  thickets  are  selected  where  cattle  do  not  run,  so  that  vinifs  and  bushes 
are  permitted  to  grow  in  wild  profusion,  and  in  such  localities  wild-jdum 
bushes  are  frequently  used  as  nesting  sites.  The  nest  is  usually  placed  from  18 
inches  to  5  feet  from  the  ground  and  well  concealed.  Its  call  note,  sounding  like 
'  whee-clic'e,' is  uttered  at  short  intervals  during  the  mating  season,  and  at  longer 
intervals  in  the  summer." 

Mr.  W.  K.  Loucks,  of  Peoriii,  Illinois,  writes  mo:  "Traill's  Flycatcher  is  a 
common  sununer  resident  here,  very  abundant  in  the  river  bottoms,  but  it  is  also 
found  sparingly  in  the  iq)lands.  I  consider  it  a  somewhat  silent  bird,  frequenting 
the  thick  growths  of  small  trees  which  either  grow  in  or  near  the  water  or  in 
damp  situations.  It  is  most  abundant  in  the  heavy  growth  of  willows  in  the 
bottoms,  and  many  nest  here." 

Mr.  Robert  Kidgway  tells  me  that  in  southern  Illinois  it  frequents  rather 
open  prairie  country  interspersed  witli  low  shrubbery.  Mr.  Otto  Widmann,  of 
St.  Louis,  Missouri,  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Elliott  Coue.s,  published  in  the  "Hnlletin 
of  the  Nuttall  Ornithological  Club"  (Vol.  V,  1880,  p.  22),  makes  the  following 
statement:   "It  is  common  almtjst  everywhere  outside  the  forest,  not  only  along 


f;  ii 


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I 


hii'^i 


■!  ♦*M]t?>: 


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H 


808 


MI'K  IliaTOUlES  OF  NUUTll   \MKU1CAN  lUUDS. 


tlio  'willow  thicki'tH  Ixinlcriii;,'  streams  iiml  swiiiiips,'  Imt  even  hero  in  the  city, 
ill  all  laij^tt  {^arduiis,  parks,  orcliarils,  paMtiir»)s,  i't'iiictt'ries,  etc.  Trailli  is  imt  tlio 
Hhy  »r  rctiriiiff  bird  of  soino  Kastorn  writorM;  its  iiioveiiunitH  aro  not  'liidtlou  by 
tlio  folia^jct  of  trues,' as  its  station  is  {reiierally  on  a  proinineiit  point,  often  tlie 
very  top  of  a  sliriib  or  tnie,  or  a  telej(ra|)li  wire,  a  fence,  or  a  weed  stalk  " 

The  Little  Flyeatrlier,  aeeordiiifj  to  my  observations  in  the  West,  is  not 
nearly  as  shy  a  binl  hh  its  eastern  rejiresentativ*',  and  while  on  the  whcde  it  also 
probably  prefers  moist  situations,  like  Traiirs  Flyeateher,  it  seems  to  1m(  eipially 
as  well  satisfied  in  rather  dry  eountry,  where  the  other  is  apparently  iievi-r  found. 
One  of  their  eommou  call  notes  sounds  like  "(|ueet-(|ueet,"  and  the  alarm  note 
uttered  when  the  nest  is  approached  is  soniethinif  like  that  of  Traill's  Flycatcher, 
"whuish-whuish."  When  pursuin<;  each  other  durinjf  the  matin;,'  sea.soii,  they 
sometimes  ^ive  vent  to  a  twittering-  note,  not  unlike  that  of  the  Arkansas  biy- 
i'litchor,  and  a  sharp  "(|ueet-(iueet"  is  often  lunird  while  these  restless  little  beings 
Hit  about  in  the  low  willows,  or  when  perched  on  some  tall  weed  or  coarse  marsli- 
ffrass  stalk.  They  never  remain  lon^  in  one  place,  but  move  from  jiorch  to 
j)er(;h,  snappiiiff  uj)  insects  as  they  Hy;  they  are  pu^niacious,  (luarrelsomo  little 
creatures,  making  up  in  coura^'e  and  determination  what  they  lack  in  size.  I 
have  seen  one  drive  a  Red-.shouldered  Ulackbird  away  from  the  vicinity  of  its 
nest,  i)itchin^'  down  on  it  an^n'ily  and  jieckin^'  at  its  lusad  and  neck  in  tin-  man- 
uor  of  its  larger  relatives  when  chasing  Crows  (»r  Hawks.  They  do  no  harm 
and  deserve  the  fullest  jirotection. 

Nidilication  always  commences  late,  even  in  the  more  southern  portions  of 
their  range;  in  the  vicinity  of  Tucson,  Arizona,  for  instance,  I  found  two  nests 
with  fre-sh  eggs  on  June  16  and  20,  1872,  which  is  about  the  time  it  begins  nest- 
ing at  Fort  Klamath  and  in  the  Willamette  Valley,  Oregon;  and  it  is  not  unusual 
there  to  fiiul  fresh  .sets  (»f  eggs  during  the  first  week  in  July.  Ijieut.  II.  (J. 
Benson,  United  States  Army,  took  a  nest  of  this  species  containing  three  fresh 
eggs  at  Secpioia  National  I'ark,  Tulare  County,  California,  on  July  13,  18112,  in 
a  locality  where  it  was  not  likely  the  bird  had  betm  robbed  before. 

The  description  of  the  nest  already  given  by  Dr.  Cooke  applies  to  a  typical 
one,  which  is  always  built  in  a  crotch  or  .  mong  young  sjn-outs  growing  uj)  from 
the  limJ),  at  a  height  of  1  to  18  feet  from  i.ie  ground,  averaging  from  4  to  8  feet. 
From  their  position  these  nests  are  usually  (!one  shaped.  ( )ccasionally  one  is 
found  wliich  is  coinjdetely  covered  on  the  outside  with  plant  down,  probablj'  of 
one  of  the  cottouwoods  or  sonu;  species  of  willow,  while  the  inner  cup  of  the 
nest  is  lined  with  line  shreds  of  bark,  plant  fibers,  and  fine  grasses.  Where  this 
species  nests  in  the  vicinity  of  houses,  as  it  frecpiently  does  in  the  eastern  parts 
of  its  l)reeding  range,  pieces  of  twine,  rags,  now.spapers,  and  feathers  are  fre- 
(|uently  incorjiorated  into  the  body  and  walls  of  tlie  nest,  while  the  inner  cu|) 
is  generally  lined  with  the  tops  of  fine  grasses,  sIhhmIs  of  bark,  heinji-likcf  Hl)ers, 
especially  those  of  the  milkweed,  horsehair,  and  occasionally  feather.s.  A  well- 
preserved  nest  of  this  species.  No.  24111,  United  States  National  I\Iu.seum 
collection,  taken  by  Mr.  Denis  Gale,  near  Gold  Hill,  Colorado,  on  July  3,  18'J0, 


m-^ . 


TIIK  LI'ITLK  FliYCATOHRU. 


309 


Olio  of  tlio  inoHt  oom|mrtly  Iniilt  oiich,  iiituiHtircH  ,'{.^  iiiclioH  in  outer  (liiiiii«>tfr  l>y 
4  iuclu-H  ill  <li'|)tli:  tlit*  iniK-r  <mi|)  is  2  iix-lifs  \viil«-  Ity  2  iiiclius  doup.  In  m.nie 
Hpociniciw  till)  outer  wiiIIh  iiro  fully  iiii  incli  tliii-k. 

Tliii  I/ittltt  Flycatflidr  occasioiuilly  hnilils  a  ilonhltf  n»mt.  Ur.  (Minton  T. 
Cooke  writes  iiic:  "On  Juno  20,  lH!tl,  1  found  a  nest  on  ilaininer's  Island,  in 
tlio  Willanu'tte  liivcr.  It  was  situated  in  a  willow  cnitcli,  about  4  feut  from  tliu 
(ground;  contained  no  e^^s  and  presented  notliin;^  altnornial  to  view.  I  was 
prevented  from  making  a  sucond  visit  to  the  nest  until  iluly  (S,  wiieii  I  supposed 
it  would  eontain  eitlier  younjf  or  badly  incul>ate<l  »'f,'f,'s.  I  was  mueli  surprised, 
however,  to  tind  that  it  looked  abnormally  deej)  outside.  Tliu  cavity  was  about 
tlio  usual  depth,  but  from  the  bottom  to  the  marf^in  of  this  tho  nest  measured 
about  r>  im-hes,  and  resembled  an  inverted  cone,  pr«<sentinfi;  no  irrofjularities  from 
apex  to  base.  It  contained  four  fresh  ejjfjfs.  On  examinin}r  it  more  closely  I 
saw  it  was  a  two-storied  lU'st,  one  neatly  built  upon  tlm  other.  The  low<'r  oia* 
uIho  (Mintained  four  offffs,  the  «M)ntontsof  which  were  too  dry  to  bo  riMiioved,  and 
which  evidently  had  been  abandoned  for  Home  inexplicable  cause." 

The  number  of  e<r},'s  to  a  st^t  varies  from  two  to  four,  usually  three  or  four; 
sets  of  the  latter  nund)er  an^  oftener  found  in  tho  more  northern  ])arts  of  its 
ranire  than  tho  smaller  nmnber;  and  an  e<ro'  is  deposititd  daily.  Only(Uiu  brood 
is  raisisd  in  a  si^asoii,  and  incubation  lasts  about  twelve  days;  the  youiijij  are 
fed  on  insects  of  various  kinds,  and  remain  in  the  nest  about  two  w(*eks.  Tho 
return  mi^fration  to  their  winter  homes  usually  befjins  in  tlie  more  northern 
j)ortions  of  their  ran^ye  about  the  first  week  in  September,  and  nouo  winter 
within  our  borders. 

The  efffjfs  are  usually  ovat««  in  ahape;  the  shell  is  .stroiif;"  and  without  luster. 
The  ffnmnd  color  varies  from  a  pale  creamy  white  to  pale  buti',  and  this  is 
moderately  spotted  with  vinaceous  rufous  and  ferruginous,  'i'he  markin;rs  are 
principally  conlined  to  the  larf^er  end  of  the  e<i'g,  and  vary  from  small  roundtMl 
dots  to  larj^er  irrejiular  bhttclies  amonf>;  tiie  finer  ones.  In  some  specimens  the 
ground  <'olor  might  bo  called  dead  w]iit(-. 

Tiie  average  measurement  of  one  hundred  and  twonty-nino  eggs  in  tlie 
United  States  National  .Mu.senm  collection  is  IT.Sf!  by  l.H.MD  millimetre.s,  or 
about  0.70  by  0.53  inch.  The  largest  t«^ii  of  the  series  measures  19.5G  by 
1.'{.97  millimetres,  or  0.77  by  O.'i.")  iiu-h;  the  smallest,  ir».4!t  by  12.70  millimotres, 
or  0.«1  by  O.AO  inch. 

Tho  type  specimen.s,  Nos.  2r)22M  nnd  20221)  (I'l.  2,  Figs,  2H  and  29),  both 
taken  from  sets  of  four  eggs  which  were  collected  liy  Dr.  Clinton  T.  (^ooke, 
near  SahMii,  Oregon,  on  .Fmu*  22  and  .Inly  2,  1H!»1,  are  selected  to  show  the 
extremes  in  coloration  and  inarking.s,  and  were  presented  for  that  purpose. 


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310  LIFE  HiaTOBlES  OF  KOltTU  AMEUlUAiJ  BIRDS. 

114.    Empidonax  pusillus  traillii  (Audubon). 

TRAILL'S    KLYCATCHEU. 

Muscioapa  traillii  Audubon,  Ornitliological  IJiofjtraphy,  I,  1832,  23(5. 

Empidottoj; pmillus  vav.  traillii  ISaibu,  Urewer  mid  Kidgwiiy,  IIi.story  of  North  American 
Birds,  II,  1874,  300. 

(B  140,  O  2->7,  K  325rt,  C  385,  IT  4C(ifl.) 

GEOOBArniCAL  BANOE:  Eixsterii  and  portions  of  western  North  Ainorica;  north  to 
.Sova  Scotia,  New  Briuiswick,  the  soutliern  portions  of  (Quebec,  northern  Ontario,  and  in 
tuo  interior  of  tliu  Dominion  of  Canada,  from  Manitoba,  Assiniboia,  Alberta,  and  British 
Columbia  north  to  about  latitude  03°,  in  the  Alackenzie  River  Valley  and  southern  Alaska; 
west  in  the  United  States  to  eastern  North  and  South  Dakota;  south  iu  winter  through 
Texas  and  Mexico  to  Central  America. 

Tlie  breeding  range  of  Traill's  Flycatcher,  the  eastern  race  of  the  Little  Fh*- 
catcher,  but  not  always  readily  distinguishable  from  it,  extends  from  southern 
New  England,  central  and  northern  New  York  (the  mountainous  poi-tious  of 
northern  Pennsylvania?),  northern  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  and  eastern 
South  Dakota,  or  from  the  southern  border  of  the  Canadian  fauna  northward  as 
indicated,  reaching  the  northern  limits  of  its  breeding  range  in  the  vicinity  of 
Fort,  Simpson,  Northwest  Territory,  and  in  southern  Alaska,  where  it  appears  t() 
be  rare,  however.  I  consider  this  sul)species  as  l)eing  strictly  a  bird  of  the  Cana- 
dian fauna,  and  do  not  believe  that  it  breeds  simth  of  these  limits.  In  the  south- 
eastern ])ortions  of  its  breeding  range,  in  New  York  and  northern  Connecticut, 
Traill's  Flycatcher  is  mainly  found  among  alder  thickets  bordering  the  numerous 
small  mountain  streams,  or  in  rather  wet  meadows  covered  in  places  with  under- 
growth of  willow,  etc.  In  the  A<liroiidack  Mountains,  in  Herkimer  County,  New 
York,  Traill's  Flycatcher  is  not  an  imcomnum  sunnnev  resident,  very  shy,  and 
mu(^h  oftener  heard  than  seen.  In  the  vicinity  of  Wilmurt  this  sul)species  was  only 
observed  in  the  alder  swamps  and  iu  beaver  meadows,  was  very  shy  and  retiring, 
and  therefore  seldom  seen,  for  instead  of  perching  on  some  dead  twig  or  branch, 
like  most  of  our  Flycatchers  do,  it  kept  hidden  among  the  foliage  as  nuich  as 
possible.  One  of  its  notes,  generally  uttered  during  the  breeding  season  when 
sitting  at  re.st  on  some  twig  in  the  top  of  a  bush,  resembles  the  "))ree-pe-deer" 
of  the  Little  Flycatcher  very  much;  another,  the  syllables  "huip,  huip;"  and  the 
alarm  note  is  soinetliing  like  "  whuish,  whuish,"  uttered  quickly  and  emphatically, 
bemg  difficult  to  rei)roduce  on  pa|)er. 

Mr.  F.  A.  Patton  found  Traill's  Flycatcher  breeding  in  Miner  County,  South 
Dakota,  on  June  30,  1H!)2,  and  sent  me  one  of  the  ]»arents  for  identification, 
which  I  consider  to  be  referable  to  Kmpiilnnar  piisiUns  fraillii. 

Mr.  J.  Lockhart,  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Comj)any,  has  sent  several  sets  of  its 
eggs,  with  the  ))arents,  to  the  United  States  National  Museum,  from  Fort  Resolu- 
tion, Great  Slave  Lake,  the  most  northern  breeding  record  I  have.  It  appears 
to  bo  a  common  summer  resident  in  British  Columbia,  ranging  from  the  coast 
eaatwanl  throughout  the  intervenhig  British  provinces,  excepting  a  few  of  the 


TBAILL'S  FLYCATCHER. 


311 


more  open,  sap;ehni8h-covered  vallej's  in  the  interior,  where  it  seems  to  be 
replaced  by  Emphhmix  pimUus,  or  intermediatea,  which  are  not  readily  referable 
to  either  form.  In  fact,  the  differences  between  these  birds  are,  at  best,  but  very 
slight,  and  the  easiest  solution  would  be  to  recognize  only  one  species. 

Traill's  Flycatcher  usually  makes  its  appoarant^e  in  the  more  southern  parts 
of  its  breeding  range  about  the  latter  pait  of  May  or  during  the  first  ten  days  in 
Jime,  and  correspontlingly  later  farther  north.  While  collecting  in  company 
with  Dr.  William  L.  Ralph,  in  the  vicinity  of  Wilinurt,  Herkimer  County,  New 
York,  on  June  23, 1893,  we  found  a  nest  of  this  subspecies  in  a  swampy  pasture, 
placed  in  a  small  arrow-wood  l)ush  about  2^  feet  from  the  ground. 

The  nest  of  Traill's  Flycatcher  resembles  that  of  the  Little  Flycatcher  very 
nuich,  and,  like  it,  is  nearly  always  built  in  a  crotch  formed  by  two  or  more 
twigs  growing  out  from  the  main  stem;  occasionally  it  is  placed  on  a  horizontal 
limb,  at  a  point  where  several  smaller  twigs  spring  out  perpendicularly  from  it; 
around  these  the  walls  of  the  structure  are  often  woven.  As  a  rule  they  are 
well  constructed,  the  niaterials  used  varying  somewhat  in  different  localities,  dry 
grasses,  jiine  needles,  shreds  of  bark,  and  plant  fibers  usually  constituting  the 
body  of  the  nest,  the  inner  cup  being  lined  with  fine  gi'ass  tops,  shreds  of  bark, 
vegetable  fibers,  feni  down,  and  occasionally  with  a  few  horsehairs.  A  typical 
nest  measures  about  3  inches  in  outer  diameter  by  2.J  inches  in  height;  the  inner 
cup  is  about  2  inches  wide  by  1^  inches  deep;  the  materials  composing  it  are 
well  interwoven  Hh  each  other;  the  outer  walls  are  thick,  and,  as  a  rule,  it  is 
well  comealed. 

1  have  seen  it  stated  that  Traill's  Flycatcher  occasionally  builds  a  semipensile 
nest,  like  the  Vireos,  but  I  have  never  seen  any,  and  such  iu.Htances,  if  they  really 
occui",  must  bo  rsire.  Its  nest  appears  invariably  to  be  placed  in  low  shrubs  or 
bushes  near  water,  and  rarely  over  G  feet  from  the  gi"ound,  more  often  from  1  to 
4  feet. 

Nidification  begins  late  in  the  season,  about  a  week  being  consumed  in  nest 
building.  The  eggs,  from  two  to  four  in  nuud)or,  usually  tin-eo,  although  sets  of 
four  are  not  unconnnon,  are  deposited  daily.  In  the  more  southern  parts  of 
their  range  fre.ih  eggs  may  be  lookeil  for  in  the  last  half  of  .June,  while  in  tlie 
more  northern  portions,  generally  during  the  first  two  weeks  in  July. 

A  single  brood  is  raised  in  a  season,  incubation  lasting  about  twelve  days. 
The  Cowbird  occasionally  deposits  an  egg  in  tlie  ni'st.  The  young  are  fed  on 
insects,  and  leave  the  nest  in  about  two  weeks.  The  return  migration  t(»  the 
south  begins  sometimes  in  tlic  latter  i)art  of  August,  but  usually  dm-iiig  the  first 
hi\lf  of  Septendjer,  and  none  winter  within  our  borders.  The  eggs  are  mostly 
ovate  in  shape;  the  shell  is  ch>sc  grained  and  without  luster.  The  ground  color 
ranges  from  a  ;  ale  ereamy  white  to  a  jjale  pinkish  bufi".  The  markings  vary 
ciaisiderably  i».  size  from  minute  dots  and  specks  to  bold  spots  and  blotches  of 
ciimamon  rufous,  ferruginous,  and  claret  brown,  and  iliey  predominate  mo.stly 
al)out  the  larger  end  of  the  egg,  in  some  cases  forming  an  irregular  wreath.  A 
few  specimens  are  very  slightly  marked  and  appear  almost  iimuacidate.     On 


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312 


LIFE  11I8TOKIES  OF  NORTH  AMEKICAN  BIRDS. 


the  whole,  they  resenilik*  very  cdosely  the  e<fgs  of  tlie  preceding  species,  iis  well 
as  those  of  Empidomw  acddiviis,  but  they  average  a  triHe  larger. 

The  average  measurement  of  fifty  eggs  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  lS..o4  by  13.46  millimetres,  or  0.73  by  0.53  incii.  Tiie 
largest  egg  of  the  series  measures  l!).«l  by  13.!t7  millimetres,  or  0.78  by  O.ijj") 
inch;  the  smallest,  17.27  by  12.70  millimetres,  or  0.(i8  by  O.oO  inch. 

Tiie  tyi)e  specimen,  No.  249!I2  (PI.  2,  Fig.  30),  from  a  set  of  three  eggs, 
Ralph  collection,  was  taken  by  Ur.  William  L.  Ralph,  near  Wilmurt,  Herkimer 
(Jounty,  New  York,  June  22,  1891,  and  i-epresents  about  tiie  ordinarj-  style  of 
markings  found  among  the  eggs  of  this  subspecies. 


Hill 


115.     Empidonax  minimus  Baikd. 

LEAST  FLYCATCHER. 

Tyrannula  minima  Baird  (VV.  51.  &  S.  F.),  rroceedings  Academy  Natural  Sciences,  Pliil- 

iulelpliia,  July,  1843,  l.'H4. 
Empidonax  minimug  Baibu,  Birds  of  Nurtli  America,  1858,  105. 

(B  142,  C  258,  R  32C,  C  387,  U  407.) 

Geogravhioal  range:  Eastern  NorOi  America;  north  iu  the  eastern  parts  of  the 
Dominion  of  Canada  to  about  latitude  49°  30',  and  in  the  interior  throuf^li  the  I'rovinces  of 
Manitoba  and  yaskatchewaii  to  (Ireat  Slave  Lake  and  the  southern  Mackenzie  River  Valley, 
Northwest  Territory,  to  about  latitude  03°;  west  to  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains; casually  to  Utah;  south  in  winter  through  Central  America  to  Fanama. 

The  breeding  range  of  the  Least  Flycatcher,  also  known  as  the  "Che- 
beck,"  extends  through  the  northern  parts  of  the  eastern  United  States,  from 
about  latitude  40°  northward  into  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  tiu-ough  Nova  Scotia, 
Cape  Breton,  Prince  Kdward  Island,  New  Brunswick,  the  southern  portions  of 
the  I'rovinces  of  Quebec  and  Ontario,  to  about  latitude  4!)°  30',  and  thence  west- 
ward through  Manitoba  and  Saskatchewan,  in  the  interior,  north  to  Great  Slave 
Lake  and  the  southern  Mackenzie  River  Valley,  Northwest  Territory,  to  about 
latitude  63°  N. 

The  western  limits  of  its  breeding  range  in  the  United  States  are  not  yet 
well  defined.  It  is  known,  however,  to  extend  to  Tom  Green  County,  Texas, 
where  Mr.  William  Lloyd  reports  it  as  a  "tolerably  common  sunnner  visitant; 
almndant  in  fall;  liave  shot  young;  no  nests  taken."  (See  "The  Auk,"  Vol.  IV, 
1HH7,  ]).  193.)  A  young  bird  of  the  year,  taken  there  on  August  1.'),  1885,  and 
now  in  tlie  United  States  National  Museum  collection,  seems  to  confirm  this 
statement,  and  another  specimen,  taken  by  Dr.  H.  H.  Butcher,  on  August  3,  1866, 
near  Laredo,  Texas,  carries  its  probable  breeding  range  still  farther  south  and 
west.  As  far  as  I  am  aware,  no  records  of  its  breeding  in  Kansas  have  been 
recorded,  but  it  is  said  to  nest  occasionally  in  eastern  Nebraska.  It  is  known 
to  be  a  connnon  summer  resident  in  the  Dakotas,  and  I  took  a  single  nest  and 
eggs  on  June  2.5,  1885,  near  Fort  Custer,  Mitntana;  and  two  skins  taken  by  me 
near  the  same  place  are  now  in  the  United  States  National  Museum  collection. 


m^ 


TUE  LEAST  FLYCATCHER. 


313 


Mr.  H.  W.  HeiiHlinw  also  took  ii  specimen  near  Denver,  Colorado,  on  May 
17,  187.'5,  aiul  I  l)elit!ve  iiion-  carufnl  invcstifi^ation  will  yet  kIiow  that  the  Least 
Flycatcher  is  an  oct  asionul  sununer  resident  as  far  west  as  the  eastern  foothills 
of  the  Hocky  Mountains. 

The  most  southern  breeding  record  in  the  eastern  United  States  I  have 
l)een  able  to  find  is  one  by  Mr.  John  C.  Cainis,  in  Huncondie  County,  North 
Carolina,  wiiere  he  reports  it  as  rare,  stating:  "1  have  seen  but  one  pair,  and 
found  their  nest.  It  was  jdaced  in  the  fork  of  a  persimmon  tree,  20  feet  from 
the  ground,  tuid  contained  four  fresh  eggs."  It  also  breeds  sparingly  through- 
out the  mountain  regions  of  southern  Pennsylvania,  the  Virginias,  etc. 

Mr.  Witnier  Stone  writes  me  from  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  under  date 
of  April  21,  1S!I2:  "I  recently  received  a  nest  and  eggs  of  Enipidonax  miuiniit-s 
from  near  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  which  I  believe  is  the  most  southern  record  of 
the  breeding  of  this  species  in  New  Jersey." 

Mr.  S.  N.  Rhoads  also  re(!ords  this  species  as  nesting  in  Delaware  County, 
Pennsylvania,  on  June  1,  1881,  securing  the  j)arents.' 

It  is  a  connnon  sununer  resident  throughout  the  whole  of  New  England, 
New  York,  northern  Pennsylvania,  northern  Illinois,  Indiana,  Iowa,  Michigan, 
Wisconsin,  and  Minnesota,  as  well  as  in  the  southern  portions  of  the  Provinces 
of  Ontario  and  Saskatchewan.  Neithri  does  it  ap])ear  to  be  rare  still  farther 
nortli,  as  there  are  several  breeding  records  by  Messrs.  K.  Kennicott  and  J. 
Lockhart  from  Fort  Resolution,  (treat  Slave  Lake;  by  Mr.  B.  R.  Ross,  from 
Fort  Simpson,  and  by  Miss  Elizabeth  Taylor,  near  Lake  Athabasca,  all  in  the 
Northwest  Territory. 

The  Least  Flycatcher  arrives  at  its  summer  haunts  in  the  more  southern 
parts  of  its  range  about  the  second  week  in  May,  and  is  the  connnonest  of  our 
smaller  Ti/raiiiiitlrc.  It  jn-efers  tlie  more  open  and  cultivated  cmnitry  to  the 
forests,  and  is  only  found  on  the  outskirts  of  these.  Like  many  otlier  species, 
it  readily  adapts  itself  to  tlie  changetl  conditions  of  tilings,  and  is  eciuaily  well 
contented  in  the  iunnediate  vicinity  of  human  habitations,  and  even  in  villages, 
as  in  more  retired  ]»laces.  Its  favorite  resorts  are  orchards,  hedgerows,  the 
shade  trees  and  shnd)l)ery  along  country  roads,  small  streams,  ))astures,  etc.  A 
])erson  will  not  havt^  to  search  long  in  such  places  to  find  it,  or  at  least  to  hear 
its  familiar  "che-beck,"  wiiich  in  an  early  morning's  walk  can  be  heard  in  every 
orchard  and  from  almost  every  clump  of  trees  bordeiing  the  roads  and  lanes. 
It  is  a  most  restless  little  creature,  now  flitting  from  branch  to  branch  of  an 
apple  tree,  jieering  here  and  there,  then  suddenly  darting  after  some  insect 
which  it  has  disturbed  by  its  movements,  uttering  constantly  a  sharp  "twit,  twit, 
twit"  as  it  moves  alnrnt,  varied  with  its  ordinary  call  of  "che-beck,"  which  it 
lufver  seems  to  tire  of  uttering;  another  one  of  its  notes  souinls  soniething  like 
"s-lick,  K-lick."  During  the  mating  seasim  the  male  may  sometimes  be  seen 
hovering  over  a  tree  in  which  its  mate  is  hidden,  uttering  at  the  same  time  a 
low,  twittering  wari)le,  like  "  whit-we-we;"  at  this  time  it  is  scarcely  ever  at 


I  Uiillotiu  NiiUuU  OruitliuloKU'ul  Club,  \'ul.  Ml,  1H82,  p.  5u. 


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314 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


rest,  and  either  its  wings  or  tail  are  in  constant  motion.  Where  not  molested  it 
soon  becomes  very  tame  and  fearless. 

Mr.  Manly  Hardy  writes  me:  "A  pair  of  these  birds  or  their  descendants 
have  nested  regularly  in  or  near  my  garden,  usually  building  in  a  mai)l(\ 
These  birds  know  me,  and,  what  is  more,  I  believe  remember  me  from  one  year 
to  another.  They  often  sat  on  a  dry  twig,  or  on  a  bean  pole  near  by,  and 
watched  me  lioe,  and  suddenly  one  would  dart  down  and  catch  a  moth  or  other 
insect  which  I  had  disturbed,  flying  so  close  to  me  that  I  could  distinctly  hear 
the  sharp  snap  of  its  bill.  It  then  almost  invariably  returned  to  the  place  it 
darted  from  to  eat  its  l)rey.  lioth  birds  often  came  close  to  the  window  and 
watched  my  family  inside." 

Although  small  and  insignificant  in  size,  our  Least  Flj'catcher  is  by  no 
means  a  coward,  and  will  boldly  attack  animals  much  larger  than  itself  in  the 
defense  of  its  nest  and  young.  I  have  seen  one  give  chase  to  an  inquisitive  red 
squirrel,  which  is  one  of  the  greatest  enemies  our  small  birds  have  during  the 
nesting  season,  drive  it  promptly  out  of  the  tree  in  which  its  nest  was  jjlaced, 
and  follow  it  persistently  until  it  had  left  the  noighborliood.  Altliough  quarrel- 
some enough  among  themselves,  they  rarely  molest  other  small  birds,  and  breed 
in  ap])arent  harmony  among  them. 

Its  food  consists  principally  of  small  insects  of  various  kinds,  and  occasion- 
ally of  berries;  it  does  no  harm,  and  deserves  the  fullest  protection.  Nidific.ation 
in  the  southern  portions  of  its  breeding  range  begins  usually  about  the  first 
week  in  June,  and  somewhat  later  farther  north;  at  Fort  Custer,  Montana,  for 
instance,  the  single  nest  I  found  there  contained  but  slightly  incubated  eggs  on 
June  2.'),  imry. 

Apple  orchards  seem  to  furnish  their  favorite  nesting  sites  in  New  England 
and  central  New  York;  maple,  oak,  willow,  alder,  tamarack,  spruce,  locust, 
beech,  and  other  trees  are  also  more  or  less  used.  The  nest,  a  neat  and  compact 
structure,  is  usually  i)laced  in  an  uj)right  fork  of  a  small  tree  or  sapling,  from 
8  to  25  feet  from  the  ground,  and  is  outwardly  composed  of  shreds  of  bark, 
plant  fibers,  dry  grass,  weeds,  thistle,  cottonwood  and  fern  down,  pieces  of 
string,  feathers,  shreds  of  roi)o,  sj)ider  webs,  and  empt}'  cocoons;  tlu^  inner  lining 
usually  consi.sts  of  fine  plant  fibers,  especially  those  of  tlie  milkweed,  horsehair, 
fine  gi'ass,  shreds  of  the  inner  l)ark  of  willow,  cottonwoo<l,  cedar,  and  otlicr 
trees,  feathers,  tliistle,  willow,  and  cottonwood  down,  etc.  Occasionally  a  nest 
is  saddled  on  a  horizontal  liinl)  of  a  tnuf.  Wliiie  out  with  Dr.  William  L.  Halpli, 
in  the  vi('inity  of  Wibnurt,  New  York,  on  .luiie  10,  1H!)3,  wt^  found  a  nest  of 
this  Flycatcher  saddled  on  a  liml)  of  a  young  spruce,  about  10  feet  from  the 
ground  and  (I  inches  from  tlie  trunk,  in  a  small  swamp.  Tlie  nest  contained 
four  nearly  fresh  eggs,  and  tiie  female  had  commenced  sitting.  She  seemed  1»ut 
little  ccmcerned  at  our  intrusion,  and  rcmamed  in  the  vicinity,  utterinj>-  the  usufd 
"che-beck"  and  now  and  tlien  a  lt»w  "twit." 

An  average  nest  measures  about  H  inclies  in  outer  diameter  by  2.J  inches  in 
depth;  the  inner  cup,  about  2  inches  in  diameter  by  1^  indies  deep.     It  seems 


THE  LEAST  ELYCATOIIEB. 


315 


to  tako  full  J'  a  week  or  more  to  complete  the  nest.  The  female  performs  the 
(lutieH  of  incubation  almost  oxclusivcly,  and  this,  as  nearly  as  I  have  l>oen  able 
to  determine,  occupies  about  twelve  days.  The  return  mif>Tation  to  their  winter 
home  in  (Central  America  xisually  begins  about  the  middle  of  September,  none 
remaining  in  our  Southern  States. 

The  eggs  vary  from  three  to  six  in  number,  usually  fcMir,  and  one  is  depos- 
ited daily.  They  are  short  and  rounded  ovate  in  shape;  the  shell  is  strong  and 
thick  for  its  size,  and  without  lustre.  '^Hio  ground  color  is  pale  (ireamy  white, 
and  they  are  unspotted.  The  Cowbird  imposes  its  eggs  on  several  of  our 
smal](>r  Flycatchers,  including  occasionally  the  one  now  imder  consideration. 

The  average  measm-ement  of  eijfhtv-five  ej!r":s  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  IG.14  by  12.70  millimetres,  or  about  0.(!4  by  0.50  inch, 
"^riie  largest  egg  of  tlie  senes  measures  17.02  by  12.95  millimetres,  or  0.(i7  by 
0.51  inch;  the  smallest,  15.24  by  11.43  millimetres,  or  O.fiO  by  0.45  inch. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  24993  (I'l.  2,  Fig.  31),  from  a  set  of  four  eggs, 
from  the  Ralph  collection,  was  taken  by  Dr.  William  L.  Ralph,  near  Holland 
Ptatent,  New  York,  on  June  3,  1882,  and  reju'esents  an  average  egg  of  this 
species. 


.  -HI 


ii6.     Empidonax  hammondi  (Xantiis). 

HAMMOND'S  FLYCATCHKR. 

Tyra  luiila  hnmmnndi  Xantits,  Proceedings  Academy  Natural  Sciences,  Philadelpliia,  May, 

l.S.-.,S,  117. 
Empidonax  hammondi  IJAiiiD,  Birds  of  North  America,  18i»8, 199. 

(li  145,  0  2(50,  R  327,  C  :{9(»,  U  40S.) 

GEoaBAPHtCAT,  UANCiE:  Westcrii  North  America;  east  to  tlie  eastern  sIoi)C8  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains  and  adjacent  ranjj;es;  nortli  tlinm^rh  Briti.sh  Columbia  to  Alaska,  and  to 
liittlc  Slave  Lake,  southern  Athabasca,  latitude  55'='  20'  (as  far  as  known),  and  probably 
still  farther  iu  this  direction;  south  in  winter  to  Lower  California  aiul  southern  Mexico. 

The  breeding  range  of  Hammond's  Flycat(]ior,  which  ajipears  to  l)c  the 
western  representative  of  Kiiipiiloiia.r  niiiiinnifi,  is  still  very  indifferently  defined. 
It  is  only  known  positively  tf»  breed  in  Colorado,  California,  Washington,  Rritish 
Columbia,  and  southern  Athabasca,  in  the  Dominicm  of  Canada,  but  its  sumnu-r 
range  nndoul)tc(lly  also  extends  tlinmgh  the  higher  ""  ;;atain  regions  of  New 
Mexico,  Arizona,  Utah,  Wyoming,  Montana,  Nevada,  Oregon,  and  Idaho. 
Throughout  our  Western  States  it  has  thus  far  been  met  with  chiefly  dm-ing  its 
migrations,  and  comparatively  few  thoroughly  identified  nests  and  eggs  have* 
yet  been  taken.  I  have  seen  this  species  iu  May  near  Fort  Klamath  and  Camp 
Harney,  Oregon,  but  I  am  almost  sure  none  remained  in  the  vicinity  to  breed. 
The  birds  which  stay  with  us  during  the  sunnner  appear  to  retire  mostly  to 
the  higher  mountain  valleys,  at  altitudes  of  from  5,000  to  10,000  feet.  This 
accounts  for  the  few  nests  and  eggs  which  have*  thus  far  bcicn  discovereil  within 
our  borders;  and  the  fact  that  it  is  also  a  \('ry  shy  and  .silent  bird  partly  accounts 
for  its  raritv  as  well. 


ii'V !' 


"-■'>a:' 
■  ■•  y> 


ill. 


T 


316 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NOKTO  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


Mr.  H.  W.  Jlenslmw  says:  "llmnnioiul's  P^lyc.atclu'r,  in  tlu*  west,  is  one  of 
tlio  most  silent  and  n'tirinjrof  l)inls,  leavini''  tlio  low  country  cntirel)-  in  suninuM-, 
and  finding  in  the  glens  and  recesses  of  the  pine  woods  of  tlu*  mountains  or  the 
alpine  streams,  witli  their  fringes  of  alders,  its  chosen  retnmts.  As  I  hav(*  noticed 
thorn,  nearly  all  of  the  dash  and  spirit  characterizing  this  group  is  wanting, 
though,  of  course,  the  difference  is  merely  one  of  degree.  After  snap])ing  U|)  a 
])a«sing  insect  it  resumes  its  perch  upon  some  low  limb  and  nMiiains  nearly 
motionless  for  a  time,  giving  an  occasional  listh^ss  jerk  of  the  tail.  The  notes 
are  very  feeble,  the  most  so  of  any  Flycatcher  I  am  accpiaintcnl  with,  and 
consist  of  a  soft  'pit,'  varied  with  a  low,  lisping  whistle."' 

Mr.  Denis  Gale,  of  (Jold  Hill,  Colorado,  kindly  sent  to  t\w  United  States 
National  ^[usemn  a  handsonu^  nest  and  four  eggs  (No.  "24112)  of  this  species, 
taken  near  the  above  locality,  at  an  altitude  of  10,()(H)  feet,  on  June  27,  18!»0. 
These  eggs  were  slightly  incubated;  the  female  was  also  .secured,  an<l  is  now 
in  the  same  collection.  The  nest  was  saddled  on  a  horizontal  limb  of  a  spruce 
tree,  3  feet  from  the  trunk  and  14  feet  from  the  ground.  It  is  outwardly  com- 
posed of  old  weed  stems,  decayed  plant  fibers,  shreds  of  bark,  and  a  little  plant 
down,  and  is  lined  with  fine  grass  tops,  shreds  of  bark,  jilant  down,  hair,  and  a 
few  feathers.  The  outer  diameter  is  4^  inches  l)y  1;'}  inches  deep;  tlu!  imier 
cup  measures  2^  inches  in  width  by  1  ^  inches  in  depth.  It  is  a  compact  and 
well-built  structure,  and  does  not  resemble  any  of  the  nests  of  tiie  other  mem- 
bers of  this  genus.  It  was  placed  among  a  lot  of  smaller  twigs  growing  out  of 
a  limb,  among  which  it  is  well  secured.  From  its  ])osition  and  general  make-u]i 
it  resembles  a  nest  of  the  genus  ('(tiitopiis  much  more  than  one  of  Kiii/iidoiKi.i: 
Another  nest,  also  from  ^Ir.  (Jah;  (No.  2.'3(i9r)),  containing  young  when  found 
on  Jidy  24,  1888,  and  taken  in  the  same  locality,  was  placed  near  the  top  of  a 
tall  spruce,  about  30  feet  from  the  ground,  and  was  not  conceale<l.  The  nest  is 
a  compact  one  and  saddled  on  a  fork;  it  is  composed  externally  of  decayed 
vegetable  fiber,  and  lined  with  finer  materials  of  the  same  description,  plant 
down,  and  fur.  It  is  shallow,  being  about  1'}  inches  deep  by  21  inches  wide; 
the  inner  cavity  is  very  large,  while  the  sides  of  tlu;  nest  are  exceedingly  thin; 
it  is  fully  2  inches  wide  inside  l)y  1  inch  deep. 

Mr.  L.  Hehling,  writing  of  this  species,  says:  "Uy  no  means  rare  during  the 
migrations.  Instead  of  being  a  common  summer  resident  of  the  pine  forests  of 
the  SieiTa,  as  I  stated  in  the  'Proceedings of  the  Tnited  Htates  National  Museum, 
1879,'  I  now  think  it  a  rare  sunnner  resident.  The  only  nest  I  foimd  was  on 
June  (),  1880,  at  \V\g  Trees,  ('alaveras  County,  (!alifornia.  This  was  on  a  hori- 
zontal limb  of  a  living  june,  40  or  50  feet  from  the  ground  and  partly  hidden 
by  foliage.  It  was  very  wide  in  pro])ortion  to  its  dejtth.  Uy  shooting  it  down 
the  eggs  were  destroyed.  "^Phe  female  was  shot  as  she  fiew  from  the  nest,  and 
was  sent  to  the  Smithsonian  Institution.  A  few  remain  in  this  latitude  I's  late 
as  September  lo,  arriving  from  the  South  about  .May  1."'" 

'Surveys  Wrst ol'  tlin  lOIUli  Mcriiliiiii,  Vnl.  V.  IHTri,  ii.  llC'.'. 
'l.iiiMl  IlinlH  of  tli6  I'arilic  Distrirt,  1S!K),  )>.  IO;i. 


HAMMOND'S  FLYCATCU  KU. 


317 


Ainoiijr  ^fr.  l$('l(liii;jf's  lielil  noton,  which  Iio  kindly  phicod  at  my  disposal,  I 
fiml  tho  following;  dcscriptioii  of  this  ntfst: 

"It  appeared  to  bo  nii^dy  inado  of  much  tl>o  same  materials  as  aro  used  by 
CotitnpHs  richarilsfini,  but  is  much  wider  than  tho  nest  of  the  latter  species,  having 
a  width  <»f  not  h-ss  than  4  incdies.     Tho  outer  wall  was  noticeably  «'onvex." 

While  on  a  visit  to  Seattle,  Washington,  in  May,  1894,  Mr.  S.  F.  llathbun 
told  me  of  finding  a  nest  situated  on  a  small  limb  of  a  fir  near  I^ake  Washing- 
ton, diu'ing  the  ])revious  season,  which  he  thought  belonged  to  this  species,  but 
ho  did  not  secure  one  of  tiio  birds.  Tie  found  a  similar  nest  this  season,  (m  July 
1,  1H94,  also  placed  on  a  small  lind)  of  a  fir  alxmt  f)0  feet  from  tho  ground.  It 
was  built  at  a  point  on  tho  limb  where  u  small  twig  branched  out,  being  jmrtly 
saddled  and  partly  crotched.  After  watching  tho  bird  go  several  times  ti>  the 
nest,  ho  shot  it  and  sent  it  to  nus  for  fuller  identification.;  it  jn-oved  to  be  a 
Hannnond's  Flycatcher  beyond  a  doubt,  as  ho  had  previously  surmised. 

Ilannnond's  Flycatcher  is  evidently  a  very  conunon  sunnner  resident  in 
central  British  Columbia,  where  Mr.  It.  MacFarlano  took  a  number  of  its  nests 
in  tho  vicinity  of  Stewart's  hake,  in  June,  18Hi»,  and  tho  United  States  National 
Museum  was  favored  with  several  sets  of  eggs,  iiests,  and  the  ))arents  belonging 
to  them,  all  of  which  proved  to  belong  to  this  species.  Some  of  those  nosts 
wore  apparently  placed  in  ui)right  crotches  of  willows,  and  others  on  horizontal 
lind)s  do.se  to  tho  trunks  of  small  conifers,  at  no  groat  distance  from  tho  ground. 
The  earliostof  six  l)reeding  records  from  this  vicinity  is  June  4;  tho  latest,  June 
22.  Tho  nests  difi'er  somewhat  from  those  previou.sly  described  as  far  as  tho 
inner  lining  is  concerned.  In  three  of  these  the  bottoms  are  covered  with  scales 
of  buds  of  conifers,  and  the  sides  aro  lined  with  fine  j)lant  fibers,  shreds  of  bark, 
plant  down,  and  bits  of  hypmim  mo.ss  in  fruit. 

Mr.  Charles  A.  Allen  writes  me  that  he  found  Ilannnond's  Flycat(dier  nest- 
ing in  Blue  Canyon,  I'lacer  Coimty,  California,  at  an  altitude  of  about  5,(*00 
feet,  the  nosts  were  jdaced  on  horizontal  limbs,  well  out,  in  shady  places  in  the 
j)ino  forests  of  the  Sierra  Nevadas. 

The  nmuber  of  eggs  laid  to  a  s«^t  is  usually  three  or  four.  The  shell  is 
strong,  close-grained,  and  without  luster.  Tiiey  vary  in  shape  from  short  ovate 
to  elongate  ovate.  Tho  ground  color  is  ])ale,  creamy  white,  and  tho  majority 
of  the  eggs  aro  iuisj)otted.  In  the  small  series  before  mo  there  are,  how- 
ever, two  sets  wiiich  aro  s[)otted.  In  the  set  of  four  eggs  taken  by  Mr.  Gale 
every  egg  is  marked,  and  the  same  is  tho  case  with  a  set  of  three  eggs  taken  by 
Mr.  R.  MacFarlano.  Jlr.  Gale  made  tho  following  remarks  about  the  .set  taken 
by  him:  "The  eggs  aro  very  interesting;  a  decided  light-yellow  ground,  with  a 
slight  powdering  of  dark  specks,  with  larger  shell  markings  of  lavender  tints." 
Tho  spots  or  specks  on  all  the  specimens  are  exceedingly  minute,  and  are  also 
few  in  number,  well  rounded  in  outline,  and  mostly  distributed  about  the  larger 
end  of  tho  egg;  they  are  of  a  liver- brown  color.  The  lighter  lavender-col(*,-ed 
shell  markings  referred  to  by  Mr.  (Jalo  are  barely  visible  now,  having  faded  i>ut. 

The  average  measurement  of  sixteen  eggs  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection  i.s  l(j.84  by  12.90  millimetres,  or  about  0.66  by  0.51  iufdi. 


••    km 


',''' 


•I 


t;  -t'l' 


.i.,....v]t 


J 


T 


'       i, 


318 


LIFK  IlISTOUIES  OV  NOliTlI  AMEUICAN  BlUDS. 


Tlio  lur}i;eHt  nffii  nieaaurcs  17.78  hy  13.72  milliiiiotres,  or  0.70  by  OIA  iiicli;  tlio 
KuiiiUust,  10.24  l)y  12.70  inilliinetros,  or  O.GO  by  O.oO  inch. 

Tlio  typo  spociinen,  No.  24112  (PI.  2,  Fi^'.  32),  from  u  set  of  four  ejfjrjw  from 
llouldt'r  Countj'-,  Colonulo,  wiw  taken  by  Mr.  Doiiis  Gale  on  Juno  27,  ISKO,  and 
preseuted  to  tlio  Museuni  collection;  it  ropreseut.s  a  8i)otted  specimen. 


117.     Empidonax  wrightii  IUikd. 

WRKiHT'S  KI-YCATCIIKK. 

JUmpuioiM.r  irrijihlii  liAilll),  Minis  of  Xortli  America,  l.S,"i8,  LHM)  (in  text),    i't.  Jtrcwster, 
Auk,  VI,  April,  188!t,  «!). 

(B  140,  O  l'«I,  K  3L>8,  C  3!ll,  U  4t{!t.) 

(JEOOKAPni(!AL  BANQE :  Western  United  States;  north  to  Montnna,  Idaho,  Oregon, 
anil  i>robably  Washington;  east  to  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Koeky  .Mountains  and  adjaeent 
ranges;  south  in  winter  to  Lower  Oalifornia  and  southern  Mexico. 

Tho  breedinj>-  range  of  Wnght's  Flycutclior  extends  througli  the  mountain- 
ous portions  of  Arizona,  New  Mexico,  and  California,  northward  tlirough  the 
mountains  of  Colorado,  Utah,  Nevada,  Idaho,  and  Wyoming  to  Montana,  Oregon, 
and  probably  Wasliington.  Like  the  preceding  species  Wright's  Flycatcher 
retires  to  the  higher  mountain  jiarks  during  tlio  season  of  reproduction,  and 
rarely  breeds  below  an  altitmle  of  4,000  feet;  in  Colorado  it  has  been  foiuid 
nesting  up  to  10,000  feet.  Its  favorite  resorts  at  this  time  are  the  .s1'.rubl»ery 
near  mountain  brooks,  tlie  aspen  and  i)ine  groves  usually  found  at  the  borders 
of  mountain  prairies,  rather  wet  beaver  meadows,  and  the  edges  of  swamps. 
In  northeastern  Arizona  Mr.  II.  W.  Ilenshaw  found  it  among  the  oak  openings 
during  the  sununer,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Santa  Fe,  New  ilexico,  he  met  with 
it  on  the  ban-en  pinon-dad  hills,  where  no  deciduous  vegetation  was  found;  but 
such  a  sununer  liabitat  nuist  be  considered  as  rather  an  exceptional  one. 

Wright's  Flycatcher  is  a  very  conunon  sununer  ri'sident  in  the  mountain 
valleys  and  parks  of  the  Cascade  Range,  in  southern  Oregon,  and  I  have  found 
many  nests  of  this  species  at  Fort  Klamath,  also  in  tlie  Des  Chutes  River  Valley 
and  along  tlie  tributaries  of  this  stream.  It  arrives  on  its  breeding  grounds  at 
Fort  Klainatli  aliout  May  1.'),  and  nidificatiou  usually  begins  a  montli  later.  I 
do  not  consider  this  species  as  noisy  as  the  Little  Flycatcher,  whicli  was  ueai'ly 
as  common,  but  its  iu)tes  are  very  similar;  in  fact  they  are  not  easily  distinguish- 
able, but  are  given  with  less  vigor  than  those  of  the  former,  while  in  its  actions 
it  is  fullv  as  energetic  and  sprightly  as  any  of  the  species  of  tlu*  genus  Ei)i)>i(l<>ii(i.r. 

Mr.  R.  S.  Williams  writes  from  Cohunbia  Falls,  .Montana:  "Wright's  Fly- 
catcher is  very  coiiunon  here,  being  by  far  the  most  abundant  Flycatcher 
ol)8erved.  The  lirst  arrival  this  spring  was  noted  May  7,  and  the  next  day  they 
were  abiuulant.  They  seem  to  1)e  about  equally  distribnte<l  in  all  kinds  of 
timber,  and  their  notes  are  more  freciuently  heard  all  through  the  thiy  than 
those  of  any  other  bu'd." 


%,' 


WKIGUT'S  FLYCATOUUU. 


319 


Mr.  F.  St(>phon.s  inforinn  mo  that  lio  considers  this  species  only  as  a  migi-ant 
in  southern  Calit'oruia,  l)Ut  possibly  a  tVnv  nuiy  breed  in  the  pine  regions. 

In  Calaveras  County,  Californiji,  AFessrs.  L.  lielding  and  J.  Clarence  Sperry 
found  it  common  and  breeding  in  the  fir  forests  of  the  SieiTa  Nevada  Moun- 
tains, tlio  nests  usually  b(Mng  placed  in  manzanita,  hazel,  dogwood,  and  other 
shrubs;  and  both  have  sent  nests  and  eggs  to  the  National  Museum.  Mr.  Robert 
Uidgway  collected  several  lU'sts  and  eggs  in  the  East  Humboldt  Mounttuns,  and 
near  Austin,  Nevada,  as  well  as  in  Parley's  Park,  in  the  Wasatch  Mountains, 
Utali,  where  this  species  was  very  connnon.  The  nests  were  all  placed  in  aspens, 
excepting  one  taken  near  Austin,  Nevada,  on  duly  3,  186S,  which  was  found  in 
a  mountain  mahogany  bush  on  the  extreme  summit  of  a  hill,  at  an  altitude  of 
about  !»,()00  feet,  and  another  in  Parley's  Park,  on  June  28,  18(51),  in  a  service- 
beny  1)ush.  In  New  Mexi«M),  Arizona,  and  Colorado  it  appears  to  be  somewhat 
rarer  during  the  breeding  season. 

Mr.  Denis  Gale  tV)und  a  nest  and  four  eggs,  on  July  22,  1888,  in  lioulder 
County,  Colorado,  at  an  altitude  of  about  10,000  feet;  these  he  ])resented  to  the 
United  States  National  JIuseuin  collection.  The  nest  was  placed  about  30  inches 
from  the  ground,  against  the  trunk  of  a  sjinice  bush,  at  the  edge  of  a  small  clump 
of  these  trees.  Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony  took  one  near  Silverton,  San  Juan  County, 
Colorado,  on  June  27,  which  also  contained  four  fresh  eggs,  and  describes  the 
nest  as  composed  of  silvery-white  stri])s  of  the  inner  bark  of  a  willow,  lined 
with  fine  grass  stems  and  cattle  hair.  The  nest  looked  like  an  inverted  cone, 
and  was  fully  8  inches  in  length  by  4  in  diameter  at  the  largest  j)art.  It  was 
fastened  about  4  feet  from  the  gromid  to  an  almost  upright  willow,  apparently 
tied  on  with  spiders'  silk  alone,  but  was  partly  supported  by  a  fork  at  the  top. 

I  found  my  first  nest  of  this  species  near  the  banks  of  the  Des  Chutes  River, 
Oregon,  on  Jun(i  12,  1882;  it  was  placed  close  to  the  tnnik  of  a  small  pine  sapling, 
about  5  feet  from  the  ground.  It  contained  three  eggs,  in  which  incubation  had 
commenced.  The  female  remained  on  the  nest  imtil  I  almost  touched  her  with 
my  hand,  she  then  fiew  off  and  alighted  in  another  small  pine  a  i'ew  feet  away, 
and  uttered  a  few  low  notes  like  "tweer-tweer."  Subsecpiently,  during  this  and 
the  season  of  1883,  I  found  some  twenty-five  nests,  which  were  nearly  all  placed 
in  similar  situations,  against  the  trunks  of  small  saplings,  such  as  pine,  aspen, 
alder,  or  willow,  the  first  two  being  seemingly  jH'cferred,  or  in  ujjright  forks  in 
bushes,  siu'h  as  laurel  or  service  berry,  and  from  2  to  18  feet  from  the  ground. 
It  also  nests  occasionally  in  wild-plum  bushes  and  in  buck  brush. 

One  of  the  neatest  nests  I  have  seen  of  this  species  was  taken  by  me  July 
5,  1882,  on  the  side  t)f  the  mountain  east  of  Fort  Klamatli,  Oregon,  this  being 
the  only  one  I  did  not  find  in  the  valley.  It  was  placed  in  a  good-sized  laurel 
bush  (A'rt?«//rt),  in  a  stout  three-pronged  fork,  about  2  feet  from  the  ground.  It 
measures  3.^  inches  in  outer  diameter  by  2^  inches  in  depth;  the  inner  cup  is  1 J 
inches  wide  by  1  ff  inches  deep.  Exteriorly  it  was  composed  entirely  of  decayed 
plant  fibers,  which  were  compactly  interwoven  with  each  other,  and  the  inside 
was  warmly  lined  with  feathers  of  the  Sooty  Grouse,  Yellow  Warbler,  and  other 


1  ? 


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320 


LIFH  IIISTOUIES  OF  NOII'^II  AM UUU  AN  mUHS. 


hinls.  Soiiio  (it'tlu'sn  iiuHts  ri'sciiihlo  ii  l)liiiit  iiivciti-d  cdiit';  tlirnc  iisiiiilly  iiiciis- 
iii'f  about  3  iiu'lics  in  outer  (liiuiiotcr  aiid  about  'Ah  iiiclirs  in  dcjitli;  tliu  iiiiicr 
cup  is  aJ)out  15  iiulu's  in  (liaim-ter  by  1.J  iucilies  in  (Icplli.  Nearly  cvory  one  is 
partially  linu'l  with  featlierw  and  cattle  hair,  and  oeeaKionally  bits  of  tino  trets 
moss  enter  into  the  eoinposition  of  the  nest.  They  are  always  well  built  and 
securely  fastened  to  the  twi^s  anionj;-  which  they  are  placed. 

Althoujfh  Wriffht's  Flycatcher  appears  to  have  not  yet  been  tak(Mi  in  Wa,xh- 
in<>'ton,  I  am  (|uite  coniid«'nt  that  it  will  be  found  there  in  suital)le  localities,  such 
as  the  nine  Mountains,  f(»r  instance,  where  scarcely  an^'  collectin}^  has  yet  been 
dime. 

Nidification  rarely  «'onmiences  before  tlie  michlh!  of  .Fune,  more  frequently 
(hn"in}f  the  la.st  third  of  this  month,  and  sometimes  not  before  the  Hrst  week  in 
,Jidy.  It  takes  fully  a  week  to  con.struct  the  nest,  and  1  iielieve  the  male  assists 
in  incubation,  which  lasts  about  twelve  (hiys.  The  food  consists,  at  this  time  of 
the  year  at  least,  entirely  of  inset^ts.  Only  one  bi'ood  is  raise<l  in  a  season,  and 
the  return  mi^fration  usually  be^fins  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Klamath,  ()re<;on, 
in  the  latter  part  of  Aujjust,  when  it  conmieiices  to  leave  for  the  warmer  low- 
lands. Some  remain  in  |)ortions  of  sontheni  California  throuf>hout  the  winter. 
The  number  of  ey^jfs  to  a  set  is  three  or  four;  about  one  set  in  three,  ac(U)rdinf( 
to  my  observations,  contained  four  eji^ifs,  one  beinjjf  deposited  daily.  A  second  set 
is  frecpiently  laid  when  the  Hi'st  is  taken,  and  the  new  nest  is  often  placed  close 
to  the  former  site.  Tlie  e<i«fs  are  usually  short  or  rounded  ovate  in  shape;  the 
shell  is  stronji',  clos«^  •••rained,  and  without  lu.ster,  dull  white  or  [)ale  creamy  white 
hi  color,  and  unspotted. 

The  avera<,''e  measurement  of  one  hundred  and  eleven  efjfrs  in  the  United 
States  National  Mu,seum  colle<'tion  is  17.22  )»y  i;{.27  millimetres,  or  about  O.fiS 
by  (t..')2  inch.  The  lar<i(?st  i'jXi!;  of  the  series  measures  lS.r)4  by  14.22  milli- 
metres, or  O.T.'J  by  0..5()  inch;  the  smallest,  ir).24  by  12.111  millimetres,  i a- (t.(!0 
bv  0.48  inch. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  20480  (PI.  2,  Fifj-.  8.'$),  from  a  set  of  three  e<rf;s, 
liendire  collection,  was  taken  by  the  writer  near  F(at  Klamath,  Oreyou,  Juno 
24,  1882,  and  represents  an  averaj;e  egy  of  this  species. 


118.     Empidonax  griseus  Hkkwstkk. 

OKAY  FLYUATCUKK. 


mm-: 


It:; 


Empuloiiiij-  grinvim  Bkewstku,  Aux,  VI,  April,  l.S,S!»,  87. 

(I!  _,(;_,  U  _,  C —,  U  lli'.H.) 

(■Ko<tUAi>niCAi,  IIANOK:  Lowci' Culit'orniii  iuul  soatherM  Sonorsi.  Mexico 

Very  little  is  yet  known  about  the  range  of  the  Ciray  Flycatcher,  recently 
d(*s(!rib<;(l  by  Mr.  William  Hrewster  from  specimens  tiiken  by  Mr.  ^!.  Abbott 
Frazar,  near  La  I'az,  Lower  California.     It  is  a  sinnewhat  larger  and  grayer 


J,  .t»-»-< 


TUK  (IIJAY  FLYCAT<MIKU. 


321 


bird  tlian  Wn^;ht'K  Flycatcher,  and  apiuiarrt  to  ro|ilac(f  fliis  in  tlio  rc<,'i(»n«  wlicro 
it  is  tuiinil.  Notliiii};'  is  an  yet  known  alMUit  its  Itivcdinjr  luihitw,  nest,  or  (•^"■•s. 
It  lias  been  taken  at  'rriunfo,  San  .Ioho  di^l  (Jaho,  and  on  Santa  Marpirita  Island, 
Lower  Calit'oniiu,  at  Alamos,  in  southern  Sononi,  and  it  jjrubably  also  occurs 
in  the  niountaiuH  uf  Houthurn  Ariiiona. 


'■ilc 


iig.     Etnpidonax  fulvifrons  ((iiKAuo). 

KIILVOII8  F1,YCAT(!IIK1{. 

Mum'iiapit  fulrifroHH  (ilRAl'l),  Sixteen  Tcxtw  Birils,  1841,  I'l.  II. 
EmpMoHiij; /uhiJ'rottH  SoLATKll,  I'locoediiiBS  Zoologiital  Society,  1858,  ;101. 

(H  — ,  U  — ,  R  33,  (J  — ,  V  1 170|.) 

(iBouKAi'itK^Ai.  RANOK:  Kastei'u  Muxicii  ikiid  soutliera  Tuxas. 

Since  (Jiniud's  dimcription  of  the  Fulvous  Flycatcher,  in  his  paper  on 
"  Sixt«'en  Texas  Birds,"  published  in  1841,  no  other  H|)eeiinenH,  as  far  as  I  have 
been  able  to  learn,  have  been  taken  either  in  eastern  Mexico  or  alon<f  our  south- 
ern Imrder,  in  the  lower  Rio  (Jrande  Valley  of  Texas.  The  typo  still  remains 
unique,  tuid  uothiny  is  known  about  its  nestinjf  habits. 


;  I  ■'  !  M 


120,     Empidonax  fulvifrons  pygmseus  (Couks). 

miFF-HUKASTKU  KI.YCATC'UEH. 

hJmpiilontix  iiygnwHH  (ioi'KS,  Ibis,  1805,  5.'J7. 

Kmpiilonttx  fulri/roim  pyijmwuH  RimJWAV,  rrocecdiiifis    tl.  S.   N»tional  Mas<^alll,  V'llI, 
1885,  ;t5«. 

(B  — ,  (J  2(i2,  B  ;{2t)rt,  (;  3!tl3,  IT  470a,) 

Geo(IUA1'H1(!AL  UANUg:  Northern  Mexico;  north  to  southwestern  New  Mexico  and 
Arizona, 

The  breedinjj!'  ran<fe  of  the  Ihiff-breastod  Flycatcher  apjiears  to  extend 
throuffh  northern  .Mexico  northward  into  southwestern  New  Mexico  and  the 
southern  half  of  Ariziaia.  This  subspecies  was  tir.st  added  to  our  fauna  by  Dr. 
Elliott  Coues,  who  obtained  it  near  Fort  Wliii)j)le,  Arizona,  on  May  9,  18(55, 
which  point  probably  marks  the  northern  limits  of  its  range  in  the  United 
States.  Since  then  it  has  been  taken  near  Inscription  Rock,  New  Slexico,  and 
at  Camp  Apache,  Arizona,  by  Mr.  II.  W.  Ilenshuw,  who  jmblished  the  following: 
".Apparently  a  very  rare  species,  as  it  was  met  with  on  but  two  oecasionis.  At 
Inscription  Rock,  New  Mexico,  July  24,  I87i},  I  observed  a  pair  of  old  birds 
feeding'  the  young.  These  latter  were  nearly  full  fledged  and  had  evidently 
been  raised  in  the  immediate  vicinity.  In  September  a  single  immature  bird 
was  taken  near  Camj)  Apache,  Arizona,  on  a  small  brush-lined  stream  in  a  heavy 
l)ine  forest.  Judging  from  the  individuals  seen,  their  habits  difi'er  in  no  note- 
worthy respect  from  those  of  the  small  Flycatchers  generally.     *     *     * 

16896— No.  3 -21 


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Uki^i: 


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322 


LIKI<:  lllSTOltlKH  (M'  MOKTII  AMKUICAN  I(1KI>S. 


"Diiriiii;'  tli«i  |iaHt  m'UHou  I  huw  rnvt-nil  iiiilividiialMtit'  thin  H)»(3('i«*H,  liiit.  not  till 
wuil  (low'ii  into  tlu)  Houtlutrn  ]iart of  Ari/.ona.  I  am  int'liiu-il  to  tliiiik  tliat  it,  will 
not  bit  foiuiil  to  occur  niiicli,  it'  any,  nitrtli  of  tlu*  tliirty-fointli  |iamllol,  and  tliat 
(U)Utli  of  tliiH  it  in  II  ru^riilar  Hinnnicr  roHidcnt,  tlioii^rli  curtuinly  far  from  common. 
In  all  its  motions  it  is  u  jicrfcct  Enijiiilomu."^ 

hr.  A.  K.  I'islu-r,  wlio  met  with  tlic  sniispccics  amon^f  tlio  Hcnih  oaks  in  tlio 
Cihiricalma  Mountains,  in  .)un(>,  1K!I4,  informs  mc  that  oiiu  of  thu  notes  rusomhloH 
closely  tho  chirp  of  Auduhon's  Warbler. 

Mr.  F.  Stuphuns  obtained  this  Klycatcher  in  the  Santa  liita  and  Ohiricahuii 
mountains,  Arizona,  and  in  the  mountains  north  of  Kort  Itayaid,  Now  Afivxico, 
in  1H7()  and  IHHO,  but  was  umible  to  find  either  the  nest  or  e^ft,'s,  both  of  which, 
as  fur  us  1  urn  uwure,  still  remuiu  unknown. 


121.     Pyrocephalns  rnbineus  mexicanus  (Sci.atkk). 

VKKMIMON  FLYOATOnr.K. 

I'yrocepluilug  mrj-iraniiH  Scu.A'rKR,  PnM'.wdings  Z(M)l(>}j;iciil  Society,  1.S5S),  15. 
Vyrovvphalun  rubineiiti  var.  /McawcawMw  Coi'KS,  Key,  lrt72, 177. 

(H  147,  C  Ua«,  11 .«(»,  O  ;«»4,  U  171.) 

<iEi)OUAl»nK!Al,  BANOE:  Kfoin  (ruuteinala  tliroaRh  Mexico  and  Lower  ('alil'oriiia  to 
tlio  Mouthcru  bonier  of  tlio  IJaitcd  States,  iiu'lialin)r  soatliern  Texas,  soutliwestera  New 
Mexico,  Arizona,  auil  soutliera  Oaliforaia;  north  to  soutUweBtorn  Utah,  and  probably 
southern  Nevada. 

Tho  breediuff  range  of  tho  Vormilion  Flycatcher  is  coextensive  with  its 
distribution  in  tho  United  States,  excej)ting  jiossibly  southern  California,  where 
I  l)elieve  it  has  not  yet  been  found  nestiuf;,  though  .several  specimens  have 
been  taken  there  during  the  winter.  Mr.  F.  Stephens  met  with  this  hand.some 
Flycatcher  in  tho  San  Gorgonio  Puss,  and  others  are  known  to  have  been 
taken  near  tho  Santa  Anna  River,  in  Los  Angeles  County,  and  at  tho  mouth 
of  the  Santa  Clara  River,  in  tho  vicinity  of  Santa  Uuenaventura,  California, 
which  are  the  nio.st  western  records  I  have  been  able  to  find  for  this  species. 
Mr.  Stej)hous  writes  mo  as  follows  on  this  subject:  "I  consider  all  ])irds  <»f  this 
species  found  west  of  tho  immcdiato  neighborhood  of  the  Colora<lo  River  as 
stragglers,  und  di>  not  know  of  a  breeding  record  west  of  tho  Colorudo  River 
bottom." 

It  seems  rather  strange  that  it  should  bo  found  only  as  a  rare  wintt^r  visitor 
in  southern  California,  but  from  present  information  this  seems  to  be  tho  case. 

Tlio  northern  range  of  the  Vermilion  Flycatcher  has  recently  bei;n  extended 
into  southwesteni  Utah,  where  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam  shot  an  adidt  female  at  St. 
George,  in  tho  lower  Santa  Clara  Valley,  on  May  13,  18!)1.  lu  "North  Ameri- 
can Fauna,  No.  7"  (p.  66),  ho  states:  "She  was  killed  in  an  orchard  at  Dodgo 
Spring,  about  a  mile  from  tho  settlement,  and  contained  largo  ova  nearly  ready 

>  SurvoyH  Woal  of  this  100th  Moridiiin,  Vol.  V,  1871,  p.  364. 


Till-:  VKUMILION  FIA'CATUlllilt. 


323 


idfd 
St. 
lun-i- 


for  tlio  mIioII.  TIiIm  n'cortl  oxtfiulM  tin*  known  ninyc  i>f  the  MpccicM  vcrv  niatcri- 
iilly,  mnc«'  it  liiid  not  pruviously  Ix-fn  recorded  north  of  h'ort  Molmve,  Arizonii." 

'riie  Verniilion  Flyeatelier  appeiUM  not  to  lie  partieidarly  rare  in  tlie  lower 
Hio  (h'aiwlu  Valley,  in  tlio  vicinity  of  MrownHville,  'r»'xas,  wliere  Dr.  ilanicH  ('. 
Merrill,  llniteil  HfatcM  Army,  found  Hcveral  of  their  nestw  and  eji'f^'s,  which  are 
now  in  tlio  United  States  National  MuHemn  colh>ction;  it  also  occurs  in  other 
places  alonjf  our  southwestern  frontier.  Us  center  of  alunidance  within  our 
hordci'H,  however,  nuist  lie  looked  for  in  southern  Arizona.  Iler«',  in  the  vicinity 
of  Tucson,  aloii}^  the  lianks  of  Hilliui  (!reek  (one  of  the  many  dry  streams  of 
tluH  coiuitry,  where  the  water  Hows  aliove  (i'round  for  about  one  month  in  the 
year,  and  di;jf^injf  has  to  lie  resorted  to  to  lea<l  it  out  of  its  sandy  hod,  and 
where,  unl(;ss  this  is  done,  small  sta;,niant  pools  are  oidy  occasionally  met  with) 
I  found  this  pretty  and  conspicuous  little  Flycatcher  to  lie  a  rather  coiimion 
Hunmu'r  resident,  and  locatetl  some  two  do/,en  of  its  nests  and  en'j,'s  durin^i-  the 
season  of  1S72.  Althou;;'h  an  occasional  specimen  can  bo  found  hero  thron<;'hoiit 
every  month  of  the  year,  comparativtfly  ftiw  of  tlusso  birds  remain  durin;''  th«* 
winter.  The  iiist  mij^rants  usually  return  about  March  1,  the  mahts  prece(lin^' 
tho  fumales  about  u  wook,  and  by  tho  10th  of  the  month  both  sexes  are  common. 

'J'ho  matinff  season  commences  shortly  afterwards,  and  the  males,  in  their 
handsomo  red  pluma^fo,  may  be  seen  hoverinjf  in  the  air,  some  20  to  iiO  feet  above 
the  {fround,  jioised  and  Hutterin^r  their  win}>s  in  the  manner  of  ji  Sparrow  Hawk. 
|)urin<;  this  performaiu-o  ovory  feather  of  the  body,  and  even  the  tail,  is  raised, 
and  it  seems  a  dilHcult  matter  for  tluf  bird  '<>  keep  itself  projierly  balanced.  At 
this  time  it  repeatedly  utters  a  siu-ill  not.  like  "/,i-i)ii'e,  zi-brcc,"  and  snaps  its 
numdiblos  toj,'other,  slowly  descondiu};  to  its  perch  ayain,  usually  on  som(! 
small  lind)  of  a  mes(|uito  or  other  tree  near  water.  It  is  a  very  comical-lookin;;' 
little  object  at  such  times,  and  is  evidently  |iroud  of  its  handsome  appearance. 
When  at  rest,  perched  on  som»^  twi;>-  overhan;>in;'-  the  creek  bed,  it  utters  a 
wliinin}f  sort  of  note  occasionally,  not  unlike  that  of  tho  Western  Wood  I'<nveo. 

Its  food  consists  of  insects,  which  are  nuistly  cau<;ht  on  tin*  winir;  but  [ 
have  also  seen  it  alij'ht  on  tho  <,miund  to  pick  up  a  <,n'asshopper  or  stnall  beetle, 
returniu}^  to  its  perch  afterwards,  beatiuf'-  its  jirey  ayainst  it,  and  devouring,''  it 
at  leisure.  Its  favorite  resorts  are  the  .shrubbery  found  alonif  water  courses  in 
the  more  level,  open  country,  but  it  also  follows  the  canyons  into  the  foothills 
of  tho  mountains,  up  to  an  altitutlo  of  between  4,000  and  5,000  feet.  I  have 
rarely  found  it  at  any  j^reat  distance  away  from  water.  In  southern  Arizona 
nidificatitin  seldom  iiegins  before  April  20,  and  usually  not  until  May  1. 

Tho  nest  is  a  rather  frail,  .shallow,  and  flimsy  aflair,  and  is  always  saddled 
on  a  horizontal  fork,  well  out  from  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  as  is  that  of  the  Wood 
I'ewee.  The  foundation  is  composed  of  a  thin  layer  of  twijjis  from  2  to  3  inches 
in  length;  tho  sides  are  eonsti'ucted  of  small  weed  tops,  a  sjiecies  oi  Evax,  plant 
libers,  empty  eoeoons,  spider  webs,  plant  down,  etc.  The  whole  is  rather  loo,sely 
held  together.  Tho  inner  lining  consi.sts  most  frequently  of  feathers,  .sometimes 
of  a  little  wool,  cattle  Lair,  fur,  or  plant  down.     The  riuis  of  some  ueats  are 


m 


■  1;; 


mm 


m 


324 


LIFE  IIISTOIUES  OF  NOllTU  AMEUIUAN  BlUDS. 


(lecorate«l  witli  ii  lew  li.  "leiis,  but  such  orimiiioiitiitioiiM  iiiv  nitlmr  iintisunl,  as 
far  a«  my  observatioiw  go.  Tlio  outer  dianu'tor  of  an  averajre-sized  nest  is 
about  3^  inches  by  1^  inches  in  depth;  the  inner,  2  inches  by  tin-ee-fouiths  of 
an  inch  in  depth,  barely  deep  enou|::li  to  keep  the  e}>:<fs  from  rolling  out. 

In  southern  Arizona  their  nests  may  bo  looked  for  in  mesquite  trees  cotton- 
wootls,  oaks,  and  rarely  in  willows,  all  the  nests  examined  by  me  being  jdaoed 
on  forks  of  horizontal  limbs,  from  8  to  M  feet  from  the  groimd,  ••■enerally  frt»m 
10  to  is  feet  up.  Dr.  J.  C  Merrill  found  it  nesting  in  retama  bu.shes,  Purkinsonia 
uculrata,  in  Texas,  rarely  over  6  feet  from  the  ground.  I  found  my  first  nest  of 
three  fresh  eggs  on  A\m\  27,  1872,  "ul  tlie  latest  on  July  IG.  This  contained 
two  fresh  eggs,  and  one  of  the  Dwarf  Cowbird,  which  occasionally  lays  in  the 
nest  of  this  species,  two  such  instances  having  come  imder  my  observation. 

Dr.  J.  C.  iVlerrill,  in  his  notes  on  the  "Ornitludogy  of  Southern  Texas,"  says: 
"A  nest  of  this  sjjecies,  found  May  10,  1877,  contained  a  young  Dwarf  Cowbird 
and  three  addled  eggs,  which  latter  I  removed.  On  revisiting  the  same  nest  ten 
days  later  I  foUi  ,1  three  fresh  eggs,  t»n  which  t!ie  female  was  sitting.  As  the 
young  Cowbird  coidd  not  have  been  fledged  by  this  time,  it  would  seem  as 
if  the  P^lycatchers,  on  finding  that  tlieu"  eggs  had  been  removed,  had  thrown 
out  the  parasite  egg  and  laid  again."  ^ 

An  egg  is  deposited  daily,  and  incubation  lasts  about  twelve  days;  in  this 
the  male  assists  to  some  extent,  as  I  have  on  two  occasions  seen  one  sitting  on 
the  eggs.  I  believe  two  broods  are  occasionally  raised  in  a  season.  On  June  (5 
I  foinid  a  nest  of  the  Vermilion  Flycatcher  in  a  small  grove  of  cottonwood  trees, 
with  no  other  shnibbery  nearer  than  GOO  yards;  it  was  placed  on  a  horizontal 
fork  of  one  of  these  trees,  about  20  feet  from  the  ground,  and  contained  three 
fresh  eggs;  close  i)y  the  male  was  feeding  a  full-grown  young  bird;  no  other 
pair  apj)eared  to  occupy  this  gi-ove,  and  it  seems  very  ])robable  that  it  belonged 
to  these  birds.  The  fact  that  I  also  found  fresh  eggs  as  late  as  Jidy  16  further 
strengthens  this  supjwsition.  The  majority  of  these  Flycatchers  return  to  their 
winter  homes  in  Mexico  during  the  latter  part  of  October. 

From  two  to  three  eggs  are  laid,  generally  three.  I  never  found  more  in  a 
nest.  They  '?"e  usually  short  and  rounded  ovate  in  shape;  the  shell  is  close 
grained  and  lusterless.  The  groiuid  color  varies  from  pjJe  cream  to  buif,  and 
the  markings,  which  are  generally  heaviest  about  the  larger  end  of  the  egg, 
'jonsist  mostly  of  bold,  irregidar  blotches  and  spots  of  clove  and  sepia  brown, 
drab,  and  lavender  gi'ay.  The  egg  does  not  resemble  that  of  an)'  of  our  Fly- 
catchers, and  is  a  handsome  and  striking  one.  Occasionally  a  specimen  is  found 
in  which  the  markings  are  sniall  mid  nearly  evenly  distributed  over  the  entire 
siu-face.  and  in  others  they  form  a  well-defined  wreath,  leaving  both  ends  almost 
immaculatt. 

The  average  measurement  of  fifty  eggs  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  17.48  by  13.05  millimetre's  or  about  O.G!)  by  0.51  inch. 
The  largest  egg  of  the  series  measiu-es  18.54  })y  13.!)7  millimetres,  or  0.73  by 
0.55  inch;  the  smallest,  15.75  by  12.70  millimeters,  or  0.G2  by  0.50  inch. 

'  Proceedings  U.  8.  National  Museum,  Vol.  I,  187S,  p.  142. 


THE  VERMILION  FLYOATCHEE. 


325 


Tlio  type  specimen,  N(i.  20423  (PI.  2,  Fig'.  3-i),  from  a  set  of  three  eggs, 
Bendiro  colUH-tion,  one  of  the  smiillor  and  Hghtor-marked  eggs,  was  taken  by 
the  writer  near  Tucson,  Arizona,  June  1,  1872:  No.  21036  (PI.  2,  Fig.  36),  al.so 
from  a  set  of  tlu'eo  eggs,  represents  one  of  the  large  and  more  heavily  marked 
sptu'imens.  It  was  taken  by  Dr.  James  C.  Merrill,  United  States  Army,  near 
lirownsville,  Texas,  May  29,  1877. 


122.     Ornithion  imberbe  (Sclatku). 

IIEAKDLESS  FLVOATCnER. 

Campiostonid  hnherbv  ScLATKH,  Proceedings  Zoolofjieal  Socioty,  1857,  203. 
Oniitliiiiii  iiiiberlic  Lawuknck.  Ibis,  1870,  4!t7. 

(H  — ,  (!  — ,  R  ;{,n,  (1  303,  IT  47U.) 

(rEOGBAPnrcAL  RANOE:  (Jeiitiiil  America  and  easttiru  Mexico;  north  to  the  lower 
Kio  (iriinde  Valley,  Texas. 

The  Ileardlt'ss  Flycatcher,  one  of  tlie  smallest  of  the  Tyrfunikhe  found  within 
the  l)orders  of  the  I'nitcd  States,  was  added  to  our  fauna  bj-  Mr.  (}.  H.  Sennett, 
who  took  a  specimen  near  ijomtta  Kanch,  Texas,  on  April  24,  187!),  whei\>  it 
appears  to  be  a  rather  rare  summer  visitor.  Mr.  Sennett  makes  the  following 
remarks:  "I  have  little  to  say  of  the  habits  of  this  species.  Afy  single  specimen 
was  siiot  on  April  24  in  a  low  bush  distant  from  woods.  No  others  were  observed. 
It  was  an  a<lult  male,  in  fine  plumage,  and  its  testes  sIiowcmI  the  breeding  season 
to  be  close  at  hand.  Its  diminutive  size  and  yellow  oonuni.ssurti  led  me  at  tinst  to 
think  it  the  yoimg  of  some  other  specit's,  but  I  fortunately  ])erceived  mv  error, 
and  was  careful  to  preserve  what  proves  to  Ik!  the  best  Hud  of  the  trip,  one  which 
adils  to  our  fauna  a  new  genus  and  .species  never  suspected  to  occur  so  far  north."' 

I  belii've  the  nest  and  eggs  (»f  this  interesting  little  Flyeateher  still  remain 
unknown. 


■\'B: 


^'^-'Ip^ 

,'  'A'  4-. 
-\  M"  "v|    ■■ 

.   •      ■■■(•> 

■      'rvU'; 

123.     Ornithion  imberbe  ridgwayi  Bkewstkb. 

RnXiWAVS  I'l.VCATCIlEU. 

Or  itiiioii  imUei-hc  riiliiinn/i  Ukewstek,  Hiillctin  Xnttall  Ornithological  (Jliib,  VII,  <)ett)ber, 
18SL',  20s. 

(15  _,  (•  _,  14  _,  O  _,  U  47LV(.) 

(JEonKAi'uicAL  RANOE:  Nortlieiu  Mexico,  from  Paebla  and  .lalisoo;  north  to  south- 
ern Arizoiiii. 

llidgway's  Flycatcher  is  another  comparatively  nu'ent  addition  to  <uu' 
fauna,  and  was  hrst  described  Ity  Mr.  William  Brewster  in  the  "liulletin  «>f  the 
Nuttall  ()riiith(»logical   ("lub"  (Vol.  VII,   1882,  pj).  208,  20!»),  froui  si)eeimons 

'  lliillcthi  li.  8,  (i«oli>Ki<'i>l  iiixl  (ii'ii|i;ra|)lii<'iil  Siirvi^y,  Vi>l.  V,  No.  It,  |>.  400. 


ill; ; 


1 

i   , 

326 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NOKTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


n 


•I  i<  '• 


collected  by  Mr.  F.  Stephens  in  the  vicinity  of  Tucson,  Arizona,  in  the  spring 
of  18H1.     I  ([note  him  in  full: 

"The  detection  of  this  Flycatcher  in  Arizona  is  perhaps  the  most  interesting 
discovery  resulting  from  Mr.  Stephens's  late  trip.  Omithion  imhvrhc  has  only 
recently  been  added  to  our  fauna  by  Mr.  Sennett,  and  the  locality  of  his  .single 
specimen — Lomita,  Texas — was  so  far  beyond  the  previously  known  range  of 
the  species  that  its  ocicuiTence  seemed  hardly  likely  to  prove  more  than  a  mere 
accident.  In  1880,  however,  Mr.  M.  A.  Frazar  secured  additional  specimens  at 
Lomita,  and  now  an  allied  but  apjjareiitly  distinct  race  turns  up  in  Arizona. 

"i\Ir.  Stephens  found  the  curious  little  bird  only  at  Txicson,  where  his  first 
sjiecimon  was  taken  April  28.  Afterwards  others  were  shot  in  the  same  locality, 
but  they  were  by  no  means  common.  The  males  had  a  habit  of  pen-hing  on 
the  tops  of  the  tallest  trees  in  the  vicinity  of  their  haunts,  and  at  siuu'ise 
occasionally  uttered  a  singidar  song  which  Mr.  Steithens  transcribes  as  'yoop- 
yoop-yoopeedeedledee,'  the  first  half  given  very  deliberately,  the  remainder 
rapidly.  A  connnoner  cry,  used  by  both  sexes  in  calling  to  each  other,  was  a 
shrill  'pier,  pi^r,  pi6r,  pifcr,'  beginning  in  a  high  key  and  falling  a  note  each 
time.  Tliey  were  very  shy,  and  specimens  were  obtained  <inly  at  the  expense 
of  mucli  ti'ouble  and  ] terse verence.  Their  loud  calls  were  frecpiently  heard, 
but  when  the  spot  was  approached  the  bird  either  relapsed  into  silence  or  took 
a  long  flight  to  resume  its  calling  in  another  direction.  In  their  motions  they 
resembled  otiier  small  Flycatchei-s,  l)ut  their  tails  were  less  frequently  jerked. 

"On  May  2<S  Mr.  Stephens  met  with  a  young  bird  which  had  but  just  left 
the  nest.  It  was  accompanied  by  the  female  parent,  who  showed  nuich  solici- 
tude, and  frequently  uttered  her  shrill  cries,  to  which  the  offspring  responded  in 
nearly  similar  tones.  Uoth  individuals  were  secured,  but  neither  the  nest  nor 
the  remainder  of  the  Itrood — if,  indeed,  there  were  any  more — C(mld  be  found. 
On  the  following  day  this  episode  was  rejteated,  a  second  female  l)(Mng  found  in 
attendance  on  another  young  bird  (»f  nearly  the  same  age  as  that  obtained  on 
the  previous  occasion." 

Mr.  Stej)]iens  wiites  me  that  he  took  another  specimen  in  April,  1884,  also 
near  Tucson,  and  considers  this  subspecies  as  very  rare.  Additional  specimens 
have  recently  been  taken  by  Mr.  K.  W.  Nelson,  at  Etzatlan,  .lalisco,  on  .lune 
22,  18I>2,  and  at  Tehucan,  I'uebla,  Mexico,  on  May  4,  18<Ji};  these  are  now  in 
the  ornithological  collection  of  the  United  States  Dejtartment  of  Agriculture, 
but  nothing  ajtpears  to  be  known  regarding  the  breeding  habits,  nest,  or  eggs 
of  this  subspecies. 


I"    1 
i 

M*. 

.   j 

•-   »'      ■ 

\-} 

i, 

••  \ 

'      > 

I' 

■.'V 

t: 

TUE  SKYLABK.  327 

Family  ALAUDIDuE.     Larks. 
124.     Alauda  arvensis  Linnaeus. 

SKYLARK 

Alauda  arrenmn  Linnaeus,  Hystcma  Natnrai,  cd.  10,  1, 1758, 165. 
(B  — ,  C  55  bis,  B  ^99,  G  88,  U  [473].) 

Gkooraphioal  ranoe:  Europe  and  portions  of  Asia  and  Africa;  accidental  in 
(ircenlaiid  and  the  Benmida  Islands.  Introduced,  tliougli  not  successfully,  In  the  United 
States,  on  Tiong  Island,  New  York;  near  Cincinnati,  Uliio;  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  Port- 
laud,  Oregon.' 

Tlio  popular  Skylark  of  Europe  clairaa  a  place  in  onr  fauna,  bein<?  a  easual 
visitor  in  Greenland,  and  it  also  occurs  occasionally  in  the  Bermuda  Islands. 
Several  attempts  have  been  made  at  various  timers  to  introduce  this  favorite 
Eur(^,)c;xii  songster  in  difterent  ])ai"ts  of  the  United  States.,  and  though  some  of 
the'o  were  ajjparently  successful  for  a  time,  eventually,  as  far  as  known,  they 
aV  failed.  Up  to  March,  18S8,  the  Skylark  was  evidently  fairly  well  established 
i'l  .suitable  localities  on  Long  Island,  New  York,  and  nested  there;  but  since  the 
occurrence  of  the  severe  blizzard  in  the  middle  of  that  month  none  have  been 
observed,  and  it  is  presumeil  that  the  entire  colony  was  destroyed,  the*  last  <late 
on  which  any  have  actually  been  taken  there  being  February  22,  1888,  accord- 
ing to  Mr.  William  Dutcher. 

Still,  it  seems  to  ))e  a  liardy  bird,  as  Mr.  Henry  Seebohm  states:  "In  west- 
ern Europe  it  breeds  up  to  latitude  70°  (although  it  is  comparatively  ran^  north 
of  the  Arctic  Circle)."  In  speaking  about  the  general  habits  of  this  species  he 
siiys:  "No  bird  is  l)etter  known  or  more  freipiently  k(!i)t  in  confinement  tlian 
the  Skylark.  It  is  wasily  caugiit,  readily  tamed,  and  bears  its  captivity  well, 
singing  as  sweetly  on  the  sod  in  its*  little  cage  as  when  soaring  in  boundless 
freedom  high  U])  amongst  the  clouds.  It  is  found  in  all  kinds  of  places,  from 
the  coast  to  tiie  iidand  moors  and  mountains,  but  is  perhaps  most  abundant 
in  well-cultivated  districts.  It  delights  to  frequent  arable  land,  rich  meadows, 
and  commons,  but  is  nev(!r  seen  in  woods  or  places  where  trees  are  very  close 
together.  It  is  -.{[no  very  ])artial  to  the  most  elevated  pastures,  and  often  deserts 
a  sheltered  valley  to  remain  on  them  throughout  the  year.  During  winter 
the  Skylark  is  gregarious,  but  very  early  in  the  spring  tlie  large  flocks  break 
up  and  it  retii'es  to  its  breeding  grounds.  In  starch,  when  the  cold  winds  ai"o 
<lrying  u\)  the  fallows,  and  the  first  spring  flowers  are  apj)earing  in  the  hedges,  the 
Skylark  pairs.  At  this  season  several  males  may  often  be  seen  chasing  a  female 
with  great  rapidity  through  the  air,  fvnd  every  now  and  then  bursting  out  into 
sweetest  song.  S(»metimes  a  male  will  hover  above  the  female,  who  crouches 
low  among  the  herbage,  and  in  various  ways  he  will  seek  to  display  his  charms. 

'  It  hiw  bnon  ro|inrtiMl  timt  tlin  coliiny  of  Skyliirkii  net  out  tirnr  Pnrtliiiiil,  Or«Koii(  snmn  yonm  ago,  wos 
in  n  tlonrixliiiifr  cunditioii,  Imt  011  iiii|iiii'y  during  <i  riM'riit.  viHit  then',  in  Mny,  18!)l,  I  lailnd  to  liiivo  tills 
Nlati'iiit'iit  ('(iiiliriiied. 


f 


|'3 


■    ■  ;  ■  ;  fit  «* 


It* 


i|:    ■ 


-■■51!. 

'  Ml 


i'l  4 


<  •:)n 


i^- 


328 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NOETH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


Slie  will  then  often  rise  into  the  air,  wlien  several  males  will  toy  with  her  and 
flutter  rf)nn(l  and  round,  or  dart  hither  and  thither  w'tli  great  8i)eed,  singing  all 
the  time.  Sometimes  the  males  will  chase  each  other,  and  even  fight  for  the 
possession  of  the  prize. 

"At  this  season  of  the  year  the  Skylark's  scmg  is  particidarly  loud  and 
charming.  A  few  birds  will  often  be  tempted  to  sing  by  an  unusually  mild  day 
in  winter,  but  the  song  is  seldom  fully  resumed  before  March.  The  manner  in 
which  the  Skylark  sings,  in  the  full  view  of  all  observers,  is  probably  the  secret 
of  the  bird's  pojmlarity.  Who  has  not  seen  this  sond)er  little  bird  rise  from  the 
meadow  grass  or  the  heath,  and  has  not  watched  its  soaring  iliglit  as  upwai-d  and 
upward  it  goes  until  it  appears  but  a  s])eck  or  is  entirely  lost  in  the  sky?  He 
bounds  up  from  tlie  cover  on  fluttering  wings  and  with  outstret(^hed  tail,  rising 
a  little  way  in  silence,  then,  bursting  into  song,  lie  pursues  his  uj)ward  course. 
At  first  the  wings  are  beaten  veiy  rapidly,  in  a  lluttering  way;  but  when  the 
bird  gets  higher  the  movements  are  more  regular.  Sometimes  it  rises  directly 
upward,  but  very  often  goes  far  away  from  the  ]dace  of  its  first  ascent,  sailing 
over  the  fields,  but  in  an  ever-rising  course.  When  the  zenith  of  its  flight  is 
reached  it  will  sometimes  fly  about  for  a  short  time,  singing;  but  more  usually 
it  comes  down  again  directly.  The  song  is  continued  until  the  ground  is 
neared,  when  the  bird  usually  drops  like  a  stone,  or  flutters  oft"  over  the  grass 
ere  seeking  the  cover.  These  aerial  movements  are  not  essential  to  the  bird's 
song;  it  will  sing  (piite  as  sweetly  when  perched  on  a  clod  of  earth  or  on  the 
ground,  and  it  often  warbles  a  few  notes  when  running  about  amongst  the  grass 
or  over  the  fallows.  The  height  of  the  song  flights  also  varies  considerably. 
Sometimes  the  bird  may  be  seen  fluttering  at  a  moderate  heiglit,  singing  very 
sweetly,  and  remaining  in  the  air  for  some  considerable  time;  and  it  will 
occasionally  sit  and  sing  on  a  small  bush  or  a  wall.  When  engaged  in  his 
soaring  flights  the  little  songster  will  cease  his  strains  and  drop  to  the  ground  if 
a  Merlin  lufikes  its  ai)pearance,  aiul  if  a  Sparrow  Hawk  does  so,  he  soars  still 
higher;  but  a  Kestrel  is  never  regarded  as  an  enemy. 

"The  Skylark  has  no  great  variety  of  notes — his  compass  is  small — nor  are 
those  he  possesses  either  powerful  or  rich  in  tone;  but  he  pours  forth  his  song  so 
industriou.sly,  so  continuously,  and  arranges  his  notes  so  harmoniously  that  the 
songs  of  few  birds  are  listeneil  to  with  more  pleasure.  The  song  of  the  Skylark 
is  pre-eminently  cheertul;  and  if  the  monotony  and  continuonsness  of  the  nuisic 
reminds  you  of  that  of  a  l)agpii)e,  it  has  at  least  no  melancholy  in  its  tone.  It 
is  not  continued  for  so  long  a  time  as  is  generally  supposed,  ranging  from  two 
minutes  to  abf)ut  a  (piarter  of  an  hour.  The  call  note  of  the  Skylark  can  not 
be  expressed  on  pajier;  it  may  best  be  described  as  a  liquid,  musical,  double 
note,  somewhat  resendding  the  sound  made  by  a  whistle  half  full  of  water. 

"The  Skylark  is  not  very  shy,  and  will  often  allow  the  observer  to  watch  it 
within  a  distance  of  a  few  yards.  It  runs  about  with  great  ea.se,  often  pausing 
for  a  moment  to  look  warily  around,  stretching  out  its  neck  and  standing  as  high 
on  its  legs  as  possilile;  but  it  often  skulks  very  closely  in  the  herbage.     Its  flight 


THE  SKYLARK. 


329 


'•y 
ill 

lis 
if 


h  It 
in^' 
it'll 
"lit 


is  quick  and  powerful,  and  when  passing  from  place  to  place  is  strsiiglit  or  only 
very  slightly  undulating.  The  Skylark  is  very  fond  of  dusting  itself  for  the 
purpose  of  getting  rid  of  troublesome  parasites;  it  may  often  be  seen  on  a  sandy 
road,  or  in  a  little  bare  jiatch  in  the  fields,  lying  on  its  side,  shaking  its  wings, 
and  thoroughly  dusting  its  plumage.  It  always  roosts  upon  the  ground,  amongst 
tall  herbage,  and  is  seldom  or  never  seen  to  perch  in  a  tree. 

"Although  the  Skylark  often  pairs  early  in  March,  nesting  duties  do  not 
generally  commence  before  the  middle  of  April.  In  exceptional  cases  eggs  may 
be  found  as  early  as  the  first  week  in  April.  The  nj..r.  is  always  built  uj)on  the 
ground,  amongst  herbage,  and  is  usually  well  citiu'ealed;  generally  it  is  placed 
amongst  the  meadow  grass  or  the  growing  corn,  but  sometimes  it  is  built  in  the 
coarse  herbage  on  (U)mmons  and  weedy  pastures,  or  amongst  the  wiry  heath 
branches  on  the  moors.  It  is  often  built  behind  a  tuft  of  herbage,  and  is  usually 
|)laced  in  a  little  dejiression,  often  scratched  out  by  the  bird.  The  nest  is  a  simple 
little  structure,  made  external]}'  of  dry,  coarse  grass  and  a.  scrap  or  two  of  moss, 
and  it  is  lined  with  finer  grass,  rootlets,  and  sometimes  a  few  hairs.  These 
materials  are  very  loosely  put  together,  as  is  usually  the  caso  in  most  nests  built 
on  the  ground.  The  eggs  of  the  Skylark  are  four  or  five  in  ninnber,  sometimes 
only  three.  The  ground  color  varies  from  dull  white  to  white  with  just  a  tinge 
of  olive,  and  the  markings  are  olive  brown  or  neutral  brown,  the  underlying 
(mes  being  pale  gray.  The  spots  are  generally  so  thickly  distributed  over  the 
entire  surface  as  to  conceal  most  of  the  ground  color,  and  on  the  large  end  they 
are  often  confluent  and  form  an  iiTegular  zone.  On  thoso  eggs  where  the  mark- 
ings are  not  so  thickly  dispersed  the  zone  is  much  broader  and  darker.  A  rare 
but  very  beautiful  variety  of  the  egg  of  this  bird  is  white  in  groinid  color, 
thickly  mottled  and  spotted  with  brownish  red,  and  with  numerous  underlying 
markings  of  gray.  The  eggs  are  not  subject  to  any  great  variation  in  color,  but 
dilfur  somewhat  in  shape,  some  specimens  being  very  round,  others  pyriform, 
and  many  oval;  they  vary  in  length  from  1  to  0.87  inch,  and  in  breadth  from 
0.72  to  0.(!3  inch.  The  Skylark  usually  rears  two  broods  in  the  year,  the  young 
of  the  first  being  gcnicrally  abroad  by  the  middle  of  June,  and  those  of  the 
second  in  August.  Tlu*  female  jierforms  most  of  the  duties  of  incubation,  and 
is  a  very  close  sitter,  usually  allowing  herself  to  be  almost  trodden  upon  before 
(putting  the  nest.  In  returning  to  the  nest  both  birds  usually  drop  into  the 
herbage  some  little  ilistaiictf  from  it,  and  run  through  tlie  grass  the  remainder  of 
the  distance.  During  tlio  whole  jjcriod  of  incubation  the  mah^  liird  is  inces- 
santly soaring  upward  to  warble  his  song,  from  the  first  streak  of  morning  till 
dusk."' 

As  a  rule  the  eggs  of  the  Skylark  are  more  heavily  spotted  and  conse- 
<piently  darker  colored  than  those  of  our  Horned  Larks,  imt  they  do  not  diticr 
much  in  shape.  The  average  measurement  of  eighteen  specimens  in  tlu^  United 
States  National  Museum  collection  is  22.'2i\  Iiy  lG.7(i  millimetres,  or  about  O.SS 

>  UiBtury  u(  UriliiiU  UiriU,  Vul.  II,  1S84,  px).  2B7'Snu. 


t   'KVI 


•i-y 


\r.:\ 


;t.i 


-•:;iii 


, --IMi 


..«f 


'  i 


330 


LIFE  III8TOKIES  OF  NOUTPl  AMERICAN  BIEDS. 


by  0.66  inch.  The  largest  egg  in  tlio  series  measures  2r).fi5  by  17.27  millime- 
tres, or  1.01  by  0.G8  inches;  the  smallest,  21.0H  by  16.26  millimetres,  or  0.83  by 
0.64  inch. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  21833  (PI.  5,  Fig.  23),  Bendire  collection,  from  a 
set  of  four  eggs,  wjis  taken  in  Saxony,  Europe,  on  April  20, 185!),  and  represents 
one  of  the  darker-colored  types  of  this  species. 


125.     Otocoris  alpestris  (Linn^bus). 

HORNED  LARK. 

Al/iuila  alpeHtrU  LinN/KUS,  Sy.stoma  Natnra',  e«l.  10,  I,  ITfiS,  16(i. 
Otocorin  alpvHtris  Uonapabte,  Fauna  Jtaliana  Uccclli,  l.s;{!(  (not  paged). 

(B  3(»2,  C  53,  B  300,  C  82,  U  474.) 

(lEOOBAPiTiCAL  BANOE:  Nortlieaateni  North  Americn,  from  tlio  Province  of  Kee- 
watiii.  Dominion  of  Canada,  both  sides  of  Hudson  Hay,«ea.st  to  Labrador,  and  south  to 
Newfoundland;  also  to  (Irconland  and  to  northern  Euroiie;  south  in  winter  to  about  lati- 
tude 38°,  and  casually  somewhat  farther  south.' 

The  breeding  range  of  tlio  Homed  or  Shore  T^ai'k,  the  second  largest  rep- 
resentative f>f  this  genus  found  in  North  America,  is  coiirtned,  as  far  as  known 
at  j)resent,  to  the  Province  of  Kcewatiu,  Dominion  of  (Canada,  lioth  shores  of 
Hudson  Bay,  and  the  coasts  of  Ijabrador  and  Newloundland.  In  the  latter 
province  it  has  been  met  with  during  tlie  lirceding  season  near  its  southeastern 
extremity,  at  Cajie  St.  I^lary,  in  about  latitude  47'^,  which  ])robably  marks  about 
the  southern  limits  of  its  breeding  range.  Mr.  William  Palmer,  during  the 
cruise  of  the  United  States  Fish  (commission  schooner  "Grinn])us"  in  the  summer 
of  1887,  met  with  Honu'd  Larks  at  the  Penguin  Islands,  west  of  Cape  Freels, 
and  at  Canada  Bay,  Newfoundland,  and  says:  "At  tlie  former  place  (a  low,  flat, 
gra.ssy  i.sland)  several  old  ))irds  were  seen,  who  during  our  visit  jjcrched  on  the 
bowlders  tliat  surround  tlu'  island;  and  two  young  birds,  wliich  were  evidently 
bred  on  i\w  island,  were  collected.  At  Canada  Bay  a  few  old  birds  were  found 
at  the  Cloud  Hills,  at  an  elevation  of  nearly  1,000  feet."'- 

Mr.  L.  M.  Turner,  in  his  manuscript  notes  on  the  "Birds  of  iiabrador  and 
Ungava,"  says:  "The  first  individuals  of  this  Lai'k  were  seen  .Fuly  !>,  1882,  on 
the  top  of  a  high  hill  on  Black  Island,  in  Hamilton  Inlet.     The  birds  were 

'In  tlio  genoral  ticntiiiPiit  of  uiir  iinnieroim  races  of  llornnd  I.arka  I  miiiiily  follow  the  I'liiNsillintioii 
of  Mr.  Joiintlinn  Dwiglit,  jr.,  who  recently  pulilisheil  .in  excellent  Byno])9i8  of  tlio  gimiiH  (ttoamt  in  tlio 
Auk  (Vol.  VII,  ISiK),  pji.  lHS-l,")g),  to  wliich  I  refer  the  roniler,  nnd  whli  li  cnn  not  lie  readily  iinjiroved  upon 
until  coiiHiilerably  more  niateriiil  liecinneH  availalile.  cHpociully  from  the  interior  and  practically  nncxplorcd 
regionB  lyMi);  to  the  northwest  of  Hudson  Itay,  in  order  to  cnahle  anyone  to  define  the  KeoKraphical  raiiKCH 
of  each  reoognized  Hiili8)iecicH  more  ai^cnratoly.  I  am  inclined  to  licliove,  however,  that  the  range  of  the 
present  species  under  consideration  will  have  to  lie  considerably  extended  to  the  westward,  lint  with  the 
material  now  ot  hand  nothing  very  positive  can  lie  determined.  Where  the  ranges  of  the  ditl'ercnt  snlisjie- 
cies  approach  each  other  the  birds  intergrade  and  intermediate  tonus  are  found  which  can  not  bo  referred 
to  a  particular  race  with  any  icrtaiiity,  and  as  the  eggs  of  the  nuuierons  races  of  the  genus  (Hueorin  are  prac- 
tically similar,  I  have  endeavored  as  far  as  possililo  to  ropresont  the  dill'crout  styles  and  luarkiugs  fouud  in 
the  various  subspecies  anioug  the  types  flgured. 

'Proceedings  of  the  ir.  S.  National  .Mnsuiiin,  Vol.  .\III,  18iK),  p.  2U2. 


THE  HORNED  LARK. 


331 


ovidontly  breodiiiff,  118  indicated  by  their  actions  when  they  flew  from  jKiint  to 
point,  but  always  out  of  range,  and  returning  to  the  phice  whence  they  slurted. 
At  the  mouth  of  George's  River  (Ungava  Hay)  I  procured  a  single  bird  of  three 
which  I  foiuid  anumg  the  mosses  of  a  dry,  level  tract  near  tlie  seashore.  In 
the  vicinity  of  Fort  Cliiiuo  these  birds  are  conuiion  in  tlii!  spring  niigjition 
only,  arriving  just  after  the  middle  of  May  and  remaining  until  the  middle  of 
Sej)tember.  They  scatter  over  the  treeless  trac^ts  and  Itreed  near  the  .oast. 
Several  specimens  were  procured  near  the  mouth  of  the  Koksoak  IJiver,  and  of 
these  sonuf  had  the  abdomen  (juite  denuded  of  feathers,  proving  them  to  be 
incubating  in  the  latter  ten  days  of  June.  I  coidd  not  find  the  eggs  and  nest, 
although  on  several  occasions  I  had  every  reason  to  suspect  1  was  quite  near 
them.  I  have  never  heard  these  birds  make  an  attempt  at  song;  the  cmly  note 
ever  heard  was  a  chirp,  rather  easily  imitated,  but  difficult  to  describe." 

Mr.  E.  A.  Mcllhenny  has  kindly  furnislied  me  with  the  following  notes  on 
this  sp<(cies: 

"I  found  this  bird  breeding  cpiite  commoniv  on  the  Labrador  coast  at  (ape 
Charles  and  vicinity,  during  my  stay  there  from  the  17th  to  the  22d  of  .Inly, 
18!>4.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  17th,  while  in  search  of  s|iecimens  on  the  liii'li, 
rocky  islands  around  Cape  Charles  Harbor,  1  saw  two  pairs  of  these  birds,  and, 
as  they  showed  great  uneasiness  at  my  ))resence,  I  concluded  they  were  nestiag 
near  by,  but  a  long  scardi  failed  to  reveal  their  nests.  The  n(fxt  moniing,  l)y 
sunrise,  I  was  on  tlie  island  where  I  had  secni  the  first  pair,  and,  after  walking 
aro\md  the  place  where  1  had  observed  the  birds  the  evening  before  without 
seeing  anything,  I  fired  my  gun,  when  a  short  distance  off  to  my  right  uj)  got 
a  bird,  which  I  promptly  shot,  and  upon  goin<^  to  the  place  it  flew  from  I 
found  the  nest  without  any  tnmble.  The  bird  ])rovcd  fo  be  a  female  Iforncd 
Lark.  The  nest  was  emlK'dded  in  a  slightly  inclining  bank  of  mo.ss  and  entirely 
below  the  surface  of  the  moss;  it  contained  five  richly  marked  eggs,  slightlv 
inctibated.  When  1  found  the  nest  it  gave  me  the  impression  of  being  ver>' 
small  for  the  bird;  but  this  was  due  to  the  fact  that  the  entrance  was  small,  and 
tli(*  hollow  was  enlarged  under  the  moss.  'J^Iie  nest  was  deeply  cu))pe(l,  havin;.; 
a  thickness  of  abotit  1  inch  of  line  dry  grass;  it  was  lined  with  th(!  down  from 
reindeer  moss  an<l  tlie  white  feathers  of  I'tarmigans.  'J'he  male  bird  did  not 
come  around. 

"Ijater  in  the  day  I  fotmd  imotlier  nest  containing  five  heavily  incubated 
eggs.  Th(^  nest  and  position  were  very  simibu"  to  the  tme  found  in  the  morning. 
Subseijuently  I  found  tlu^si^  birds  numerous  on  the  mainland,  but  no  mttre  of 
tlieir  nests  were  ol>tained.  On  8eptend)er  "2,  while  at  TFenly  Harbor,  Labradoiv 
I  found  a  desei-ted  nest  of  this  species  containing  thnse  eggs.  '^Phe  nest  was- 
jilaced  (tn  a  little  knoll,  in  a  marshy  spot,  on  the  bank  of  a  small  lake.  On 
August  10,  11,  and  U!  1  saw  Horned  liarks  near  Sukkertop])en,  (Jreenland,  but 
did  not  get  a  specimen;  I  suppose  they  belonged  to  this  species."' 

■No  inentiiiroiiKMitA  of  tlici  eggn  <>r  tliin  Hprcics  liikcii  liy  Mr.  Mi'Illieimy  cnii  bo  k'voii,  hb  Iiu  loHt  IiIh 
I'lilirit  I'nllnctiiiii  iif  Hpuciiui'iiH  liy  tlii'  foiiiulcriii):  «(  llii^  iliriituil  ateamor  Miruiidii,  wbilf  reliiiiiiii);  fiuui 
(ireeiilaml. 


:.i 


.MM! 

if 


■(  .1  '.ii 


•Ft  Jiftt-i!.    >■■■ 


332 


LIFE  1I18TOBIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


TliiH  Hdriu'd  Lark  soonm  to  lie  identical  witli  tlie  one  found  in  nortliem 
Europe,  wliidi,  accordiufif  to  Mr.  Henry  Seobolun,  breeds  in  the  extreme  north- 
eastern parts  of  Norway.  There  are  no  North  American  ef^fjfs  of  this  species  in 
the  United  States  National  Museum  collection,  and  no  data  with  the  few  Kuro- 
))ean  specimens  supposed  to  belonjjf  to  this  species;  judfyingf  from  their  sizc^, 
however,  they  are  jirobably  corntctly  identified.  They  resend)le  the  e|^ffs  of 
our  better-known  TTctnied  Larks,  which  will  be  more  fully  described  hereafter, 
in  shape  and  color.     There  apjiears  to  bo  no  diflf'erence  in  their  p^eneral  habits. 

From  three  to  five  eg<;»  ajipear  to  be  laid  to  a  set,  and  jirobably  only  a 
siufjle  brood  is  raised  in  a  season.  Their  lenfjth  is  ^iven  by  yeebohm  as  rangiu}^ 
from  0.90  to  O.Of)  inch,  and  the  breadth  from  0.(;2  to  0.70  inch,  or  22.86  t(»  24.13 
inillimetei's  in  length,  and  lli.lh  to  17.78  millimeters  in  breadth.' 


126.     Otocoris  alpestris  leucolaema  (('ouks). 

PALLin  HORNED  I.AUK. 

KremophUa  alitrstrin  h.  leurnla-ma  CouES,  Uirds  of  the  Northwest,  1875,  .38  (part). 
Otocorin  iilpeMrU  leurolama  STB.FNKdKH,  Proceedings  U.S.  National  Museaiu,  V,1882,  34. 

(H  — ,  0  5M,  R  300rt,  C  83,  U  474rt.) 

Gkographicat.  kanoe:  Western  Nortli  America  from  Alaska  cast  to  the  Northwest 
Territory,  Britisli  North  America;  south  in  winter,  in  the  westeru  United  States,  to  about 
latitude  40<^.    C'asually  to  Long  Island,  New  York. 

The  breediu}!^  ranjje  of  the  Pallid  Homed  I^ark,  owinf^  to  the  lack  of  suf- 
ficient material,  is  still  very  imperfectly  defined.  It  appears  to  be  confined  to 
Alaska  and  to  those  portions  of  the  Dominion  of  Canada  east  of  the  Kocky 
Mountains,  from  about  latitude  51°  northward  to  the  Arctic  Ocean,  and  there  is 
little  or  nothinj>' known  about  the  eastern  limits  of  its  range. 

Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:  "Throughout  Alaska  this  species  appears  to  bo  very 
rare.  Two  specimens  were  taken  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Michaels  during  my 
residence  there,  and  three  were  secured  on  tli(f  llpi)er  Yukon  by  Mr.  McQucsten, 
on  April  3  and  30,  1S75).  All  of  these  birds  are  spring  males  and  typical  of 
this  variety.  It  is  much  more  common  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Yukon  during 
.spring  and  summer  than  along  the  shores  of  IJering  Sea,  wliere  it  can  only  be 
counted  as  a  very  rare  straggler."- 

In  the  interior  of  the  Northwest  'l^emtory,  in  about  latitude  fi8°,  it  ajipears 
to  be  a  connnon  breeding  1)ird. 


'  Since  tliis  .vas  written  Mr.  .lewi'U  1).  S(>rnl)i)r({«r  lias  UcpoHitcMl  tlireo  of  tlii'sp  i^ggn  in  tin'  U.  8.  Nationiil 
MnHi'iini  poUectiim,  takon  liy  a  Moravian  niisaioniiry  ucar  Okak,  Labrador,  on  .lnn»21,  IM!I2.  TlieHO  Hpitci- 
monH  appear  to  come  from  dilt'iTent  nests.  Tlieir  ^ronnd  color  is  greenish  gray  and  sonicwliiit  darker  tlian 
that  of  the  rest  of  our  Horned  Larks.  They  are  profusely  l)h)tchccl  and  spotted  witli  dark  olive,  idivo  hnlV, 
and  lighter  shades  of  pale  lavender.  One  of  the  specimens  is  elliptical  ovate  in  shape;  tlio  other  two  are 
ovate.  They  measure  24. S9  by  16. 7G,  24.18  hy  17.27,  ami  22.10  by  lfi.2t>  millimetres,  or  0.98  by  O.tUi,  O.il.T  by 
().(!8,  and  0.87  by  0,64  inch.  As  the  plates  had  been  made  np  before  these  eggs  were  received,  none  could  be 
figured. 

'Keport  upon  Natural  History  Collections  maile  in  Alaska  in  the  years  1877-1881,  p.  1U3. 


t\m  PALLIIi  IIOUNKD  LAUK. 


333 


III  his  "  Notes  on  iiixl  List  of  liirds  un»l  K},'},'s  (NtlU'ctod  in  Arctic  iinu'ricii, 
1K(!1-1S6(>,"  Mr.  U.  AlarFarhiiio  miys,  iti  spoakiii;^  of  tliis  species:  "Nino  iicsts 
of  tlii«  Lark  wuro  rocoived  ai  Fort  Aiwlfrsoii  (established  on  Anderson  River 
in  lH(il  and  abandoned  in  1H6();  approximate  hititudo  fiH"  Sf)'  N.),  a  few  of  tlieni 
from  the  KH»|uimaiix,  and  tlie  otlu-rs  were  collecteil  by  us  in  the  Mairens  and 
on  the  coast  of  Franklin  Hay.  The  nest  was  usually  composed  of  fine  hay, 
neatly  disposed,  and  lined  with  deer  hair.  Several  of  the  piu'ent  birds  were 
Hcciu'ed  by  snares  jtlaced  ther(M>n." 

'I'he  southern  limits  of  its  l)reedin{>'  rauffe  are  as  y<'t  very  imjK'rfectly 
known.  Mr.  Dwij^ht  records  a  Itreedinj^-  Itird  from  the  Sa.skatchewan  ref^ion, 
and  it  prol>ably  breeds  in  small  numbers  from  the  northern  half  of  this  pnnince 
northward.  To  the  south  it  appears  to  interj^rade  for  some  distance  with  Olororis 
(iljw.slris  jiraticola,  whicii  is  really  a  miniature  of  tiie  pnvsent  subspecies,  thouffh 
sonu^what  darker  and  a  triHc*  smaller  in  size,  as  well  as  with  Otocoris  aliirxfti.s 
areiiicoln,  tjie  Desert  Jlorned  Lark  whose  ran;>e  it  also  adjoins  alonj,'  the  easteni 
slopes  of  the  liocky  Mountains.  Itsj^-eneral  habits  resemble  those  of  our  better- 
known  IVairie  Ildi-    1  Lark,  which  will  be  more  fully  described  later. 

From  three  to  lour  e{,''fys  ai)pear  to  be  laid  to  a  set,  and  ])robably  oidy  a 
sinffle  brood  is  raised  in  a  season.  The  e.arliest  breedin<jf  record  1  liave,  one  from 
the  lower  Anderson  Kixer,  in  Arctic  North  America,  is  June  14;  the  latest, 
from  the  same  locality,  is  July  !•,  1HC4,  and  the  breeding  .season  api)ears  to  be 
at  its  heiffht  there  durinfr  the  first  week  in  July,  as  all  the  nests  foun<l  by  Mr. 
MacFarlane,  exceptin<^'  the  sinj^le  one  just  mentioned,  were  taken  in  this  month. 
The  nest  belon<,fin<if  to  the  earliest  set  of  egffs,  taken  by  Mr.  U.  MacFarlane 
(No.  10370,  United  States  Naticmal  Museum  collection)  on  June  14,  1SG4, 
which  is  now  before  me,  measures  5  inches  in  outer  diameter  i)y  2J  inches  in 
heiffht.  The  iimer  cuj)  is  'J.J  incln's  in  width  by  1  \  inches  in  depth.  'I'lie 
nest,  a  well-built  structure,  is  composed  of  rotten  j^rass  libers,  tine  roots,  and 
pieces  of  willow  bark,  anrl  is  warmly  lined  with  similar  materials,  caribou  hair, 
and  old  cocoons.  It  was  found  by  an  Eskimo;  the  female  was  snared  on  the 
nest  which  contained  three  eg<>s  when  taken. 

The  ((gH's  '**  ^''^  I'allid  Jlorned  Lark  are  mostly  ovate  in  shape,  \vh»  often 
elon<^ate  ovate.  Tiie  shell  is  close  finiined,  rather  strong,  and  .shows  little  or 
no  gloss.  The  ground  color  is  mostly  drab  gray,  sometimes  grayish  white;  in 
an  occasional  specimei\  a  faint  greenish  tint  is  percei)tible,  which  fades  out  in 
time.  The  entire  sui-fiice  of  the  egg  is  profusely  blotched  and  sprinkled  with 
different  shades  of  pale  brown.  In  some  specimens  the  markings  are  bold  and 
well  defined;  in  others  they  are  mimite,  giving  the  a^}!;  a  i)ei)})er-and-salt  appear- 
ance; and  again  they  are  almost  confluent,  causing  a  miiform  neutral  browni.sli 
ajtpearance.  In  some  specimens  the  markings  are  heavier  and  become  confluent 
only  about  the  larger  axis  of  the  egg,  forming  a  wreath  and  leaving  the  ground 
color  on  the  smaller  end  of  the  egg  plainly  visible;  in  fact,  there  appears  to  bo 
an  endless  variation  in  color  and  markings  as  well  as  in  size  among  these  eggs 
and  scarcely  any  two  sets  are  exactly  alike. 


Ji'"' 


-ill 


,iE 


•I', 


HH-i 


334 


I.IKK  lIlSTOltlES  OF  NOKTU  AMliKlCAN  lilUDS. 


Thu  iiv()m<>o  iiu'UHim'im'iit  of  Hixti'oii  Kporiiiieiis  in  tlio  UuitutI  StatCH 
Niitiimal  Murtouin  ('((lloftitin,  all  taken  l»y  Mr.  K.  Ma«'Farlano,  iw  23. 8K  hy  KJ.Tti 
niilliinutros,  ur  0.1)4  !)y  ().()(!  incli.  Tlio  lar;,a'.st.  (yjif  of  tliis  wcrioM  nieiisuri's  2(!.42 
by  IH.HO  niilliiiu'tnss,  or  1.04  by  0.74  inches;  tlio  Hnmllest,  22.35  by  16  inilli- 
motrcs,  or  0.K8  Ity  0.(!3  incli. 

Tho  ty|to  spocinicn,  No.  13!m  (I'l.  5,  Ki<,'.  24),  from  a  Hot  of  tlirco  offffH, 
wart  taken  by  Mr.  li.  MacFarlane,  near  Anderson  Ifiver  Fort,  in  Aretie  Uritirtli 
Nortli  Anierieu,  on  .hily  7,  iHGI't,  and  representrt  one  of  tlio  more  uniformly 
cohtred  types. 


127.     Otocoris  alpestris  praticola  IIknhiiaw. 

I'liAIKIK  IIOKNEU  L/UK. 

0[tocoryH]  alpfiifriii pratiovla  IlKNsnAW,  Aiik,  I,  .Inly,  18«l,  l.'«4. 

(|l_,  0— ,  U— ,  C-,  U4746.) 

(iEO(jRArinOAL  KANOE:  Ui>|M>r  MiH8isHi])|>i  Vnlley  mid  tlio  rG(;ioim  of  tlie  Great 
Lakes;  iioi'tli  to  Ontario  anil  .Manitoba;  oast  to  tliu  New  Kn^laiKl  anil  Atlantic  C'onHt  Htatus; 
west  to  eastern  North  and  Hoiitli  Dakota,  eiistern  Nebraska,  and  Kuimas;  south  iu  winter 
to  iScuith  Carolina  and  westward  to.central  Texas.' 

As  fur  as  is  at  present  known,  the  southern  limits  of  tho  breediiiff  rauf^e 
of  tlie  IVairie  Horned  Lark  are  eonfined  to  suitable  Idealities  in  eastern  Kansas, 
northern  Missouri,  Illinoi.s,  northern  Indiana  and  Ohio,  northwestern  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  {•reater  part  of  New  York,  where  it  reaehes  the  seashore.  It  is 
also  found  more  or  le.ss  abundantly  throuf^hoiit  the  interveninjj  rejiions  north- 
ward as  already  indicated,  including,'  the  eastern  ptirtions  of  the  New  Enjrland 
States  (exce})tinjf  possibly  New  Ilanijishire  and  Maine),  where  it  is  still  a  rather 
rare  summer  resident,  and  \\  here  it  breeds  as  yet  only  sj)oradically. 

Within  the  last  thirty  years  the  Prairie  Homed  Lark  has  extended  its 
breedinj:?  ranj^e  very  materially  to  the  eastward,  and  in  certain  localities,  notably 
in  the  southwestern  parts  of  the  Adirondack  re<fion,  especially  in  Herkimer 
County,  New  York,  whore  this  bird  was  practically  unknown  twenty  years  a<ro,  it 
is  now  a  fairly  common  summer  resident,  and  small  companies  may  be  found  in 
every  abandoned  old  dearinj^  ahing  the  numerous  water  courses  in  this  otherwise 
heavily  timbered  re<fion.  It  is  essentially  a  ground  i)ird  and  rarely  alights  on 
fences,  trees,  or  bushes  of  any  kind;  its  favorite  resorts  are  fallow  fields,  jjrairio 
tracts,  })astures,  and  country  roads,  and  it  is  seldom  found  in  heavily  wooded 
country.     Dry  and  almost  barren,  sandy  regions,  grown  up  in  places  with  weeds, 

'III  (liiicimHiu)r  the  jjoogrnpliioal  rniige  of  the  I'riiirie  Horneil  Liirk  Mr.  Dwight  Ktatva:  "gtrniign  iib  it 
iiiiiv  NCfiii,  it  iH  a  fact  thiit  Hoveral  hreeiling  binlH  from  C'ltrHoii,  Neviuhi,  iiiiint  bu  coimitlorcd  of  this  rni'i>." 
In  Hpcukiiig  witli  Mr.  K.  Ridgwuy  rcgartliiig  iilU'UPil  8|ii'i'iiiu!iis  of  Olororin  alpettri»  praliioln  from  (.'HrHiiii 
City,  Neviida,  hu  sayn  *^liat,  wliile  coiicviling  that  the  8|)0clinpiiH  referrud  to  hy  Mr.  Dwight  are  practically 
iiidistliiguishablii  from  MiHsiHsippi  Valluy  HperiniciiH,  hu  doua  uut  consider  tlicm  an  being  referable  to  Otocmit 
alpeslria  pratlatlu  on  account  of  their  obvionsly  dift'erent  origin.  He  connidera  them  us  intermediate  between 
arenicola  and  iiierrilti,  a  combination  of  whose  cliarai'terH  would  ni'ceHsarily  produce  a  bird  siinilar  to  itnilicola 
iu  colurutiou.    1  fully  agree  with  Mr.  Kidgwuy's  views  iu  this  mutter,  which  uppurently  solve  this  jirublom. 


TlIK  I'RAIUII':  llOUKKl)  liAUK. 


:{35 


(ttc,  apiH'ur  fo  1)0  prut'orrcil  liy  tlicHo  l»ir<lK  to  tlin  morn  Icrtilc  Mcctinim,  iiiid  in 
such  localities  tlioy  iiro  ffciicrally  coimnoii. 

Tlio  Prairiu  Horned  hurk  is  a  liurdy  bird,  and  not  a  few  are  constant  resi- 
dents, oven  alon^  our  northern  border,  thri)ii;4liout  the  j^ncatiir  part  of  tlio  year, 
;idinf^  southward  only  durin',''  uniisiialiy  heavy  snowstorms  in  tlu!  latter  j)art  of 
|)ecend)or  or  tho  hejjinninj,'  ot"  .laimary,  hut  ('re(|U«Mitly  reappearing  on  their 
Itreedinir  i,'rounds  oarly  in  February,  and  by  tho  latter  part  of  the  month  most 
ot"  theso  birds  hav((  already  mated. 

Accordin;;- to  I'rot".  Walter  H.  Harrows,  of  the  I'nited  States  Department  of 
Agriculture,  the  food  of  our  Horned  Lark  consists  principally  of  seeds  of  dif- 
ferent grasses,  like  thoso  of  the  pigeon,  foxtail,  and  Hungarian  (.SV7«/(«),  also  of 
those  of  dilferent  species  of  Pitli/i/oiiiiiii  (Itiudweed,  knotweed,  and  smartweed), 
those  of  the  ragwootls  (..IW^/os/Vj),  pigweed  (^('liiiiopodiuiii),  i'tv.  Hroken  kernels 
of  oats  and  other  grains  have  also  been  fouml  in  their  stomachs,  evidently 
jticked  up  in  tho  roads  and  streets  among  the  droppings  of  horses.  During 
spring  and  sinmner,  when  small  in.sects  abound,  a  jxirtion  of  their  food  consists 
of  young  locusts  and  gra.sshojipers,  small  beetles  and  their  lar\a',  and  hairless 
cuter[)illars,  and  tho  young  nestlings  at  least  are  fed  to  some  extent  on  insect 
food.  From  an  (M-ouomic  jioint  of  view,  all  our  Horned  Larks  nnist  bo  con- 
sidered as  useful  birds,  doing  far  more  good  than  harm,  and  even  if  they  do 
now  uiul  then  pull  up  some  young  grain,  or  pick  up  newly  sown  grain  or 
grass  seeil  which  may  have  been  left  uncovered,  as  it  is  asserted  they  occasion- 
allj'  do,  such  damage  is  at  best  but  very  trifling,  and  is  far  more  than  compen- 
sated for  by  the  good  they  do  in  eating  the  seeds  of  many  noxit)Us  weeds  and  the 
destruction  of  injurious  insects,  and  in  my  opinion  they  deserve  full  protection. 
'Plieir  stomachs  in  most  cases  contain  a  large  percentagi;  of  sand,  which  assists 
them  greatly  in  the  digestion  of  the  small  hard  seeds  on  which  they  live  to  a 
great  extent. 

Tho  late  i^Ir.  G.  Fi.  Harris  kindly  sent  mo  the  following  notes  on  this  sub- 
si)ecios,  as  observed  by  him  in  the  vicinity  of  Hutt'aU),  New  York,  for  several 
seasons.  He  wrote:  "The  I'rairio  Horned  Lark  is  a  very  common  sunnner  resi- 
dent in  this  vicinity,  and  usually  arrives  hero  during  tlu'  first  thaw  in  February, 
coming  in  flocks  which  sometimes  nundjer  hundreds.  This  .season  (18!t.'5)I  lirst 
noted  them  on  February  14;  but  ttwing  to  sickness  my  observations  oidj-  covered 
what  could  bo  seen  from  my  window.  They  apj)ear  to  be  uninated  when  they 
first  arrive,  hut  love  making  commences  soon  after,  and  by  tho  1st  of  ^farcli  thi-y 
are  all  mated;  for  the  males  are  then  in  full  song — an  indet^cribable  warl)le — and 
they  may  bo  seen  chasing  tho  females  continually,  like  the  Hobolinks,  but  they 
aro  not  nearly  as  shy  as  tho  latter,  as  there  are  no  hiding  ))laces  at  this  season 
(»n  tho  bare  fields  or  pastures  which  they  fre(juent.  A  nesting  site  is  chosen  as 
soon  as  the  snow  conunences  to  disappear  in  ^farch,  and  early  in  the  season  ono 
is  always  selected  on  a  little  knoll  or  on  a  slight  rise  of  ground  in  a  pasture  or 
meadow.  Tho  uests  hero  aro  usually  built  f»n  the  oast  side  of  such  a  kiadl,  for 
protectio.i  from  the  cold  west  winds;  they  are  mostly  placed  alongside  a  piece  of 


f.. 


;/!,■ 


'■11 


.',  i:^ 


r.  ■  h 


M 


m 


\sim-. 


:)3(J 


LIFIC  IIIHTUKIUU  OF  NOItTU  AMKKICAN  UlUDM. 


cow  or  li(»r«('  (liinjjf,  a  Mtimo,  a  jjioco  of  wood,  or  i;  i-l  ■!  :,t' .  !I,  and  now  and  tlion 
in  an  old  cow  or  ImrMti  traik,  niado  wliilo  tho  soil  was  soft  from  rain.  'I'lio  n»'Ht 
in  usually  very  liard  to  locato,  iw  both  parunts  aro  vi'ry  wati'liful.  Karly  in  tlu* 
day  tin*  fcnialu  will  usually  luavo  hcforo  you  ar(f  within  f)()  yards  of  it,  cn't-pin;; 
away  for  soino  distancf,  croiiclKMl  dost'  to  tiic  j;round,  huforo  takin;;'  win^i,  or  tho 
uiaht  will  w:iru  her  l»y  Hyin;;'  across  tlic  (iclil,  |»assin}r  close  l>y  the  n('stin<r  site, 
when  slu*  takes  win<;  also  and  is  then  chased  by  him  forsouio  distantu*.  Toward 
e\eiiinfi-  they  are  not  so  cautious,  and  very  often  the  nest  can  be  approached 
within  a  few  f(U't,  and  when  the  female  is  suddenly  surprised  in  this  manner  slu» 
will  Hy  only  a  few  yards,  aliffht,  and  be;;in  pi^ckin^c  the  <fround  as  uncotu'ornedly 
as  if  her  nest  were  not  within  a  mile.  In  fact,  tlu-  only  anxiety  1  have  ever  seen 
these  birds  show  when  tlu'ir  nests  contained  ej^j^s  was  by  fiyiiij;'  overhead  while 
an  iutru<h'r  was  close  to  it,  but  they  lU'ver  ali;fht  near  it  tliems(dves,  iiow- 
ever,  wlu^n  the  nest  contains  youn;,'  they  act  quite  dith-rently  ami  Itecomc*  {^reatly 
ajjitated,  fre(piently  uttering'-  an  alarm  note,  somethiu'f  like  't.seet,  tseet,'  hovering; 
overhead  i>v  Hyin;^  across  the  field,  ali^^htin;;'  occasionally  foi'  a  few  seconds  on  a 
f(Mice  post,  only  to  take  winj,'  a^ain  tlut  ne.\t  mimite,  and  utterinji'  their  alarm 
note  constantly. 

"Tlu^  early  nests  nrv  built  very  com]iiictly  and  are  warndy  lined.  First  u 
cu'cular  hole  is  scratched  in  the  ;iroimd,  just  deep  euou;;li  .so  that  the  upper  rim 
of  the  nest  will  bo  flush  with  the  surface.  The  outer  walls  ant  composed  of  soft 
dead  ji'ra.ss,  and  the  inside  is  lined  with  thistht  down  and  dry  nudlein  leaves  (  \'rr- 
hd.sriim),  picked  into  small  piei^es,  wherever  they  can  be  «d)tained,  the  W(tolly 
nature  of  these  leaves  makiu}''  a  warm  and  comfortable  lining;';  but  whe.rt?  theses 
are  not  to  be  had,  and  where  railroads  an*  near  by,  cotton  waste*  is  often  ^'ub- 
stitutod.  An  occa.sional  feather  and  the  blos.soms  of  the  mayweed  (3f(initii)  an* 
also  used  now  and  then.  Later  in  tlu*  season,  when  the  weather  is  warmer, 
loss  attention  is  paid  to  the  linin<f  of  the  ne.st. 

"After  tlu*  first  brood  is  hatched  and  the*  youufj  are  aide  to  leave  the  nest, 
they  are  always  attctnded  by  the  male,  who  keej)s  them  tojfether  and  {iuards 
them,  while  the  female  is  busily  enfjajj^ed  incubatinjf  a  second  clutch  of  e<'p^«. 
The  weather  <lurin<4'  the  latter  jiart  of  Mandi  is  often  very  pleasant  and  warm, 
only  to  be  followed  by  a  heavy  fall  of  snow  about  Ajanl  1,  when  a  j^ood  many 
unfinished  nests  and  incomidetc*  sets  of  ejij^s  are  .snowed  under  and  ileserted 
by  the  owners;  in  fact,  only  a  few  birds  will  clin<r  to  their  ne.sts  under  such 
ciiTiunstaii(*es,  as  I  liave  found  many  abandont'd  ones  in  different  scas.t)i»i 
Durinjf  tlu*  latter  part  of  Aj)ril  and  thr(aijih  the  sumnu-r  season  the  hi 
to  desert  the  meachiws  and  pastures,  and  are  then  more  fmiueutly  i  i  in 
potato  and  cabbaj^e  fields,  1  suppose  on  account  of  the  growth  of  the  gi,.  s,  as 
they  ))refer  ban*  •■•round  to  nest  on." 

While  social  birds  at  all  other  times,  durin<j^  the  breedinpf  season  the  Prairie 
Honied  Larks  are  rarely  seen  in  flocks,  each  i)air  keepinjf  to  themselves.  1  )urinj; 
the  matin<r  and  breedin}^'  season  the  male  indulj^cs  in  fre(pu'nt  bui'sts  of  son<^', 
ascending  into  the  air  very  much  like  the  Euro[)ean   Skylark,  but  its  vocal 


TIFK  I'HAIRIK  HOIINKI*  liAUK. 


8:)7 


jiowtTH,  ultliou^li  riitluT  i)U'iiHiiij,'  to  tlio  car  arc  iippurciitly  not  oqiiiil  to  tlumo  of 
the  liitt«<r.  Kiirlyin  tlm  h»himou  tlio  tiMimlo  uIko  mukcs  tlicsc  aerial  aHcciitM  ocra- 
nioiially,  not  to  mucIi  urcat  licijflitM,  howovcr,  an  the  inah-;  Imt  as  soon  as  hIic 
lu'^riiiH  housekeeping  she  huconies  more  (piiet  ami  retiring;,  lier  maternal  duties 
taking-  up  hur  entire  time.  On  thu  whole,  all  of  our  Horned  l^arks  are  rather 
jrentle  and  amiahly  dispostid  hirds,  rarely  (luarrelinj-;  with  each  other  cxccjitinj,'' 
during  the  mating  season,  when  suitors  for  the  sauie  female  indulge  in  occasional 
bickerinjfs,  which  never  amount  to  anything  Herious,  ono  or  the  other  shortly 
}ii\in<^  way.  Uivals  <i-enerally  Ijcffin  i>y  chasin<.f  each  other  on  tlm  ffmund  until 
the  pnrsutMl  takes  win;^-,  when  his  opponent  (piickly  follows  and  daslu^s  a^rainst  and 
lights  him  in  the  ail'  until  oncf  or  the  other  n^treats.  The  victorituis  suitor  then 
(piickly  returns  to  his  coveted  mato  and  struts  befon*  her  with  raised  ear  tufts  and 
trailiiiff  wind's,  very  much  in  the  same  maimer  as  the  Knf,dish  Sparrow.  These 
small  tufts  of  black  feathers  directly  over  the  eyes  are  reailily  erected,  ami  look, 
at  a  distance,  like  little  horns,  and  the  name  of  Horned  Lark  is  due  to  this  fea- 
ture. Tlu^y  are  generally  raised  when  any  susjiicions  object  apjiroaclies.  In 
winter,  when  tlu(  <jround  is  covered  with  snow,  these  birds  become  very  tanm 
and  <5;entlo,  and  may  often  be  seen  feediuf^-  in  small  tlocks  in  the  streets  and 
among  the  poultry  in  tho  barnyards,  merely  hopping  a  foot  or  two  to  ono  wido  to 
let  ono  pass. 

Tho  Prairie  Horned  Lark  is  one  of  our  earliest  binls  to  nest,  and  [  have 
been  informeil  that  nests  (lontaining  eggs  have  been  found  in  tho  vicinity  of  Mil- 
waukee, Wisconsin,  by  February  2.'{.  An  average  nest  of  this  specit^s,  now  before 
nu',  taken  near  Fort  Snelling,  Minno.sota,  by  Dr.  K  A.  Mearns,  Ignited  States 
Army,  on  dune  H,  IH90,  measures  4  inches  in  outer  diameter  by  1?J  inches  in 
flepth,  and  the  inner  cup  is  "J^  ii\ches  in  width  by  1  inch  in  depth.  An  occasional 
nest  is  lincMl  with  a  few  horsidiairs  oi-  tine  gras.s  roots. 

Two  and  occasionally  three  liroods  are  rai.sed  in  a  season,  and  incubation, 
which  hists  about  fourteen  days,  is,  I  believe,  about  ecpially  shared  by  both  sexes; 
the  ymnig  aro  also  cared  for  by  both  jtarents;  they  grow  rapidly  and  lea\e  the 
nest  before  they  are  alile  to  fly  well.  'Phe  male  usually  takes  care  of  tluMU, 
pointing  out  suitalde  food,  i)Ut  does  not  fet'il  them;  they  have  to  pick  it  up,  and 
soon  loarn  to  |)rovide  for  themselves.  Tlu^y  utter  a  faint  "pee|i-peoj)"  while 
feeding,  and  itefore  they  can  fly  \\v\\  they  hidi;  among  the  grass  and  weeds  at 
the  alarm  note  of  their  parents.  Many  nests  and  young  are  yearly  destroyed 
l»y  cattle  stepping  on  them,  and  by  prowling  cats  and  Ncrmin,  ami,  although 
this  subspecies  is  very  prolilic,  it  is  donl)tfnl  if  more  than  a  single  brood  from  each 
pair  reaches  maturity. 

From  three  to  live  eggs  are  laid  to  a  .set,  usually  three  or  four,  sets  of  ii\e 

being  rarely  found.     'J'hese  eggs  resend)le  those  of  the  preceding  subspecies  in 

-^liapo  and  color,  but  are  somewhat  smaller  and  n.sually  slightly  lighter  colored. 

.  a  set  of  four  eggs  taken  by  Mr.  Henry  Fisher,  msar  May  wood,  Illinois,  on 

ly  24,  187!(,  the  ground  c(dor  is  suffused  with  a  ])ale  laveiuh^r  tint,  and  ono  of 

no  eggs  shows  a  rather  large,  irregular  blotch  of  pale  purple  on  tho  side. 

168!t(!— N().  a 22 


f 


i 


'il 


It 


3:J8 


LIFE  IIISTOUIES  OF  NORTH  AMKUICAN  UIUDS. 


I., « 

I 


mm 

mi 


Tlii;  iivonv^(^  nioasuromeiit  of  sixty  spccinions  in  tlio  United  Stutoa  Nutiona'l 
MiiMC'inn  collection  i.s  21.(1')  by  lA.TS  niilliinotnis,  or  about  O.H;")  by  0.(!2  incii. 
Tlic  largest  eg<r  of  tlio  series  ineasures  24.13  by  1(1  niillinietres,  or  OM!i  by  0.()3 
inch;  the  smallest,  1.S.'2!)  by  U.'J'J  millimetres,  or  0.72  by  0.5!)  inch. 

Tiitt  typo  specimen,  No.  247."U  (IM.  5,  Fi<f.  25),  from  a  set  of  three  e}y}f.s, 
Ralph  c<»!li'ctioM>  was  taken  by  the  late  Mr.  (Seor<^e  E.  Harris,  near  HuHalo, 
New  York,  on  March  I'J,  1S!)0,  and  represents  one  ot  the  lif^htor-coKtred  and 
iiner-marked  exam[)les  found  aiuonjf  the  eg;;^s  of  this  subspecies. 

128.     Otocoris  alpestris  arenicola  Mknsuaw. 

liKSDIir  lloilNKI)  I.ARK. 

0\t<K:<>rjiii\  iitiiiniriH  arenirola  llENSUAW,  Auk,  I,  July,  1884,  2(ia. 

(IJ  _,(;_,  li  _,  (J —,  i:  I74(). 

(iKOiiRAriueAi,  RANOK:  Ueyious  of  the  (iiwit  I'liiiiis,  llic,  Udcky  IMouutanis,  ami  tlie 
(ircat  liasiu;  north,  as  till' as  pusitivfly  known,  to  about  the  northern  boundary  of  the  United 
states,  and  <;ertainly  also  into  tht;  southern  pat'ts  of  tiie  I'ruvinces  of  Alberta  and  western 
A.ssinib<)ia,  in  tlu;  Dominion  of  Canada;  east  to  western  North  and  South  Dakota,  the 
western  hrlf  of  Nebriiska,  Kansas,  the  Indian  and  Oklahi»na  TeiTit<)ries,  and  northwestern 
Texas;  wt^st  throufjiiout  the  nittre,  arid  portions  of  Idaho,  Nevada,  i'ud  southeastern  Cali- 
fornia, east,  of  the  SieiiM  Xevadas,  as  well  as  throu;;!!  the  intervening  re^^ions;  south  in 
winUir  tliroufjli  northern  Ari/.ona  and  New  Me.vico  to  sontiiern  Te.xas  and  eastern  Me.xico. 

The  breedin<>- raimo  of  the  De.sert  Horned  Lark  is  both  an  e.vtended  as  well 
as  a  varial)le  one,  bre(Mlin<;'  as  it  does  on  the  hiji'lier  liocky  Mountain  plateaus  of 
Montana,  ('ohuiulo,  n<irthern  New  Mexico,  and  Aiizona  up  to  altitudes  of  about 
1(>,(MI()  i'l-et,  as  well  as  in  the  hot  descu't  valleys  of  southern  N(*vada  and  south- 
en.  iiin  ( -alifornia,  where  it  apjjcai's  al)out  equally  common.  The  northern  limits 
of  its  l)rcediiii''  ranf^i!  uu([Uestional)ly  extend  well  lieyond  our  border  into  the 
I'rovinc(;s  of  All)(M'ta  and  Assiniboia.  In  the  fuiiner  province  1  saw  FIoriKfd 
Larks  on  tlu^  outskirts  of  (!alf,^ary,  feetliu;;'  closi;  to  the  (Canadian  Pai-ific  IJail- 
roa<l  tracks,  in  tlu^  latter  part  of  .May,  l.SI(4,  which  are  in  all  prol)al)ility  n-feraliK* 
to  this  sul)species,  as  the  surroimdinj^'  country  is  fpiit(!  similar  to  that  found  in  the 
vicinit\-  of  Fort  (hi;ter,  Montnia,  where  it  breeds  abundantly.  Dr.  .bunes  (J. 
Merrill,  I'uited  States  Ai'iuy,  also  found  it  l)reedinj>'  (piiti?  conmionly  in  the 
vicinity  of  Fort  Shaw,  Montana,  antl  states:  "Tlu^  nests  are  [ilaced  anywluM-e 
in  th(^  op(;n  prairie,  and  are  little  mont  than  slif^ht  depressions  in  the  j^'round, 
lined  with  a  few  dry  blailes  of  i>ra.ss.  ( )ften  there  is  not  the  slightest  shelter  or 
concealment;  at  other  times  the  nest  is  ])artly  hidden  by  a,  tuft  of  jirass,  a  stone, 
or  a  bntfain  lione;  the  e^-^s  jipc  usuallx'  tiu'ee  in  mnnber." 

Its  general  iial)its,  fond,  <'tc.,  are  very  similar  to  those  of  the  Trairic*  Horned 
Lark.  1  hav(^  met  with  ir  as  a  sunmu'r  resident  in  various  parts  of  the  AVest,  at 
Fort  ('uster,  Montana,  and  in  many  ]»laces  throughout  southern  lilaho,  Nevada, 
and  southeastern  California,  where  it  fre(|uents  the  plains  or  rolliu};'  coimtry, 
covered  with  short  bulfalo  <;rass  or  a  stunted  j^rowth  of  .sajfelu'ush,  avoidin<i'  the 
more  luxiniant  "■•owth  of  the  nnister  river  vallevs.     1  have  seen  scores  ot  theso 


/'^. 


t\ 


■>?v 


Tllli  IM'ISKKT  HOKNHI)  LARK. 


339 


birds  miles  away  from  water,  and  they  may  frequently  be  observed  running 
along  the  roads  in  search  of  food  and  engaged  in  taking  dust  baths.  Manj'^ 
jire  yearly  destroyed  l)y  the  terrific.  iiailst(»rins  so  prevalent  along  the  eastern 
sh)i)esof  the  Rocky  Mountains,  while  others  are  often  benumbed  and  smothered 
on  tlie  open  prairies,  where  there  is  little  or  no  slielter  from  sudden  blizzards  and 
fierce  snowstorms;  taking  it  all  in  all,  they  seem  to  have  a  hard  fight  for  life, 
and  it  is  a  wonder  that  so  many  survive. 

Mr.  William  (J.  Smith  writes:  "While  T  lived  in  the  I'latto  River  Canyon, 
40  mihis  west  of  Denver,  (Colorado,  a  terrible  .snowstorm  set  in  sudihudy  in  April, 
and  with  it  came  tiiousands  of  these  birds,  which  tried  to  .shelter  themselves 
under  projecting  banks.  Tiu!  majority  were  soon  so  chilled  by  the  intensely 
cold  wind  which  was  blowing  at  the  same  time,  that  they  could  not  move,  and 
were  ([uickly  smothered  by  the  drifting  snow;  and  after  this  melted  bushels  of 
their  dead  bodies  coidd  be  picked  up  everywhere.  My  children  brought  a  great 
many  live  birds  into  the  house.  They  seemed  comphitely  bewildered  and  made 
no  attempt  to  escape  (iapture,  but  seemed  very  thankful  for  their  freedom  ue.xt 


'  i\ 


'!■•-■' 


n(Ml 

lil- 

ble 

the 
C. 

the 

I  ere 
mid, 
■f  or 
one, 

)rned 
4,  at 
,iida, 
ntry, 
X  the 
these 


Many  of  thes(«  birds  winter  within  the  United  States  along  our  southern 
bonier,  in  the  Colorado  l)es(M*t  and  similar  l(»calities,  while  a  few  may  be  found 
in  midwinter  oc(^asionally  as  far  north  as  latitude  li'.i\  Of  fourteen  specimens 
sent  me  in  the  (lesh  by  Mr.  William  (J.  Smitii,  of  liovelaiul,  (./'oloi'ado,  shot  <»n 
.lanuary  Ift,  1892,  twelve  w(M'e  intermediate  between  Otocon.s  alpcatris  hmroUema 
and  Otocoiis  alprstriti  turiiicold,  an<l  but  two  werci  typical  e.\am))les  of  this 
subspecies,  probably  all  i)eing  migrants  from  the  north. 

The  l)reeding  season  of  tht;  Desert  Horned  I^ark  connnences  apjiarently 
nuicli  hiter  than  that  of  the  I'rairie  Horned  Lark  in  similar  latitudes,  and  even 
nuicii  farther  south.  'I'lu;  (^rliest  brei-ding  record  I  (ind  among  tlu^  series  of 
eggs  of  this  subsp"ci(^s  in  the  United  States  National  Museum  collection  is  one 
of  my  <>wn,  a  set  of  three  eggs  taken  near  Fort  Custer,  Montana,  on  May  IG, 
ISSf),  in  which  incniiation  was  well  advanced;  the  latest  is  from  the  Hlack  Hills, 
ill  South  Dakota,  duly  iM,  18511.  TIk;  majtu'ity  of  t!ie  records  fall  in  June,  and 
two  are  in  .July.  Mr.  ltoi)ert  Ki<lg\vay  found  a  nest  of  this  sui)S|)ecies,  with  four 
eggs,  near  Trr.ckee,  Nevada,  on  June  i5,  18(!8.  i'r(il)ai)ly  two  l)roods  are  raised 
in  a  season.  From  three  to  four  eggs  are  laid  to  a  set.  They  resemble  those  of 
the  previously  describi'd  sul)species  very  closely,  both  ill  shape  and  coloration, 
exci;ptiiig  that  an  oi>'asioiial  set  is  rather  more  (iveiily  and  lighter  colored,  giving 
the  i'i<:iy  a  uniform  pale  gray  a])i)earance. 

'i'lie  av(!rage  measurement  of  forty-live  specimens  in  the  Uniteil  States 
National  iMuseum  collection  is  21.84  by  lA.Ho  millimetres,  or  about  ().8(j  by  0.(i2 
inch.  'I'he  largest  egg  of  the  series  measures  23.37  by  17.02  millimetres,  or  0.!>2 
by  0.07  inch;   the  smallest,  l!).5(i  by  ir).24  millimetres,  or  0.77  by  O.GO  inch. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  21!)7!  (1*1.  5,  Fig.  2(1),  from  a  set  of  three  eggs, 
was  taken  by  Dr.  James  C.  Merrill,  United  States  Army,  near  Fort  Custer, 
Montana,  in  June,  188!,  and  represents  one  of  the  pule  gray  tyjii-s  previously 
mentioned. 


t'i ;    'J 


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1^1 


01 


■v^v*- 


340  LIFE  UlSTOltlES  OF  NOKTH  AMEIUCAN  BIUDS. 

129.     Otocoris  alpestris  giraudi  IIenshaw. 

TEXAN  HOKNEU  LARK. 

Otocoryu  alpestris  giraudi  IIenshaw,  Auk,  I,  July,  1884,  266. 

(B  — ,  C  — ,  It  — ,  C  — ,  IT  474f/.) 

GKOCiiiAPHicAL  UANrtE:  Coiist  regions  of  southern  Texas. 

The  l)ree(liiijf  riuij^e  of  the  Texan  Honied  Lark  is  coextensive  with  its  geo- 
graphical distrihiition  in  the  United  States.  It  seems  to  be  found  along  the  entire 
coast  line  of  Texas,  breeding  from  Galveston  to  Point  Isabel,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  liio  Grande.  Its  range  does  not  appear  to  extend  very  far  inland,  and  it 
is  ])robably  a  resident  throughout  the  year;  still  this  is  not  certain,  as  there  are, 
so  fur  us  I  am  awai-e,  no  winter  specimens  taken  in  the  United  States  in  any  of 
our  larger  ornithological  coUectittus. 

Mr.  W.  E.  Grover,  of  Galveston,  writes:  "The  Texan  Horned  Lark  is 
locally  known  here  as  'Cliii)|)ie'  and  'lioad  Chijjpie,'  as  it  is  essentially  a  ground 
bird.  It  frequents  the  level,  grassy  prairies  along  the  Gulf  shore,  and  may 
frecpieutly  be  observed  in  the  wagon  roads;  hence  its  local  name.  I  do  not 
know  how  early  it  arrives  iu  this  vicinity;  1  noticed  a  few  on  April  1,  and  by 
May  they  are  abundant.  The  nest  is  built  in  a  saucer-shaped  hole  scratched 
out  by  the  birds,  and  here  it  is  nearly  always  placed  alongside  of  bunches  of 
wild  chamomile  {Matriairia  coromttii)  growing  dose  to  the  road;  it  is  con- 
structed of  dry  jiriiirie  grass  and  lined  with  thistle  down.  The  top  of  tho  nest 
is  even  with  the  surrounding  ground." 

All  the  nests  of  the  'lY'xan  Horned  Lark  I  have  seen  are  nmch  more  sub- 
stantially l)uilt  than  any  of  the  balance  of  the  sub.species  breeding  within  the 
United  States.  The  United  States  National  Museum  is  indebted  to  Mr.  II.  P. 
Att  vater  for  several  of  their  nests  and  eggs — in  fact,  for  all  that  are  in  the 
collection  at  present.  One  of  these  nests,  containing  three  eggs,  on  the  point 
of  liatcliing  when  found  on  Aiu'il  'I'd,  181(2,  is  an  inuisually  bulky  one.  It  was 
placed  in  a  pile  of  dry  cow  ilroppings  near  the  .shore  of  Aransas  Pay.  The 
outer  walls  arc;  chicHy  constructed  of  salt-cedar  twigs  (^MomiiithocMoc  I'lttotulis), 
and  the  lining  consists  of  dry  sea  moss  picked  up  on  the  shore.  It  measures 
(!  inches  in  outer  diamcfter  by  2.^  inches  in  height.  The  inner  cup  is  3  inches  in 
width  by  2  inches  in  dejjth.  An  average  ne.stfrom  the  same  h)cality,  taken  May 
2;$,  lHf)2,  containing  four  eggs  in  which  incubation  had  connnenced,  measures 
about  4  inches  in  outer  diameter  l)y  1;(  in  height;  the  inner  cup  i.s  about  2\ 
inches  in  width  by  1.]  inches  in  depth.  Kxternally  it  is  also  compo.sed  of  small 
twigs  of  salt  cedar  and  coart.e  dry  grass,  and  it  is  sjjaringly  lined  with  blades 
of  dry  grass,  anil  a  few  feathers. 

Mr.  Attwater  writes  me  under  date  of  March  20,  1893:  "Quite  a  number  of 
Texan  Horned  i^arks  here,  are  still  in  small  flocks;  a  few,  however,  seem  already 
to  be  mated,  l)Ut  1  have  thus  far  l)cen  unable  to  locate  anv  of  their  nests." 


THK  TKXAN  IIOUNEI)  LARK. 


341 


tlie 

)(iiut 

was 


L^t*  in 
M.iy 


>)i. 


tlad 


CH 


her 
•eatl 


of 


All  the  eggs  in  the  United  States  National  Museum  collection  excepting  a 
single  set  were  taken  in  the  third  week  in  May,  evidently  second  hroods,  and 
a  nest,  witli  three  young  birds  about  a  couple  of  days  old,  was  found  on  April 
19,  1892,  indicating  that  the  breeding  season  coniniences  probably  about  the 
latter  part  of  March  and  lasts  through  April  and  May.  The  usual  nuMil)er  of 
eggs  laid  to  a  set  appears  to  be  three  or  four,  and  these  resend)le  very  closely 
tho.se  of  the  otiier  subspecies  already  described,  both  in  shape  and  coloration. 
Two  specimens  show  a  couple  of  dark-colored  hair  lines  about  their  larger  ends, 
resendiling  those  found  on  our  Orioles. 

The  average  measurement  of  fourteen  specimens  in  tiie  United  States 
National  Museum  collection  is  21.90  by  1').54  millh..8tres,  or  about  0.H6  by  ().(!1 
inch.  The  largest  egg  measures  23.()2  by  1(>  millimetres,  or  0.93  by  O.GS  inch; 
the  smallest,  20.83  by  14.99  millimetres,  or  0.82  by  0I)\)  inch. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  251.'')9  (PI.  f*,  Fig.  27),  from  a  set  of  four  eggs, 
was  taken  and  donated  to  the  collection  b}'  Mr.  H.  P.  Attwater,  neai-  llockjjort, 
Aransas  County,  Texas,  on  May  19,  1892,  and  represents  one  of  the  lighter 
styles  of  coloration  found  among  these  eggs. 


130.     Otocoris  alpestris  chrysolaema  (Waolek). 

MEXICAN  IIORNKD  LAKK. 

Alauda  chrysolwrna  WAia.EU,  lais,  18;U,  ."»30. 

Otocoris  alpestrin  clirynolwiiia  Htk.ineokk,  Proceedings  U.  S.  Natioinl  Miisciiin,  V,  iss:.',  .'it. 

(B  — ,  C  53a,  U  300/;,  0  84,  17  474f.) 

Gkooraphical  uange:  Tablc-laiuls  (tf  Mexico,  from  Vera  Cniz  nortliward.  including 
tlie  liiglier  plateau  regions  of  northern  Lower  Galiforni:i,  as  well  11s  the  coa.st  districts  west 
of  the  (Joast  Itaiige  in  California,  north  to  about  latitude  3!)^. 

Tiie  breeding  range  of  the  Mexican  Horned  Lark,  wliile  ipiite  an  extensive 
one,  is  still  very  imperfectly  defined,  there  being  but  little  material  on  hand 
fronv  M(!xico,  and  tliis  only  from  about  the  extreme  southern  limits  of  its  range 
where  it  is  known  to  breed.  Nothing  is  known  regarding  its  distribution  througli- 
out  central  Mexico,  while  in  Lower  California  it  appears  to  be  conlinud,  during 
the  breeding  s(>as(>n  at  hsist,  to  the  more  nortlumi  ))arts  of  the  i)eninsula. ' 

Ml'.  A.  W.  .Vntiiony  writes  me:  '■^  Oloniris  iil/irsfriK  rlir;/s()lifiii(t  nests  on  tlie 
San  J'edro  Martir  Mountains  at  altitudes  of  nbdiit  8,r)00  feet,  while  on  botii  tin* 
eastern  and  western  slopcss  it  is  replaced  during  tlie  breeding  season  by  Olttcorifi 
(ilpc.stris  2Milli(l((,  a  strikingly  ditiereiit  race."  It  is  also  reported  as  brcediiig  at 
Siin  Quentin,  near  the  coast.  It  is  not  uncommon  throughout  the  coast  districts 
of  southern  ('alifornia,  and  apparently  reaches  tiie  northern  limits  of  its  range 
lure  in  Sonoma  Countv,  about  latitude  39°. 


'  Siller  tlii«  wiiH  writtdii  Uio  1'.  S.  I>i'|inrtiii(tiit  iif  A(jri<MiUiirn  Iiiis  olitaiiii'cl  quite  iiii  osli>ii«ivii  Kt'iins 
of  HkiiiH  Cioiii  tlin  Stilton  of  I'lH'hla,  Mi'xico,  Micliil);o,  Tliixi'itlii,  anil  ('liiliiialiiiii,  Mi'xioo,  taken  at  ililliTent 
aeiiHoiiH,  wliirh  Hoeiii  to  lie  all  rcfrralih*  to  tliiH  racts  tiinl  tiidicato  that  tln«  Mi-xiraii  lloriirtl  I. ark  Ih  pretty 
geiieruUy  dUtribiitvil  in  Hnitalile  localitlt'8  lliron>tbaiit  tbi*  );i't!Utur  purl  of  tliu  Jlrxiciin  Ifupiiblic. 


I  I. 


•iflilfl 


we 


!  !•< 


1 


If  i 
li' 

^ 

^^  ) 

^unffln  s 

342 


LM'E  IIISTOKIKS  OF  NORTH  AMKHFOAN  BIHD8. 


Its  general  habits,  food,  etc.,  are  very  similar  to  tlio  other  subspecies  of  this 
genus.  Mr.  F".  Ste])hens  writes  nio:  "The  Mexican  Horned  Lark  breeds  in  most 
of  the  larger  valleys  (if  not  too  wet)  throughout  southern  California,  from  sea 
level  to  the  pines.  Near  Riverside  they  nest  in  the  orchards  and  vineyards,  but 
in  other  localities  the  nesting  site  is  usually  away  from  the  l)ru8h.  A  nest  con- 
taii.ing  two  eggs  was  found  l)y  me  in  a  salt  mar.sli  at  False  Uay,  near  San  Diego, 
California,  which  was  situated  similarly  to  those  oi  Ammodramus  heldhit/i." 

Mr.  Rollo  II.  IJeck  writes  that  this  subs])ecies  is  a  common  resident  in 
Santa  Clara  County,  when*  it  l)reeds  in  consideralde  numbers,  both  in  iields 
adjoining  sloughs  that  coimect  with  San  Francisco  Bay  and  in  the  hills  on 
the  eastern  side  of  the  valley.  Mr.  Charles  A.  Allen  reports  it  as  conunon  in 
JIarin  County,  and  several  males  sliot  by  him  near  Nicasio  on  April  2!),  18!>0, 
sent  me  for  examination,  are  referable  to  this  subspecies.  Nearly  all  of  the  eggs 
of  this  subspecies  in  the  United  States  National  Museum  collection  were  taken 
in  the  vicinity  of  Santa  Cruz,  California.  A  set  from  the  extreme  southern 
limits  of  its  range,  taken  by  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  near  I'erote,  Vera  Cruz,  Mexico, 
is  probably  referable  to  this  subspecies.  'I'his  nest,  foimd  on  June  (i,  18!>.'{,  con- 
laiiJed  only  two  eggs,  in  whicl;  incubation  had  commenced;  these  are  somewhat 
larj^'er  than  eggs  from  southern  California.  The  nesting  habits  of  the  Mexican 
Horned  Lark  are  (piite  similar  to  tiiose  of  the  other  subspecies  of  this  genus. 
Oc.'asionally  a  nest  is  found  in  a  j)erfectly  open  situation;  at  other  times  it  is 
somewhat  slieltered  by  a  buncli  of  grass  or  weeds:  and  again  it  may  be  placed 
ill  cultivated  fields,  etc.  Mr.  G.  11.  Atkinson  took  a  ne.st  containing  four  fre.sh 
eggs  near  Santa  Clara,  California,  on  May  18,  181(4,  placed  beside  a  row  of 
carrots,  and  composed  entirely  of  dried  gras.ses;  and  on  June  14  another 
nest,  containing  tln-ee  fresh  eggs,  was  found  in  a  similar  situation,  ])robably  built 
by  the  same  pair  of  Ijirds.  Niditication  usually  begins  about  the  middle  of 
Ai)ril,  and  probably  twt»  broods  are  regularly  raised  in  a  season,  as  fresh  eggs  are 
freipiently  found  in  June.  Fi'oni  two  to  four  are  laid  in  a  set,  generally  three. 
These  resemlile  those  of  the  previously  describeil  subspecies  in  coloration  and 
shape. 

The  average  measurement  of  twenty  eggs  in  the  Ignited  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  20.6!)  by  15.37  millimetres,  or  about  0.82  by  0.60  inch. 
Tlie  largest  egg  of  the  series  (one  of  the  .set  from  Ferote,  Vera  Cruz,  Mexico) 
measures  2;$.l  1  by  10.24  millimetres,  or  0.91  by  0.60  inch;  the  smallest,  1'J.05  by 
15.24  millimeire,s,  or  0.75  by  (>.(!()  inch. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  21028  (1*1.  ;>,  r^ig.  28),  from  a  set  of  tlireo  eggs, 
Merrill  collection,  was  taken  near  Santa  Cruz,  California,  in  April,  187!),  and 
has  been  selected  as  showing  the  ground  color  rather  clearly. 


THE  KUDDY  IIUKNKI)  LAUK.  343 

131.     Otocoris  alpestris  rubea  Hknshaw. 

UirDDY  IIOKNKI)  LAUK. 

0[toconfii]  atpestrin  riibeus  Henshaw,  Auk,  I,  July,  1884,  L'CT. 

(B-.  (J-,B-,0-,  1-474/.) 

OEOGRAPillciAL  RANGE:  Viilloys  of  t\n\  interior  of  (^alit'ornia,  inainIytlio.se  hotdeiinp 
the  Sacramento  lliver,  north  to  alxmt  latitude  KP,  between  tlie  eoast  ranj-es  anil  the  Hi<n  ra 
Nevada;  soutli  into  the  San  Joa<iuin  Valley  in  winter. 

Tho  broc'iliuff  riing'c  of  tlio  IJiuldy  Tfonicd  Lfirk  is  coiifiiu'd,  ns  far  iis 
known,  to  a  compiirativoly  .siimll  aroa  of  tlm  interior  of  tlit'  nortlicrn  lialf  of 
California,  flic  valloys  of  tho  Sacrauionto  liivor  and  its  larger  tril)ntari."s,  and 
pos.sihly  also  to  tlio  ninilicrn  parts  of  tlii'  San  .loaipiin  \'alli'y,  liiit  this  is  not 
yet  po.sitivoly  known.  It  is  <;-enerally  a  resident  where  foun<l,  excepting-  in 
nnnsnally  Hevero  winters,  when  it  niijjrates  to  more  coiiffenial  localities  in  the 
sonthern  part  of  the  State. 

]\[r.  Charlies  II.Townsend,  in  speakinjif  of  this  subspecies,  says:  "This  form 
of  the  Horned  I^ark  is  a  very  common  inhabitant  of  tho  jdains  and  open  country 
everywhere  in  northern  ('alifornia.  It  was  found  in  linu'ted  nuMd)ers  on  the 
sasre-covered  districts  north  of  Mount  Shasta  in  midsunuuer.  'J'h(Mloseh'-"razed 
sheep  pastures  of  thii  Upper  Sacramento  A'alley  were  alive  with  them  in  April 
and  j\Iay,  and  tliey  were  al)undant  in  Jxdy  on  tho  {grassy  |)liiiiis  east  of  Mount 
Las.sen.  As  I  was  not  at  Red  Hlulf  in  midsummer  or  midwiuter,  I  cannot  allirui 
that  they  are  always  present  there,  but  think  it  not  unlikely;  a.  few  were  nestiii}^' 
there  late  in  May.  On  May  4  I  found  a  most  remarkabht  nest  of  e;.>jis,  in  all 
j)robability  of  this  species.  I  had  secured  a  number  of  Horned  Larks  tho  same 
mornin<»-  in  a  stubble  field,  and  a  nest  coutaininii'  oue  e<^<>'  of  the  nsual  olive- 
white  col<»r,  with  minute  dark  spots,  so  characteristic  of  the  e^-^'  of  the  species, 
when  a  plowman  ajjproached  with  a  lu-st  containin;r  thiee  coos  of  similar  size 
and  pattern  of  markiui^',  but  so  suH'usi'd  with  a  rich  reddish  brown  as  to  be 
inu'ecoji'iiizalile.  The  uian  said  thev  were  those  of  a  bird  exactK'  lik(^  the  Otn- 
coris  in  my  ba.sket  Moth  nests  were  of  eipial  size,  loosel}' made  of  jj^rasses  and 
weeds,  and  jdaced  amonjf  the  clods  and  stul)ltle.  There  wei'e  no  other  l)irds  on 
the  entire  jdain  lint  Horned  Larks,  ami  as  tlui  e<><;s  aji'rei^  a\  ith  no  others,  there 
i.s  no  alternative  but  to  call  them  ejijjs  of  this  species."' 

Tho  general  habits,  food,  etc,  reseuibht  those  of  tho  other  meudjers  of  this 
family  very  closely,  as  well  as  the  ej^ys,  of  which  there  are  few  in  the  I'uited 
States  National  Museum  collection — only  thos(^  taken  by  Mr.  Townsend,  men- 
tioned already.  Tla  threi;  reddish-colori'd  eji'^s  are  uiapu'stionably  r(^i'erable  to 
this  uibspecies,  and  su<'h  instances  of  abnormal  coloration  ar(^  known  lo  occur 
oiH'asionally  in  other  species  as  well.  Two  parallel  cases  will  be  luuiid  amou^' 
those  describi'd  of  tlu^  ( 'aliforiiia  Jay  and  the  Crow,  iu  whicli  the  normal  green 
color  and  darker  markiujis  an*  replaced  by  ruddy  and  pinkish  liutf  tiut.s. 

I ProcetMliiiK"  i>l'  lliv  r.  S    Nntidniil  Miihcmiii,  \  iil.  ID.  IsnT,  p.  L'KI. 


•.?(■'.. 


•I 


U,     ! 


li! 


344 


LIKl-:  IIISTOUIKS  OF  NORTH  AMUKK'AN  BIRDS. 


Tho  moiisuremeuta  of  the  four  oggs  of  thia  Hubspecies  in  the  United  States 
Natiouiil  Museum  collection  lire  as  follows:  The  single  nonnally  colored  egg,  No. 
21703,  taken  on  May  4,  18H4,  niesisures  19.81  by  15.24  millimetres,  or  0.78  by 
O.GO  inch;  No.  21704,  a  set  of  three  eggs  taken  on  the  same  date  an<l  at  tho 
same  place,  the  reddish-colored  specimens,  measure,  respectively,  20.83  by 
14.73,  18.r)4  by  14.48,  and  1<»..'^G  by  14.48  millimetres,  or  0.82  by  0.r>8,  0.73  by 
0.57,  and  0.77  by  0.57  inch. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  21704  (PI.  5,  Fig.  20),  the  largest  I'f^fi;  of  the  set 
just  menti(med,  was  obtained  by  Mr.  Cliarles  11.  Townsond  near  Red  Ulutf,  Cal- 
ifornia, on  May  4,  1884,  and  represents  an  abnormally  colored  specimen  of  this 
subspecies. 


1  i< 


132.     Otocoris  alpestris  strigata  Henshaw. 

STREAKED  HORNED  I.AKK. 

0\tocor!/ii\  alpentrlH  KtriijnUi  Henshaw,  Auk,  I,  July,  18.S4, 2(i7. 

(R  -,  C  -,  R  -,  <'  -,  U  \1\<j.) 

Oeooraphioal  HANOe:  Coiist  regions  of  Oregon,  Washington,  and  soutliern  British 
Cohinibia,  west  of  tlie  Oasendu  Mountains;  south  in  winter  to  southern  Ciilifornia. 

Tile  breeding  range  of  the  Streaked  Horned  Fiark,  as  far  as  known,  is 
confined  to  the  coast  districts  of  Oregon,  Wasliington,  and  southern  Uritish 
Columbia,  including  the  areas  of  heavy  rainfall,  and  it  proljably  also  l)reods  in 
similar  localities  in  northern  (California.  In  these  generally  heavily  timbered 
regions  it  inhabits  the  few  dry  prairies  and  more  open  valleys  found  near  the 
coast.  Jfr.  II.  P.  Lawrence  met  with  a  single  specimen  near  Uidgefield,  (Harke 
County,  AVashington,  where  it  a|)peared  to  be  rare,  on  duly  13,  18!)2.  During 
a  recent  visit  to  Puget  Sound,  in  May,  18!I4,  [  ftmnd  it  moderately  common  on 
the  dry,  gravelly  plains  between  Tacoma  and  Steilacoom,  in  Pierce  County. 
While  some  were  still  in  small  flocks,  many  were  apj)arently  already  mated, 
and  some,  judging  from  tiieir  actions,  had  nests  dose  by;  but  on  aconuit  of  the 
limited  time  at  my  disposal  1  di<l  not  succeed  in  finding  any.  jMr.  John  Faimin, 
curator  of  the  Provincial  ^Inseum,  A'ictoria,  British  Columliia,  records  specimens 
taken  at  Burrard  Inlet,  (Miilliwhack,  and  other  localities  west  of  tlie  Cascades, 
in  this  j)rovince.  .Mr.  A.  W.  i\nthony  met  witli  this  race  at  Heavertiai,  Oregon, 
where  it  l)reeds.  A  deserted  nest  containing  three  eggs  was  found  by  him  on 
.May  21,  1S84,  jilared  in  an  old  cow  track,  consisting  merely  of  afew  grass  steins 
iuid  lincfl  with  a  little  cattle  hair.  Tiiese  eggs  measure  20.83  by  15.24,  20.57 
by  15.24,  an<l  20.07  by  14.!»!'  miilimetn's,  or  0  S2  l)y  0.(iO,  0.81  by  O.HO,  and 
0.79  by  0.59  inch,  and  are  undoubtedly  referable  to  tliis  subspecies.  On  May 
25  a  female  was  shot  with  an  {'\<:\f  in  tlut  o\iduct  ready  to  dc'iiosit.  Tiie  ground 
color  of  the  set  ])nniously  mentioned  shows  the  pah^-greenish  tint  occasionally 
found  in  the  eggs  of  this  genus,  and  one  of  them  has  a  few  reddish-brown 


THE  STREAKKD  HORNED  LARK. 


845 


hair  lines  Hcaitered  over  its  center.  Not  Iwin^f  alwolutoly  identified,  T  linvi  not 
fiffured  one  of  them.  SjiecinieiiB  taken  in  winter  at  Sakun,  Orefjon,  by  Dr. 
Clinton  T.  t'ooke,  have  l)een  identified  as  this  subspecies;  tlie  majority;  howivor, 
move  farther  south,  spendinjjf  the  colder  part  of  the  year  in  southern  California. 


133.     Otocoris  alpestris  adusta  DwKiirr. 

SCORCHED  HOKNKI)  I.ARK. 

OIocoHh  alprntriH  ailimtn  DwiOHT,  Auk,  VII,  April,  l«90,  148, 

(H  — ,  U  — ,  U  — ,  C  — ,  U  474 A.) 

(lEOGUAPHicAL  KANOE :  Soutliefii  Arizuiia  and  New  Mexico,  western  Texas,  and 
soutliwurd  into  nortliern  Mexico. 

'i'he  l)reedinff  range  of  the  Scorched  Horned  Lark  is  confined  to  tlie  south- 
ern borders  of  the  United  States  throuj^h  southern  Arizona,  the  f^reater  part  of 
New  Mexico  and  western  Texas,  south  into  northern  Mexico.  I'iiis  race  inhabits 
the  more  arid  valleys  and  table-lands  so  common  in  the  ref^ions  menti(tned,  and 
in  .suitable  localities  it  is  resident  throughout  the  year.  In  New  Mexico  it  has 
been  found  breeding  as  far  north  as  Santa  Fe,  which  probably  marks  the  noi'th- 
ern  limits  f)f  its  range.  The  Scorched  Horned  Lark  is  a  connnon  l)ieeder  in 
the  vicinity  of  Forts  Iluachuca  and  Howie,  in  southern  .\rizona,  where  Mr. 
Frederick  Hall  Fowler  found  a  number  of  their  nests  and  eggs;  and  the  I'liitcd 
States  National  Museum  is  indebted  to  him  for  all  the  sets  of  this  subspecio  in 
the  collection. 

Its  general  habits,  nests,  etc.,  are  similar  to  those  of  llu^  other  member.i  of 
this  genus.  The  nests,  according  to  l\Ir.  Fowler,  are  sunk  flush  with  the  surlaco 
of  the  ground,  and  are  usually  jdaced  be.side  a  tussock  of  grass  or  a  pieci-  of 
dry  cow  dung  in  the  o])en  jdaiu,  and  more  rarely  luidcr  a  bush,  as  these  are 
more  or  less  freipiented  in  midday  by  snakes  and  egg-eating  lizards.  The 
nundier  of  <'ggs  laid  to  a  set  varies  from  two  to  four,  sets  of  threcf  being  most 
common.  The  eggs  rcsciidile  those  of  our  other  Horned  Larks  in  color  inid 
markings,  but  are  mostly  short  o\ate  in  shape.  The  nesting  season  appears  to 
be  at  its  lu'iglit  in  April,  and  jtrobaldy  several  broods  are  raiscfd  in  a  season. 

'^riu!  average  measurement  of  fifteen  l'^xus  m  the  United  States  National 
]\Ius(>um  collection  is  "_M.27  ity  lli.OS  millimetres,  or  al)out  0.M4  by  O.dii  in-h 
The  largest  f^'^  in  the  series  measures  "i.'J.SS  by  KJ.'Jd  millimetres,  or  (I.!t4  i>y  ('Ail 
hu'h;  the  smallest,  lil.ati  by  K!  millimetres,  or  0.77  by  O.*!.'?  inch. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  2r)'i4"J  (IM.  .'),  Fig.  iM  ),  from  a  .set  of  thret^  e<.igs, 
was  taken  1»\  Mr.  Fi't'derick  Hall  Fowler,  near  Fort  Iluachuca,  .Vrizona,  on  ^lay 
5,  1H92,  and  represtuits  one  of  the  larger  eggs  of  this  subspecies. 


^  ^1 


•"( 


m 


m 


1  ,Jl'lv 


346  LIKU  lIlSTOKlEa  OF  NOUTll  AMERICAN  U1UD8. 


134.     Otocoris  alpestris  merrilli   l>\vi(iiiT. 

DUSKY  IIOKNKI)  l.ARK. 

OtocoriK  alpeKtriM  merrilli  DwuiHT,  Auk,  VII,  Ajtiil,  lH!Ht,  15,5. 

(H  — ,  ('  — ,  It— ,  (!  — ,  1:  »7I/.) 

flEoouAPiilOAL  UANOE:  From  soiitliorii  Hritish  Colmiil)ia  sonf li  tliiouKli  Wiwliington 
aii(l()rcj;*H'Ciist<>ftlic<'ftS('!ule  Moiiiitiiiiis,  anil  northern Ciiliforniii.castof  flic SicrriiNcvaila, 
east  to  southwestern  Alberta  ?  and  Idaho;  south  in  winter  to  Nevada  and  ('alifornia. 

TIk'  In-ccdiiij;-  liiii;;-!'  of  tlio  Dusky  Horned  l.ark,  as  far  as  known,  extends 
from  tlie  eastern  slopes  of  Mount  Shasta,  in  northern  CaHfornia,  throuoli  tln)so 
parts  of  ( )re<:;dn,  Wasliinijfton,  and  soutliern  Hritisli  ( "ohnnhia  east  of  tlie  ('asra(h' 
Jlountains,  nortli  to  alxiut  hititude  .51 ";  eastward  it  ranjies  tln'ou<,di  the  more  fertile 
portions  of  Idaho,  and  ([uite  likely  also  into  the  southwost(!rn  jtarts  of  the 
Province  of  Alberta,  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada. 

'i'his  snhspoeies  is  essentially  a  bird  of  the  foothills  (tlu^  so-called  "Imnch 
jrrass  country,"  Fcstnca  sp.  ?)  as  well  as  of  the  more  open  and  <irass-covere<l 
valleys  and  ])lains  occasionally  found  in  the  mountains,  while  it  is  either  rare  or 
entirely  absent  in  the  more  arid  sa<jfebrush  ])lains  found  interspersed  throujjfh 
the  same  rejiioitsi  I  havti  met  with  the  Dusky  Ibniied  l^ark  in  various  parts  of 
Drej^-on  and  Washinji'ton,  where  it  is  (piite  connnoii  in  suitable  localities.  While 
en  ront(^  fr(»m  Fort  Walla  Walla,  Washinj;-ton,  to  Fort  Klamath,  Orejidn,  durin<>' 
the  latter  ])art  of  May  and  the  first  two  weeks  in  June,  IHH'i,  some  of  these 
birds  were  almost  constantly  in  sioht  wheniver  the  road  jjassed  throuj^h  o))en 
country,  and  numy  youn<>'  birds  had  alrcsady  left  their  nests.  At  Fort  Klamath 
they  were  not  unconniion  on  the  j;ravelly  prairie  adjoinin;^-  the  I'ost,  and  Dr. 
James  C.  Merrill,  United  States  Army,  found  it  breedino-  there.  In  the  vicinity  of 
Cam))  TTarney,  ()ref;'on,  it  was  very  rare  in  sunnner  and  oidy  seen  on  the  more 
open,  "irass-covered  plains  in  the  central  j)arts  of  the  Harney  Valley,  the  InVher 
portions  of  this  bein^-  covered  with  a  {••ood  growth  of  sagebru.sh  (^Artemisia), 
which  they  seem  to  avoid. 

Tts  general  habits,  etc.,  as  well  as  its  nests  and  eggs,  are  similar  to  those 
of  the  oth(;r  mendters  of  this  geiuis.  lIndoul)tedly  two  l)i'oods  are  raised  in  a 
season,  as  I  found  a  set  of  two  slightly  incubated  eggs  in  the  (Jreat  Hend  of  the 
Colinnbia  Hiver  on  June  !•,  1870.  The  ne.st  was  jdaced  in  a  slight  depression 
l)esid((  a,  tussock  of  binich  grass  near  the  trail  from  Lake  ( 'helau  to  Spokane 
Falls,  Washington,  and  I  found  these  birds  as  conunon  here  as  farther  sf)uth. 
The  eiTii's  resendde  those  of  the  other  meiid)ers  of  this  iamilv,  and  from  two  to 
four  are  usually  laid  to  a  set. 

The  average  measurement  of  five  specimens  'u  the  Fnited  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  20.!)5  by  ir).!)2  millimetres,  or  al)out  (».8l'  liy  O.fiS  inch. 
The  largest  vyc^^  measures  21.84  by  M\.f)\  millimetres,  or  (I.Hd  l)y  O.d.'")  inch;  the 
smallest,  'lOM  by  ir).24  millimetres,  or  U.8(»  l)v  0.60  inch. 


w^^Hw^ 


THE  DUSKY  HORNED  LAUK. 


.'{47 


Tho  typo  spociiiioii,  No.  2()3S7  (1*1.5,  Fiff.  30),  Hciidiro  collcctioii,  from  a  not 
of  two  ofTfjfs,  was  takou  l>y  the  writer,  and  represents  a  ratlu^r  uniform  anil  evenly 
marked  egg. 


135.     Otocoris  alpestris  pallida  Townhknd. 

HONOKAN  IIORNKI)  LARK, 

Otovoiin  itliiexIriH  pdlliilfi  TowNSEND,  ProcecdiiiKR  U.  8.  National  Mnsfiiim,  XIII,  l.S!M»,  l.'JH. 

(B  — ,  C  — ,  It  — ,  C  — ,  U  474y.) 

(iKodKAiMiiCAL  KANOE:  Lowcr  California  anil  wcBtern  Sonorn,  Mexico. 

The  breeding  range  of  the  Sonoran  Honied  Lark  is  jjrohably  coextensive 
with  its  geograpliical  distribution,  but  ('omi)aratively  little  is  yet  known  aliout 
this  small  pallid  race. 

Mr.  A.  W.  iVnthony  writes  me:  "While  Otocoris  alpritfris  chrifsolmmn  uosts  on 
the  San  1  Vilro  Martir  Mountains  at  altitudes  of  about  8,500  feet,  the  nesting  form 
on  l»otli  the  lower  eastern  and  western  slopes  of  these  mountains  is  Townsend's 
(itocori.s  (iliicsfris  jxiUida,  a  strikingly  different  raee."  In  a  more  recent  letter 
(July  8,  18!I4)  he  writes:  "Pallid  Horned  [..arks  are  common  and  breed  some- 
where not  far  froni  my  camp,  south  of  San  Quentin,  Lowin*  (/'alifornia,  where 
they  came  to  the  corral  each  day  in  small  companies  of  from  two  to  six,  and 
over  forty  were  sliot;  but  their  number  continued  about  the  same;  they  dri)i)i)cil 
down  from  high  overhead.  Skins  taken  in  Decendier  sliow  strong  traces  of 
intergradation  with  Otaroris  d/jMstris  ('hn/sol(em(i."  I  believe  the  eggs  of  this  sub- 
.species  still  remain  unknown,  but  tlu^y  are  not  likely  to  differ  materially  from 
those  of  our  better-known  Horned  Larks,  and  its  habits  are  inidoubtedlj'  also 
similar. 


im 


■>fj 


::W^ 


•111 


.A- 


:  '  ■    'I 


136.     Otocoris  alpestris  insularis  Townskno. 

insi:lar  iioknki)  lakk, 

Otocoris  iilpestris  innulariK  ToWNSENO,  I'roci'iidinjjs  IT.  ft.  National  Museum,  \',i,  18!)(»,  140. 

(|5_,  ('  _,  H_,  o— ,  U— .) 

CiKOiiHArniOAi.  UANiii::  Islands  off  tlie  coast  oC  smitlicrn  (California,  incluiling  Santa 
Cruz,  Santa  Kosa,  San  Nicolas,  anil  San  Cleincate. 

This  insular  race  of  Homed  Lark  has  not  yet  been  admitted  to  sub- 
specific  rank  by  the  American  Ornithologists'  Union,  but  as  I  believe  that  it  is 
well  entitled  to  such  recognition,  I  emunerate  it  among  the  other  niunerous 
recognized  races  of  this  genus.  Mr.  Dwiglit,  in  his  paper  on  the  "Horned 
Larks,"  says,  on  jjage  152:  "Mr.  C.  H.  Townsend  has  kindly  loaned  me  a  series 
of  ten  male  Horned  Larks  from  the  Santa  Cruz  group  of  islands,  C^ilifoniia, 
including  the  ty))e  of  the  race  he  calls  'insularis.^  I  am  much  suri)rised  to  find 
his  birds  practically  indistinguiKliabh*  from  Oregon  specimens  of  strigatu.     They 


);;ri 


u 


r> 


348 


LIVE  IIIHTOHIKS  OK  NOKTII  AMERICAN  HIRDS. 


nro  thy  Hiimo  hIzc,  hikI,  tlioujjli  nvcm};!!!},'  ii  little  darker,  tlio  impo  upproacliinp 
brick  1-0(1,  hoiuo  t)f  tliom  euu  be  umtcliod  by  the  few  Hpeciineiis  of  ntri(/<itn  I  have 
for  compariMon." 

While  it  is  quite  tnio  that  this  island  rare  rowembles  the  Streaked  IToriied 
liarks  from  the  northwest  coast  very  closely,  still  the  streaks  on  the  back  of  the 
latter,  jiarticidarly  on  the  lower  back,  nro  nnich  darker  and  more  shari)Iy  defined, 
with  liifhter  interspaces,  and  the  winfj  is  also  shortcsr.  'IMie  nnder  parts,  at  least 
on  the  lireast,  are  pale  biitty  yellow  in  sfri/idfa,  wliile  in  insidaris  they  are  alwayH 
white,  without  any  yellow  tinj^e.  Climatic  differences  must  also  })e  considered, 
and  the  jfreatest  ])ossii»l(*  variation  exists  in  the  respective  habitats  of  thes(!  two 
races.  While  the  Streaked  Horned  I^ark  inhabits  re^^ions  of  excessive  rainfall, 
the  climate  on  the  islands  is  exactly  the  reverse,  beinfj;  excessively  dry  and  desert- 
like, and,  furthermore,  this  insular  race  is  a  resident  and  breeds  on  these  islands, 
and  the  breeding'  ranjfos  of  the  two  do  not  approach  each  other  by  several 
hinidred  miles;  for  theses  n-asons  I  do  not  consider  them  to  be  referable  to 
.stti()iitn,  and  they  certaiidy  can  not  be  included  amonf>-  chrnsohciiKi,  to  which 
Mr.  If.  W.  lleushav.'  orifiinally  referred  them.  lie  found  them  very  (M)nnnon 
residents  on  Sai.ta  (!rui!  Island  and  broediufr  there.  lie  says:  "The  nests  were 
but  rude  attempts,  beinji'  nothin<f  more  than  a  small  i»ile  of  dried  fjra.sses  suf- 
ficiently hollowed  to  admit  of  the  reception  of  the  eg<i;s.  One  (No.  172!I5, 
containiu}^  three  eg<>s,  taken  on  June  4,  1875,  on  Santa  Cruz  Island,  California) 
is  deserving  of  notice  as  being  placed  within  tlio  cavity  of  an  abalone  shell, 
one  of  a  large  heap  lying  half  overgrown  with  herbage.  The  whole  cavity  of 
the  shell  was  filled  by  the  material,  and  the  eggs  h»oked  very  pretty  as  they  lay 
contrasted  with  the  shiny,  pearly  shells  clustered  about  them." 

Mr.  Ilenshaw,  in  sptsiking  of  the  social  hal)its  of  the  Iloi-ned  Lark,  says: 
"The  immense  Hocks  of  these  birds  that  gather  together  in  the  fall  are  well 
known,  but  I  was  surprised  to  find  to  what  e'xtent  this  sociable  feeling  was 
carried  during  tiie  breeding  season.  Moth  on  the  mainland  and  on  tla^  island 
thev  were  seen  all  through  .lune  in  scattered  tlocks  of  both  sexes,  though  nearly 
all,  perhaps  all,  were  at  this  time  nesting.  Both  sexes  incubate,  and  it  ai)i)eared 
to  be  the  habit  of  the  birds,  when  off  duty,  to  repair  together  in  small  tlocks, 
and  thus  to  wander  in  search  of  food.  At  this  season  they  do  not  resort  much 
to  the  sandv  beaches,  but  keej)  on  tlu^  upland,  wlu^n^  among  the  herliage  they 
find  moni  easily  and  in  greater  al)undance  the  insects  and  scimIs  which  they 
are  fond  of"' 

Dr.  E.  A.  Mearns,  United  States  Army,  foimd  this  subsjx-cies  breeding  on 
San  Clemente,  the  southernmost  island  off  th(!  coast  of  California,  and  sent 
some  fragments  of  eggs  found  on  Aiigu.st  '_'H,  1894,  to  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection.  It  has  n(»t  yet  been  recorded  fron\  Santa  ('atalina  Island, 
but  as  1  have  received  Horned  Larks'  eggs  from  this  island,  they  ju-obably  are 
also  referable  to  this  race. 

lU.  S.  GcnlogicMl  Siirvo)»  West  of  tlio  lOOtli  MiTiiliaii.  Aiipcmlix  .1.1,  Wlici'li'r,  1S76,  ji.  24S. 


Tni-:  INHI  LAIC  lIOUNlil)  LAKK. 


849 


Two  mttH,  uiidi  (•oiitiiiiiin>>'  tlirt'c^  *'Hii>*,  ii<»w  in  thu  rnitcil  StiitoH  National 
MiiHciiiii  collt'ction,  takttu  liy  Mr.  Ilciisluiw  on  .Fiiiu*  .'t  and  T),  iHTft,  on  Saiitii 
Crii/i  Island,  ( 'alil'ornia,  nioiwuro,  iVH|K)ctiv('ly,  22.10  l»y  IT). 411,  21.al»  Ity  15.24, 
and  21.59  by  15.24  MiiHiMioti-oM,  or  0.87  by  0.61,  0.H5  by  O.fJO,  and  0.M5  Ity  0.(10 
infh.  Tlio  other  sot  nioasiircs  20.;{2  by  15,4I»,  20.07  by  15.41),  and  111.05  Ity 
15.24  Miilliniftivs;  or  <».80  by  0.(>1,  (t.7y  by  O.Cl,  and  0.75  by  0.(10  incii.  Tlu-y 
ri'soniblc  tlic^  ^'Kn'"*  "^  *''^'  ''tl't-''"  subspecit's  of  this  <feniis,  and  no  specimun  has 
boon  tiHUicd. 


Family  COKVID.K.     Cimws,  Javs,  Maopiks,  etc;. 
137.     Pica  pica  hudsonica  (Saiunk). 

.\MI,I(I(AN    MA(J1'IK. 

CorruH  huiUonifUH  Saiiink,  ApiH^nilix  Krivuklin's  .lournoy,  ISL'H,  25,  (171. 
Vim  i>wa  hiidnonivu  .loUDAN,  .Maiiaul  of  N'ertela'iitt's,  fd.  4,  ISH4,  !)4. 
(H  4.'J2.  O  l!;{;i,  It  H8(i,  C  .'(47,  U  47.").) 

<ii';o(i|{AiMli('Ai.  BAN»B:  Middle  and  wustern  North  Aiacricii;  t'roiii  Aliinka  and  tiio 
Alaskan  IVninsala  soatli  tlii'()U{;li  Hritisli  ('<danil)ia,  VVasliiaifton,  Orejroii,  iiorMiuastt  rn 
(<alil(>rnia,  iioitlitMii  and  iniddlt-  Xi^vaila,  iiortlieni  Aii/ona,  and  nortlH-rn  NtMV  Mexico; 
east  to  east(M'a  (Joloi'ado,  wcsttu'ii  Nt-lnaska,  \vt'st<M'a  Soatli  and  North  Dakota,  and  western 
Manitoba,  as  well  as  the  interveain;;  re;{ioas,  as  lltaii,  Wyoiaiag,  Montana,  and  Idaho; 
casually  stra^jfflin;;  in  winter  to  westi;rn  Kansas,  eastern  Nebraska,  northwestern  Iowa, 
Miune.sota,  Wisconsin,  and  .MicliiKau,  and  the  Province  of  Ontario,  Dominion  of  Canada. 

The  American  or  Black-billed  Maj.;i)ie  is  one  of  tlio  best  known  and  most 
cliaractenstic  birds  of  our  western  avifauna.  It  is  {fenei'ally  a  resident  and 
breeds  wheri^vei-  found,  exceittinj;-  perhaps  in  the  extreme  northern  portions  of 
its  ranye  in  Alaska  and  aloiif^'  the  eastern  border  (the  rejiions  of  the  ( Jreat  I'lain.s), 
where  it  o»Hrasionally  wanders  eastward  in  the  lute  fall  and  winter,  probably 
di'iven  away  from  its  usual  haunts  by  scarcity  of  food  or  sev»'re  storms,  which 
so  fre(iuently  occur  in  these  sections  of  country. 

The  American  Majjpie  is  a  handsome  and  strikinji-lookinj''  bird,  certain  to  bo 
notictid  by  anyone,  even  if  not  ornitholojiically  inclined.  It  is  extrenudy  ]iert 
in  its  jicneral  bearinj.i'  ami  movements,  both  on  tin-  ^^round  and  in  the  trees,  and 
the  stronji'ly  contrastinji'  colors  of  its  ]>lumaji'e  ai'e  sure  to  draw  attention  to  it  at 
(aice.  On  the  winj;-,  however,  it  siutws  to  loss  advantaj^e;  its  tlii^ht  is  slow  and 
wavering;',  and  in  windy  weather  evidently  laborious.  The  lonji',  weil^ic-shajted 
tail  .seems  then  to  be  decidedly  in  the  way  and  a  positive  disadvantage,  causinj.^ 
it  no  little  troubh^  in  flyiu}^'  from  point  to  point,  and  in  such  weather  it  will  only 
leave  throu}fh  necessity  the  sheltered  bottom  lands  it  usually  fretiuents. 

Althou<ifh  nutre  or  less  cpiarrelsome,  it  is  social  in  disposition  and  likes  to 
be  in  the  com|)any  of  its  kind.  1  have  freipiently  seen  from  twelve  to  thirty 
feedinfj-  to<>ether  near  a  slaujjhterhouse  or  soine  other  locality  where  food  was 
abundant;   but  such  <>atherin}.(s  are  oftener  met  with  in  the  late  fall  and  winter 


.'!.■'.  .i 


^■iij. 


M 


■i  ■  iii 


860 


U\'K  IIISTOUIKS  OK  NORTH  AMKUKJAN  IMUDa. 


than  iluriiifjT  flu-  hciihou  uf  rcproductitin.  Tlicy  iin*  jolly,  iioiHV  Hciini|»s,  iiciirly 
iilwiiVH  cliiittt'riiif;'  (ir  scoidiii;^',  cvfii  when  iiluiio.  When  not  iiiolt'stol  tlicy  sdoii 
ItiHtt  tlifir  usual  sliyiifss,  ami  will  allow  miit  trcM|ueiitly  to  approach  tliciii  within 
a  t'uw  t't't't;  but  iiotwithstaiidiu;;-  this  HciMuiii;;  coiitidt'iico  they  aru  I'onstuiitly  on 
their  ^nnrd  a<raiiiHt  dan^i't-r,  and  1  know  no  hird  more  intcllii^cnt,  and  at  t\\v 
waiiif  time  more  Haiicy,  impudent,  and  tMinniii};'  than  oin".Ma;>'pio.  They  appear 
to  eoiiipreiieiid  tlie  difl'ereueu  butwuen  a  shotf^un  and  ii  Htick  from  tho  day  they 
are  alile  to  tly. 

I  lia\((  had  many  opportunities  to  observe  these  birds  closely,  and  was 
lon^'  ap)  forced  to  the  conclusion  that  their  intellij^cnce  and  reasoning;  powers 
are  astonishing;'.  1  will  oidy  mention  one  Instaiicc*  of  their  sa^fac.ity,  showin<f 
how  several  of  tliesr  birds  seeminj^ly  worked  in  perfect  accoi'd  to  a«H'omplish 
an  object  which  on*;  bird  could  not  have  carried  out  alone.  While  stationed 
at  Fort  Lajtwai,  Idaho,  on  thu  Nez  I'erce  Indian  Reservation,  from  \HI\\)  to  1H7I, 
where  Maf^pies  wiivv  exct'edin;;ly  abundant,  I  posses,sed  a  line  setter  do}"',  my 
constant  companion  on  all  (^xinu'sioiis,  who  assisted  me  in  finding'  man\  rare 
nests,  and  whom  1  re^iularly  fed,  j^ivinif  him,  when  the  more  liipiid  portion 
of  his  meal  was  fmished,  a  well-l)oiled  soup  bone,  with  more  or  less  meat 
attacht'd,  by  way  of  dessert.  1  made  him  carry  this  to  the  lawn  in  front  of 
my  (piarters,  while  I  sat  on  the  (lorcli  watchin<;°  him.  1  soon  noticed  that 
generally  a  miiuite  or  so  after  the  <h)<;  api)earud  with  hiw  Itono  from  four  to 
hIx  Ma;ii)ies  would  inxai'iably  l»e  close  by,  though  not  a  single  one  was  in  sight 
before.  These  l)irds  placed  tluMiiselves  in  diti'erent  positions  around  the  dog, 
plainly  showing  a  preconcerted  arrangenutut,  and  werit  ready  tor  business  at 
once.  One  stationed  itself  directly  in  front  of  tho  dog'H  nos((  and  ab(»ut  2  feet 
awa\',  another  behind,  within  easy  reach  of  the  tail,  and  one  or  two  by  his  side. 
As  soon  as  the  dog  bei-ami^  engaged  in  gnawing  his  bone,  held  in  place  by  his 
forepaws,  tho  bird  stationiMl  in  tho  rear  made  a  vicious  thtsli  at  his  tail  and 
jtecki'd  it  severely;  this  naturally  enraged  "Rock,"  who  (piickly  wheeled  ananid, 
h'ft  the  bone,  and  tried  to  catch  the  otlender,  who  in  the  nu^antime  tlew  .slowly 
and  leisurely  away,  toling  the  dog  after  him  as  far  as  possible  by  fluttering 
almost  within  his  reach,  and  while  this  little  ruso  was  being  enacted  tho 
remaining  i)irds  promjjth'  helpe(l  them.selves.  I  saw  this  performance  .several 
times,  and  soon  noticed  that  the  different  birds  forming  this  foraging  Jtarty  could 
lie  readily  distinguisluMl  by  tho  variation  in  size,  the  length  of  the  tail,  or  some 
injury  to  the  tail  or  wing  feathers,  etc.,  and, this  lecl  to  a  still  more  remarkal)le 
discovery  in  this  coimection.  After  the  dog  returned  to  i-esunie  his  interrupted 
mt'al,  another  bird  took  position  at  tho  (h)g's  tail,  while  the  one  occupying  it 
previously  moved  to  the  best  ])laco,  that  in  front  of  the  dog's  head,  to  enabh* 
it  to  get  its  .share  of  the  spoils.  I  observed  this  maneuver  several  times,  and  it 
did  not  take  the  (h>g  very  long  to  see  through  it  as  well,  so  that  unless  1  forced 
him  to  stay  on  the  lawn  ho  would  at  on(!e  carry  his  bono  under  the  porch,  where 
the  birds  did  not  dare  to  follow  liiiii.  If  this  incident  does  not  .show  an  extraor- 
dinary amount  of  intelligence  ami  reasoning  })ower,  I  do  not  know  what  would. 


>  - 1      ''  'm' 


TIIK  AMKKICAN   MAdl'IK 


aril 


'riicrc  hukiiuhI  to  lie  ii  |ii'rt'cct  iiiiil<Tstiiii<liii;;  tVom  iIk'  start  iilioiit  tlic  Miiidf  nt 
attack  liv  wliirli  llicy  in  rimiidiHlicil  tlicir  |)iir|Mm(',  wliirli  tuiilil  not  lia\«'  liccii 
HUcct'Kstiilly  ilniH!  ill  any  iHlitT  way. 

That  tlii'V  all'  most  skillt'iil  fliicvcs  is  well  kimwii  to  any  oiir  ac(|iiaiiitt'(l 
with  thcstt  hirtls.  How  to  cairy  otV  an  c^'^^'  hiiHcr  than  it  ronlil  nras|i  in  its 
Itill  nii;>lit  pii/./.h*  a  liini  of  anotlicr  spccifs,  lint  not  the  Ma^ipii^  It'  too  hir^** 
to  carry  in  tlic  ordinaiy  way,  it  simply  runs  its  hcak  tliroii;.!'li  tht;  sliell  ami 
can'i(!s  it  otl'  in  this  nianncr.      It'  one  nanumcs  to  timl  tlut  ontrancu  to  a  hxnhoiisc, 


I.OJ.-S  will  always 


ircc  thereafter,     .\siihf  tVoni  its  thievinji'  propensities  it  is 


also  one  of  the  most  inischie\(Mis  liinls  I  know,  ami  enjoys  scarin;;' and  deceivin;^' 
huttor-ltohaved  memhers  of  the  feathered  trilie.  It  will  mimic  the  cry  of  a  Hawk 
as  well  as  that  of  the  .lay,  and  seems  to  ilelijiht  in  cansin;r  the  jtoidtry  to  run  in 
ever)  dii'ection;  it  also  imitates  tluf  cackle  of  a  hen  just  after  she  has  deposited 
an  eji'^i',  causing'  the  roosters  to  search  for  her;  in  fact,  it  <li'li;;hts  in  playinj^' 
tricks  of  all  kinds,  and  se(Miis  to  enjoy  them  thorou^^hly.  An  enumeration  of 
the  various  misdeeds  and  lau;iluiitle  performances  of  a  pet  Ma;.;pie  iiehai^^inj;'  to 


one 


.f  th 


e  ca\ulry  troops  I  served  with  would  t 


fair-sized  hook,  hut  it 


wou 


Id 


lie  out  of  place  here.  S(»ine  of  these  birds  are  far  more  intelli^oiit  than  others. 
Any  luifi'ht,  ;.;litteriii;i'  oltject  is  sure  to  draw  their  att(!iition,  and  is  promptly 
picked  up  and  st'creted,  it  matters  not  how  lar^i'e  it  may  he,  if  it  i.>*  not  too  heavy 
to  carry  or  draji'  away. 


'Hi 


itl 


le  soutiierii  and  eastern  ranj^o  of  the  American  Ma<!;|)io  huH  hccoiiio  some- 
what restricted  within  recent  years,  and  thev  are  no  loii^icr  foiiml  in  certain 
localities  where  thirty  years  a-^o  they  were  reported  as  fairly  common.  It  prefers 
rather  o|ien  country,  shuns  the  heavy  forests  and  strictly  desert  roffloiiH,  and  in 
the  Kocky  .Mountains  has  been  observed  at  liiyh  altitudes.  'I'he  shridibery  and 
ler^rowth   f<iund    aloiij;'  water  courses  and    springs  in   the   foothill    re<iioiis 


um 

and  tile  caiivon^  in  the  lii^-lier  inoiintains  seen 

1. 


to  be  its  favorit(f  habitat. 


Its  (a'dinary  call   note   is  a  (pieruloiis  "cack,  ca( 


or 


"chiieck,  chiieck, 


uttered  ill  a  liij^h  key,  and  is  disa;ireeal)le  to  tli(^  ear,  but  it  freipieiitly  utters  also 
a  low,  {iiirrulous  <;abble,  intermixed  with  wlii.stliii};'  notes,  not  at  all  uiipleasin}>', 
as  if  talkiu}^'  to  itself,  and  if  annoyed  at  anythin<;'  it  does  not  hesitate  to  show  its 
displeasure  by"  scolding-  in  the  most  unmistakable  manner.  The  Majj'pie  spends 
coiisideralile  time  on  the  f^roiiiid  in  search  of  food,  and  while  its  walk  is  some- 
what jerky,  it  is  jiracefui,  and  in  moviii;^'  about  the  haiidsoiiK*  wedy'o-shajied  tail 
is  slightly  elevated  and  constantly  twitched;  occiisioiially,  as  when  in  a  hurry. 


the  on 

tracted,  and  is  oiih-  resorted  to  when  iiecessarv. 


Hilary  walk  is  varied  to  a  stories  of  hops.     Its  flight  is  never  very  pro- 


Tlut  <iifneral  habits  of  the  American  Ma<ipie  vary  somewhat  in  diti'erent 


localities. 


In  some  sections,  a.s  soon  as  tlie  snow  disappears. 


bird 


S  WllU 


hh 


ive 


sjK'iit  the  winter  months  in  the  vicinity  of  farms  and  cattle  or  sheep  ranches 
(niupiestionably  attracted  to  such  places  by  a  more  abundant  food  supply)  leave 
them  and  retire  from  the  immediate  vicinity  of  settlements  to  take  up  their 
housekeeping  duties  in  more   secluded  localities,  while  in  other   places  these 


jW 


352 


LIVE  1II8TOBIKS  OF  NOUTII  AMliltU.'AN  HIIM)H. 


hi-l 


M 


l)irls  iv'iiiiiiu  tlu*  year  aroniul  anil  breed  in  cIomo  j)r(>ximity  to  man.  At  Fort 
Lai  wai,  Idaho,  more  than  thirty  pairs  bred  witliin  a  radius  of  a  mile  of  tlio 
I'ost,  aixl  several  within  a  hundred  yards  of  sonu^  of  tho  houses,  in  pei'foctly 
ex)>o  ed  situations. 

Their  IoikI  duriufi'  the  f;reater  ))art  of  the  year  consists  mainly  of  insects, 
especially  of  the  larj^c  black  cricket  (so  numerous  and  de.structi\'e  in  certain 
seasons  in  tho  West),  {jfrasshoppers,  <>Tubs  and  larvai  of  different  kinds,  angle- 
worms, crawfish,  small  nmn,,nals,  birds,  their  youufj  and  Cfrgs.  carrion  of  all  .-iorts, 
offal  from  slau<ihterhouses,  nid  kitchen  refn.se  geneially.  In  the  summer  and 
fall  fruits  and  berries  also  enter  to  some  extent  into  their  bill  of  fare.  In  the 
winter,  when  fooil  becomes  scarce,  tl'<'y  are  charj;'ed  with  peckinji-  holes  in  the 
backs  of  sore-backed  horses,  freshly  branded  cattle,  and  .scabby  sheep.  While 
this  is  possibly  true  to  a  limited  extent  in  exceptionally  severe  winters,  1  have 
.lever  observed  it,  althonjih  stationed  on  several  Imlian  reservations,  where 
sore-backed  ponies  were  conniion  enoug'h;  but  I  have  seen  them  industriously 
peckinj>-  away  at  green  hides  hung  out  to  dry.  Mr.  .John  Bucher,  of  W.n-ner 
Valley.  <^iegon,  states  that  he  lies  ol)served  ninn'oers  of  Magpies  on  the  backs 
of  caiiie,  in  the  spiing,  eating  gru)>s,  the  larvji;  of  Ift/ftodrniKi  hori.-^,  which  iidest 
the  backs  <if  old  and  thin  animn.s,  icul  lie  is  liicewise  of  the  opinion  the}'  do  not 
contine  their  attention  to  the  grid>  'ilone,  but  i)ick  at  the  living  flesh  as  well. 

Mr.  W.  G.  .Smith,  lately  of  Lovcland,  Colorado,  writes  nu-;  "Among .other 
pet;.  !  kei)t  a.  tam<>  Magpie  and  a  lot  of  guinea  jtig.s.  Several  of  the  latter  died 
from  some  unknown  cause.  l)ne  d;i\  I  caught  tiie  Magpie  in  the  act  of  pecking 
out  till'  eye  of  one;  I  then  exam'ued  the  dead  ones  and  found  that  each  had 
both  eyt.s  picked  out.     A  chargi^  of  shot  soon  settled  the  culj)rit." 

The  American  Magpie  is  undoubtedly  more  or  less  of  a  rowdy  and  scape- 
grace among  its  kind,  but  on  the  whole  1  think  he  is  not  ipiite  as  black  ns  usually 
])ainted,  and  while  it  can  not  Ik;  denied  that  he  dees  some  harm,  I  nnist  insist 
that  he  idso  does  considi'rable  good,  ;ind  tlu;  latter  compensates  perhaps  for  all 
his  misdeeds. 

The  nesting  season  l)egins  early;  in  Colorado,  northeastern  California, 
southern  '  >regon,  and  Idaiio,  sometimes  in  the  first  wt'ek  vt'  April,  and  usually 
1)\  the  middle  of  this  month;  in  Wj'.shiugton  and  Montana,  a  couple  of  weeks 
later,  al)out  the  latter  part  of  Ai)ril  or  the  beginniiig  of  .May,  and  in  the  more 
norihern  j»ortions  of  its  ranjre,  in  the  last  half  of  June  and  l)eginning  of  .Inly. 
In  Alaska  the  se  binb  have  been  founo  ahnost  at  the  Imrders  •>f  the  Arctic  Circle, 
and  on  the  Shumagiu  I.sland.-,  the  Alas'  an  Teninsula,  and  in  the  more  .southern 
portions  of  ihe  territory;  in  the  vicinity  of  Sitka,  they  are  not  uncom.non.  Mr. 
Chase  Litth-iohn  writes  that  he  found  tlu-m  all  along  the  ]>eninsula  .vherever 
the  alder  bushes  were  large  enough  t.>  afford  siiclter  and  where  they  conUl  place 
their  nests  out  of  ivach  of  foxes. 

'i'he  Magpie,  once  mated,  \  believe  remains  .so  through  life.  'I'he  nest  is  a 
l)ulky  and  sometimes  ipiite  an  elalxirate  affair,  and  is  usiially  globular  in  shape 
Out  var.lly  it  is  constructed  of  stlck.s,  some  of  which  are  occasiouallv  2  feet  in 


S.'if* 


TllK  AMKUIOAN  MAdl'IK. 


353 


leiifi'th  iuid  nearly  an  iiicli  In  dianu'tcr,  the  coarser  material  heinji'  nsed  for  the 
base  of  the  nest.  The  iinier  cup,  the  nest  proper,  resenil)les  a  Uohin's  nest  some- 
what, only  lai'fier,  and  like  it  is  plastered  with  a  coatin<^'  of  wet  nniil  reaching' 
well  ii|)  on  the  sides,  but  not  (piite  to  the  rim.  This  coatinj^-  is  can'tully  lined 
with  fine  rootlets,  diy  <jrasses,  inner  )»ark  of  the  cottonwood  tree,  and  hair;  and, 
in  the  vicinity  of  pine  forests,  >\  ith  pine  needles.  The  nest  is  domed  over  with 
sniuUer  sticks,  and  the  sides  ar(^  likewise  protected  by  an  open  latticework  of 
similar  material,  thorny  twin's  l)ein<i-  prefi-rred  if  obtainable.  'I'he  entrance  hole 
j^enerally  opens  from  the  main  body  of  the  tree  or  bush  in  which  the  nest  is 
placed,  the  latter  l)ein<i'  usually  found  in  the  thickest  tan;^le  of  lind)s,  provi<Ied 
they  are  strong  enouf>h  to  support  the  heavy  structure.  On  good-sized  trees  the 
nests  are  ofttMi  placed  well  out  on  a  limb,  where  they  are  not  readily  reacheil. 
iSome  nests  which  1  have  seen  measured  nearly  .">  feet  in  height  b\-  "J.i  feet  in 
width;  others  again  are  miu'h  smaller  and  more  Himsily  l)uilt,  scarcely  half  as 
huge,  and  only  moderately  domed;  occasionally  one  is  found  which  is  almost 
open  at  the  top.  Mr.  15.  ,].  Ih-etherton,  writing  from  Kadiak,  Alaska,  mentions 
a  nest  there,  ]ilaced  in  a  dense  tir  thicket,  about  10  feet  from  the  ground.  It  was 
built  on  three  sa[)lings  which  grew  in  the  shape  of  a  triangle,  the  nest  being  built 
a  'lid  each,  the  center  being  supported  by  the  small  l)ranches.  Al)out  5  inches 
from  the  top  of  the  nest  a  roof  was  built,  open  all  around.  He  adils:  "A 
remarkable  fact  al)out  this  l)ird  is  its  inability  to  keep  dry;  in  the  rainy  wii.ters 
it  may  be  seen  day  after  <lay  hopping  around,  literally  wet  to  the  skin,  and 
looking  as  if  it  had  been  dip])eil  in  a  bucket  of  water."  The  inner  cup  of  the 
nest  MU'asures  about  (I  inciies  in  width  l)y  4  inches  in  depth.  While  on  tlie  nest 
the  tail  of  the  bird  is  usually  hcdd  at  right  angles  to  the  l)ody.  Unless  the  eggs 
are  on  the  point  of  hat<'irmg  it  is  a  dithcidt  matter  *o  approach  close  enough  to 
see  the  bird  on  the  nest,  as  the  female  is  exceedingly  suspicious  and  will  try 
to  sneak  (piietly  away  at  the  slightest  sign  of  danger,  generally  slipping  out  ou 
the  side  opposite  th(^  intruder,  as  there  are  usually  sutKciently  large  openings 
in  the  sides  of  the  nest  to  permit  the  bird  to  scramble  tiu'ough. 

Xot  Infi'e(|ucntly  two  or  three  unoccupied  nests,  l)uilt  proliably  by  tlie  same 
pair  of  binls,  are  found  in  close  proNimit\  to  the  one  in  use;  iiut  the  same  nest 
is  often  made  use  of  for  several  seasons  in  succession.  'I'wo  or  three  pairs  souu'- 
times  nest  close  together,  but  as  a  rule  eaidi  pair  of  birds  have  their  own  little 
canyon  .tr  ravine  i.i  which  the\  may  be  foinid  from  year  to  year.  Tlu.ridiushes, 
either  ('nitin/iis  liridaiin  or  ihnK/lnssI,  conmionlv  ibund  near  spriiig\  jilaces  at  the 
heads  of  can\  (ins  or  smaller  ravines,  as  ui'll  as  in  the  creek  iioltoms  jiroper, 
were  preferred  as  nesting  sites  b\'  thesi    hiids  wherexcr   I   ha\c  oii>er\('d  them. 

\\'illow  thiikets.  scrulil)\   cottonw Is,  jiniijiers,  pines,  alilers,  and  tirs  \    'I'e  also 

used  ill  tlie  order  named.  The  height  of  ne.-<ts  from  the  ground  raiigeil  tr(.i,  4  to 
L*0  feet,  rarely  over  t>r  under  thi-;.  In  Colorado,  howe\er,  according  to  Mr. 
Frederick  M  Dille,  tlu?  Magpie  sometimes  builds  in  lofty  cottonwoods.  from  oO  to 
(ii Meet  from  tlie  l^i  iiid;  and  1  hav  seen  it  state(|  that  occiipieil  ne-.ts  ii;i\e  lieen 
Inimd  OH  the  ground,  tliough  I  liavr  iie\iM   -.eeii  one  so  >ituati'd. 

lliSiHl-.No,  ;i Z't 


1  .'i , 

Ii  V  ' 

1 

U'l^ 

I 

MA 


'■•,\ 


'IV 


1 


■!   1 


354 


LIFK  UlSTOKIKS  OP  XORTH  AMKUIOAN  BIKDS. 


>ilh '■**""' 


i;. 


fUlTHZTBy- 


The  averaf«'o  iminbor  of  ofyps  to  a  sot  tliroii<'liout  the  {greater  part  of  their 
ran»«>  is  seven;  sometiiiies,  however,  eijjht  or  iiino  are  found.  At  Fort  Lapwai, 
Itlalio,  1  found  sets  of  nine  not  at  all  rare,  and  have  twice  taken  sets  of  ten.  An 
tiiiiX  is  deposited  daily;  in('ul)ation  does  not  hej^iu  until  the  elutch  is  nearly  coin- 
];'  'ted,  and  li«-its  from  sixteen  to  eifjhteeii  days.  The  female  attends  to  thisthity 
almost  e.velusively ;  I  rarely  saw  tlie  male  on  the  nest,  but  he  feeds  her,  and  is 
quite  attentive,  heiny  <>enerally  on  the  hiokout  in  the  vicinity  of  the  nest.  The 
youn^"  wluMi  tirst  hatehed  are  uj;ly-lookin<>-  creatures,  nearly  all  head,  and  are 
blind.  They  are  fed  on  worms,  the  soft  \y.irXn  of  insects,  etc.,  and  j^row  rapidly. 
They  are  able  to  leave  the  nest  in  about  three  weeks,  and  soon  learn  to  care  for 
themselves.  Only  a  sinjile  ))rood  is  raised  in  a  season;  if  the  first  set  of  e<>'<;'s 
is  taken,  a  second  and  even  a  third  is  sometimes  laid,  frecpiently  in  the  same 
nest  or  in  another  close  by.  The  second  set  rarely  numbers  more  than  five  or 
six  ejt'fi's. 

These  show  }>reat  variation  in  sliajje,  size,  color,  and  markings,  the  majority 
inclining  to  ovate,  while  others  may  l)e  called  short  ovate,  rounded,  elliptical, 
and  elongate  ovate.  The  prevailing  ground  color  is  a  palt^  or  dirty  gray,  less 
oft'n  a  light  dralj,  and  occasiouidly  a  set  is  found  of  a  decidedly  grecsnisli  tinge; 
l)ut  such  eggs  are  nii-e.  They  are  generally  heavily  blotched  with  ditferent 
shades  of  brown  and  ecru  dral),  these  markings  l)(>ing  often  continent,  almost 
hiding  the  ground  color,  and  are  usually  evenly  distributed  over  the  entire  e'^f^. 
In  some  specimens  the  markings  predominate  it  the  upper  end  of  the  egg,  more 
rarely  on  the  lower  end.  Some  also  show  lavender  shell  markings,  anci  occa- 
sionally a,  specimen  is  fou  \d  in  which  the  markings  are  well  defined,  not  con- 
fluent, and  leaving  the  inte.  vening  ground  color  distinctly  visible.  Tlu;  shells  of 
these  eggs  iire  close  grained,  moderately  strong,  and  show  little  or  no  gloss. 

The  a\craii'e  meiisuremeiit  of  two  hundred  and  one  eggs  in  the  rnited 
States  National  .Museum  collection  is  S'lJii  l)y  •_*'2.86  millimetres,  or  1.28  by 
O.IMI  inches.  'I'lii  largest  egg  of  the  series  measure*  .'57. 1^4  l)yL'(J.42  millimetres, 
or  1.4!)  by  1.04  ini^hes;  the  smallest,  •_'7.U4  l;y  :il.59  millimetres,  or  l.lO  by  0.85 
inches. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  iOvU!;  (I'l.  3,  Fig.  11),  from  a  set  of  ten  eggs.  Hen- 
dire  collection,  taki-n  by  the  writer  lu-ar  Fort  Walhi  Walla,  Wiishington,  on  A])i'il 
10,  lS8-_*.  rejiresents  an  averiige-marked  I'^x^x,  and  No.  'ioST-J  (I'l.  ;5,  Fig.  12),  a 
single  c'^'^,  tnken  by  .Mi-.  l'\  .M.  Dille,  near  DeuNcr,  Cidonido,  represents  one  in 
v.'.iich  tlu' groin\d  color  shows  a  decided  greenish  tint,  whili'  \o.  2(!(!78  (I'l.  .'5, 
l''ig.  l.'i),  from  a  set  of  seven  eggs,  also  taken  by  Jlr.  F.  M.  Dille,  nesn-  I'latteville, 
Coloriido,  on  May  2,  18'J2,  n^presents  a  peculiarly  shaped  and  heavily  marked 
specimeu. 


TIIK  VKLLOW  HILLKD  MAdl'Ili:.  355 

138.  Pica  nuttalli  Aitdubon. 

vi:r,i.()\v-iiii.i,i;i>  MA(irii:. 

/'/(•((  iiHtlnlli  All)ini(»N.  C)riiitli()lo}{iciiI  lii()};rii]»liy,  IV',  IS.'JS,  iM.  V].  :W'2. 

(B  iXi,  V  -';Wa.  1!  L'.s7,'c  ;J4>S,  U  iT*).) 

(iKixiUAi'HTOAL  BANGK:  Middle  Calit'orniii,  west  of"  tbo  Sierra Xevada  .Mountains  only. 

Tlio  brecdiiifi'  ran<>'0  of  t\w.  Ycllow-billcMl  Araji-pie  is  ooextensivo  with  its 
fii'dUTiililiii'al  ilistrihution,  and  it  is  a  ('(tustaut  residt'iit  wlierc  t'oiiiul.  Its  liabitat, 
lidwcxcr,  is  iimcli  more  rcstrictt'il  than  tiiat  of  its  larjicr  rehitixf,  and  it  is  oidv 
fonnd  in  \\w  inidilU)  portions  of  tlio  8tato  of  California,  west  of  tho  SiiTra 
Nevada  .Mountains,  from  Voiitura  County  in  the  south  to  'l\'liania  County  in 
th«;  nortli,  occu|iyino'  al)out  onc-lialf  of  the;  aira  of  tiie  State  only.  Thirty  years 
aj;o  it  was  coninion  in  many  places  in  the  ininiediate  vicinity  of  the  coast  when* 
it  is  hut  rarely  met  with  now.  It  resend)les  the  Ulack-hilled  Magpie  in  ever\' 
particular  ex('e|)tinii-  i"  the  color  of  tlie  l)ill  winch  is  yidh>\v;  this  color  is 
l)rioht(^r  in  the  l)irds  foimd  in  the  southern  portions  tiian  in  those  approac  hin^' 
tile  ran^e  of  tlie  .Vmerican  Majjfpie  in  noi'thenstern  Califoi'uia.  It  also  avera<;es 
a  tritle  smaller  in  size,  and  its  i>-eueral  hal)its  are  similar.  It  '■'  a  constant 
attenthuit  about  the  various  catthi  and  sheep  ranches  found  scattered  throu<>li 
the  interior  of  California,  and  here  it  subsists  mainly  on  the  otl'al,  carrion,  etc., 
found  in  the  vicinitv  of  such  places,  this  bein<^'  in  addition  to  its  usual  diet  of 
grasshoppers,  wttrms,  "rubs,  etc.  Small  colonies  are  sometimes  found  brcH'ilinj;' 
in.  some  secluded  canyon  in  the  neij^hborhood  of  such  ranches,  l)Ut  nntre  often 
each  pair  occu|)y  some  <;idch  itv  ravine  by  themselves.  Their  l/tilky  and  conspic- 
uuus  nests  are  placed  in  oaks  l)y  preference",  next  in  sycamores,  willows,  and 
cottonwoods,  anil  .sometimes  in  very  exposed  situations  where  they  can  be  readily 
noticed  for  rpiite  a  distance;  ;jenerally  however,  they  are  well  hidden,  especially 
when  placed  in  a  thick  l)unch  of  mistletoe.  'I'hex  are  constructed  like  those  of 
the  pri'cedinji'  species,  but  ar(<  nn>re  freipiently  placed  in  larj;e  tri'cs  and  rarely 
in  bushes;  sometimes  tiu'ee  or  four  nests  will  lie  built  in  the  same  tret'  if  it 
be  a  lar<ie  one. 

Their  usual  heijjht  from  the  ^'round  \aries  from.SO  to  60  feet,  and  they  are 
often  placed  on  tlie  extremity  of  a  limh,  where  they  are  hard  to  reach.  Some 
of  the  nests,  besides  tile  usual  lininji'  of  fine  roots,  dry  <irass,  pine  needles,  and 
hair,  contain   iiits  of  dry  cow  dim"-  and  the  tine  inner  l)ark  of  tiie  cottonwood. 

Mr.  Ivollo  II.  Heck,  of  Uerrvessa,  California,  writes  me  that  iic  has  noticed 
the  male  feeding;-  its  mate  while  incul)atino-,  and  that  tlie  lattei'  would  flap  her 
winjis  and  call  liki'  a  vumji'  i)ird,  and  accordiuji'  to  him  their  iir-ual  call  note 
sojkIs  like  "(|Ue,  (|Ue,  ([Ue,"  or  "(pieek,  (|Ueek." 

The  averajre  number  of  cj;';;s  laid  is  alxiut  seven.  Sets  of  eifi'ht  and  nine 
are  more  rarely  found  than  in  the  case  of  the  American  ^lao-jiie.  Tliey  are 
indisting'uishable  from  those  of  that  s|»ecies,  l)ut  avera<>e  a  trille  smailei',  and 
specimens  siiowino-  a  ^ireenish  tiiiuc  in  tlie  ground  color  apjiear  to  me  to  bo 
iiiore  fre(iuentl\'  met  with. 


ft 

■;lLi 


;|,"^ 


ii-t 


1 1 


356 


LIKK  IIISTOKIKS  Ol^  NOUTH  AMKKICAN   BIRDS. 


[■5j  .*■''■■;;,■ 


,!■'•' 


■;  -r-.  +  jj- 


riie  avorufio  iiieasuieim'iit  ut"  sixty-two  e<:fg«  in  tlie  llnitod  States  National 
Miiscuin  collcition  is  'M.')i  by  2'2S)4  inillimotros,  or  aljoiit  1.24  by  O.H!)  inclios. 
'Pile  lari^L'st  c^i;'  of  tlic  scrii's  measures  i54,"21)  by  22.8(i  inillimetres,  or  l.i55  by 
(».!)(>  iiiclics;  the  sniallest,  28.40  by  21.;{4  millimetres,  <.r  1.12  by  (».H4  inches. 

'Pile  ty])ti  speeimeii,  No.  2012")  (IM.  ;{,  Fi<>-.  14),  iialpii  collection,  from  a 
.set  of  seven  eji'ifs,  taken  near  Valley  Sprinji's,  California,  April  1.'5,  18t)2,  repre- 
Hcnts  one  of  the  li<ihter-colorud  types  fuunil  amonjj  the  egj^s  of  this  species. 


139-     Cyanocitta  cristata  (Linn.kus). 

H1.11-;  .lAV. 

ComiH  crimalus  LiNN.ious.  .Systcma  Niituni',  ed.  10,  I,  17."i.S,  10(i. 
Vyiinovitta  cristata  Strickland,  Aniuvls  of  Natunil  History,  XV,  184."),  201. 

(15  4;{4,  0  2;}4,  U  289,  C  340,  U  477.) 

(Jeoouai'IIkai.  iiANGi".:  Kasterii  North  Amprica;  iiortli  in  tlip  Dominion  of  Canada 
to  iil)out  latitudf  ")2^,  and  ciisnally  to  latitude  ."i(P;  west  to  ca-stern  .Vssiniboia,  eastern 
North  and  Sontii  Dakota,  eastern  Nebraska  and  Kansas,  the  east<?rn  lialf  of  the  '  <lian 
Territory,  and  northern  Te.xas;  sontli  tiiionj^h  the  United  States,  excepting  Tlornla,  tlie 
Giilf  Coast,  and  sontheastern  Texas  during  the  breeding  season. 

'Pile  Hliie  .biy,  one  of  our  best-known  birils,  is  a  resident  and  breeds 
thrc mahout  the  ofeatcr  portion  of  its  n'.ifjfe,  but  is  usually  only  a  sinniner 
\isitor  in  the  nortiu'rn  jiarts  of  tlie  United  States  and  southern  Canada,  thoufrli 
even  there  some  are  occasionally  found  in  midwinter  in  suitalile  localities  where 
beechiuits  and  acorns,  on  which  they  })rincipally  sid)sist  at  such  times,  are  abun- 
dant. Few  of  our  native  birds  coiiijiare  in  beauty  of  ])lunia<>e  and  ovneral 
bearinji'  with  the  Blue  -lay,  and  while  one  can  not  hel]i  admirinji'  him  on  account 
of  his  amusiii"-  and  interestino'  traits,  still  even  his  l)est  friends  can  not  say  uuudi 
in  his  favor,  and  tlioujiii  I  have  ne\cr  ( auji'lit  on.^  actually  in  mischief,  so  many 
dose  observi'i-s  have  done  so  that  on.'  can  not  very  welj,  even  if  so  inclined, 
disjirovc  the  ))riiicii)al  charoc  broiioht  aj^ainst  this  hiuid.some  freebooter.  He  is 
accused  of  de.stroyin;,^  many  of  the  eo:<"S  and  yonn<f  of  oiu'  smaller  Itirds,  and 
this  is  so  nniversalh'  admitted  that  there  can  l)i'  no  floiibt  of  its  truth. 


.b 


.Mr.  Henry   Xelirl 
)f  th' 


ill"- 


for  instance,  in   his  charm 


ni"'  w 


ork,  jiives  the    Mine 


IV  one  ot  tile  worst  possilile  re]  iitations,  nased  not  on  mere  iiearsa\'  evidenct 


am 


I  1 


le  IS  W( 


•II    k, 


lown  as  an  e.xceet 


linul 


\'  accurate 


but  on  personal  observations 
ornitholooist.' 

.Mr.  \\.  M.  Kirby  Smith,  of  Sewanee,  'Pennessee,  writes:  "'Plie  IMue  .lay 
is  ver\-  abundant  in  this  ^■icinitv,  and  does  a  oresit  deal  of  harm  by  eatin;^'  the; 
,.oMis  of  .small  V  birds,  particularly  those  of  the  Cliippino'  Sparrow.  I  have  often 
ciiui^ht  them  in  the  act  of  destroyiiio-  their  nests  and  e^'^i's." 

Mr.  .1.  W.  I'restnii,  of  Maxter,  Iowa,  writes  me  on  the  same  subject  as  fol- 


'The.lav  in  t! 


us  reo'ion 


has   I' 


veil 


tabl 


e  nuisance 


lie  smaller 


ll> 


species  of  birds  are  utterly  at  its  mercy  in  nestinii'  time,  and  comparatively  fev 


I  l)it)  Noriliimi^iiliaiiisilii!  V(ij;vl«elt,  in.. 41t:Mil7. 


mut 
inch 
any 

llCll, 

(•  i>* 

iliul 

'lU'C, 

ualc 

■Inv 
tliV 

)i'tCll 

inl- 
lallcr 
,-  few 


TUK  BLUE  JAY. 


357 


succeed  in  reariii'''  a  brood  of  youi)<^-.  It  is  (•oiimion  in  tlio  woixls  to  iicar  Niroos 
hmieiitiug'  for  tlit^r  youii«i'  wliicli  the  Jay  lias  forcibly  carried  away.  Vast  mini- 
bers  of  eggs  are  oaten  and  the  nests  torn  up.  From  the  dour  of  my  lionso  I 
have  seen  a  lili'e  Jay  take  and  d(!\(iur  the  eggs  of  a  Red-eyed  \'ireo  whose  nest 
had  been  sus])ended  from  the  tips  of  a  low  hickory  bough  overhanging  the 
pathway." 

Mr.  Manly  Hardy,  of  Hrewer,  ]\Iaine,  fully  corroborates  the.se  statement.H, 
writing  me  as  follows:  "It  is  a  great  robber  of  birds' ni'sts,  taking  l)oth  eggs 
and  young.  I  also  feel  quite  sure  that  in  some  cases  it  kills  adult  birds.  I  once 
saw  oiuf  i)ass  me  with  what  I  thought  an  unusualK'  large  crop.  I  fired,  killing 
the  bird,  and  found  also  a  slate-coloivd  Junco,  which  iiad  lieen  jjccked  some  liy 
the  Jay,  and  I  believe  was  killed  l)y  him.  This  occurred  in  the  fall,  during  the 
migration  of  the  Junoos.  There  is  little  doid)t  tliat  tliey  destroy  many  nests 
of  eggs  and  young;  all  of  the  small  hirils  sai/  so.  Let  a  Kobin  or  a  Pigeon 
come  among  them  and  you  Icar  no  outcry,  and  a  l'"lick<  r  (tv  any  othei-  \Voo(l- 
pecker  creates  no  distui'liance;  but  let  a  Ulue  Jay,  (irackle,  or  Crow  put  in  an 
appearance,  and  every  bird  in  i-ange  begins  to  call  him  a  thief,  and  I  never 
knew  them  to  slander  their  neighbors.  Just  think  it  over  and  see  how  this 
agrees  with  your  exjierience." 

I  might  add  more  evidence  to  the  same  etiect,  but  consider  it  unnecessary 
and  think  this  cliarge  fully  substantiated.  However,  uot\vithstanding  all  his 
vices,  1  can  not  hel|)  admiring  our  Hlue  Jay.  for  he  has  good  traits  as  well. 
Cunning,  inquisitive,  an  admirable  mimic,  full  of  mischief:  in  some  localities 
extremeh'  shy,  in  others  exactly  the  reverse,  it  is  dithcult  to  paint  him  in  his 
ti'ue  colors.  Not  a  few  writers  call  him  a  bully  and  a  coward,  anil  perhaj)s  he 
deserves  these  names  at  times;  but  instances  are  not  lacking  which  show  that 
he  possesses  courage  in  the  defense  of  his  young,  is  a  devoted  parent,  and  will 
sonu'times  fiercely  attack  man  hims(df  in  protet'ting  iiis  nestlings.  Hut  it  is 
inifortunate  that  he  shows  so  little  considei-atioii  for  the  feelings  of  otiier  birds 
when  he  despoils  them  of  their  yoiuig. 

What  couhl  be  more  conunendable  than  tiie  following  incident.  I'elated  by 
Mr.  Frithof  Kundien,  of  Milwaukei',  Wisconsin.' 

^'L'cdsoii  or  iiistimf!' — 1  made  some  observations  last  sununer  on  the  hal)its 
of  the  nine  Ja\'  (CfiiiiiixiHa  tiistdlii)  which,  if  not  showing  reasoi;,  certainly 
show  a  degree  of  s\'mpath\'  and  kindness  \\<irth\'  of  imitation  b\-  animals  of  a 
higher  order.  Last  August  (1SS7),  on  an  old  farm  in  .b'tVei's<m  ('ounty,  Wis- 
consin, mv  attention  was  attia<'ted  i)\-  the  notes  of  a  Blue  .\:\\,  not  the  ordinary 
cry,  which  could  l)e  heard  at  almost  an\'  time,  as  the\'  are  verv  niunerous  tlici-e, 
l)Ut  a  series  of  regular  calls,  followed  itv  answers  from  a  neighlioring  tree. 
'I'lu're  was  sometiiing  so  peculiarly  suggestixc  of  a  connmniication  of  thought 
about  the  sound  that  I  went  to  the  place,  and  saw  an  old  iilue  Ja\-  pcrche(l  «ai 
a  feiU'c,  some  distaiu-e  from  a  tree  where  there  were  severid  othei's. 

"On  mv  nearing  the  bird  the  calls  tVom  the  tree  Ix'cMme  more  frcipient  and 
loud,  changing  from  a  low,  pleasant.  connnunicati\e  ton,  to  a  shrill  alarm,  which 
became  more  fretjuent  and  intense  as  I  approached.     Thinking  tliat  lu'  nuist  be 


m 


'!*!'  "sFif 


.i-1 


,  I  '■ 


358 


LIFE  HISTOUIKS  OK  NOKTII  AMKKIOAN  BIRDS. 


■'  !-''H:>. 


i'.5/*]i' 


:J  :;-s 


■  *^'i  .■* 


iiijuiTil  in  some  way  1  went  cnutionsly  up  to  liini,  when  1  found  tliat  he  was  at 
least  i)artialh'  blind.  The  eyes  were  Itlurred  and  dini,  and  the  lids  neaily  dosed. 
1  had  little  ditHculty  in  eatehinj;'  him,  and  found  him  to  l)e  an  old  and  heljile.ss 
creature,  with  scareely  a  vestif^e  of  his  former  beaut}'.  The  beautiful  bliu^ 
feathers  wi-re  nmcii  faded;  in  fact,  the  general  appearance  of  the  bird  was  so 
(liferent  as  to  i»e  apparent  at  a  };lance:  the  claws  were  very  nnu-h  worn,  the 
hill  dulled,  and  the  juMinaries  and  tail  feathers  ra^ij^cd.  Kvery  feature  sujij^ested 
old  a<^'e  and  feebleness.  Yet  he  was  cared  for  and  watched  as  tenderly  as  was 
ever  a  youn<>'  bird  in  the  nest.  No  sooner  had  1  eaujiiit  him  than  there  were  at 
least  a  dozen  Javs  (dose  at  hand,  whose  sym|)atliy  and  interest  were  manifested 
as  plainly  as  could  be  without  words.  After  a  thorough  examination  1  liberated 
him,  when  he  flew  in  the  direction  of  the  sound  of  the  others,  but  did  not  succeed 
in  alii>'liting-  amonp'  the  smaller  branches  of  the  tree,  and  finally  settled  on  a  larfje 
limb  near  the  ground.  I  saw  him  every  day  after  that  (from  August  1 0  to  .Vugust 
1 7),  and  never  did  his  companions  desert  him,  some  one  of  them  bi'ing  always 
near  and  warning  him  of  apjiroaching  danger,  whereujum  he  would  fly  in  the 
direction  indicatecl  i)y  the  sound  of  their  voice's.  They  guided  him  regularly  to 
a  spring  near  by,  where  I  saw  him  l)athe  daily,  always,  however,  with  some  of 
his  companions  close  b\'.  Thev  not  onlv  watched  and  guided  him,  but  tlie\- 
fed  him.  I  had  noticed,  sonu'  da\s  ])i'eviouslv,  some  .la\s  carrving  food,  an<l 
thought  it  strange  at  that  season,  as  there  were  no  young  then  to  feed,  biU  foinid 
afterwards,  to  my  surprise  and  pleasure,  that  tlu'  ])oor  (dd  blind  l)ird  was  being 
fi'd  by  those  whom  he  could  no  longer  se(!. 

"About  a  week  after  first  noticing  this  bird  I  was  compelleii,  on  account  lA' 
sickness  in  the  faun'ly.to  relin(|uish  my  oi)ser\atioiis.  Tlierc  is  no  donbt  what- 
ever that  the  bii'd  was  an  (dd  one.  The  young  of  the  year  arc  easily  recognized, 
not  alone  by  their  plumage,  but  by  their  peculiar  teasing,  whining  notes,  unmis- 
takable to  anyone  familiar  with  the  species."'' 

The  notes  uttered  b\-  th(^  Blue  .lay  are  (piite  \arieil.  'i"he  (irdinarx  call 
note  sounds  like  "djiih.  djiUi,"  and  again  like  "kiih,  kiih."  or  "|icednnckie,  pee- 
diuickle."  or  "caltle,  cal)l('.  caltle."  I  lupc  also  occasionally  heard  tiiein  utter  a 
shrill  cry  reseud)iing  that  of  the  peaco(dv.  like  "pifdi,  pinli."  or  "tinii.  tifdi."  \aried 
now  and  then  lo  a  loud  "pa-iiii.  ]ia-lia."  Occasionally,  according  to  Mr.  I'restoii, 
it  iiriMluces  one  like  "sid-lit,  sid-lit,"  eh'vatii.a'  and  loweriu"'  the  \n)(\\  in  unison 
with  this  peculiar  musical  etfort.  According  to  Dr.  I*,  li.  Hatch,  in  the  "Minis 
of  Minnesota"  (p.  'Jli"-*),  "it  utters  notes  somewhat  like  'liilK -liilh-hilh,'  or 
'p'wilhilly-p'wilhilly,"  followe(|  in  a  miinite  afterwards  b\- 'liw cen-liweeo-liweeo,' 
or  'cliillac-cliillac-'diillac,'  after  wlii(di  comes  a  soft,  sweet,  metallic  note,  tilled 
with  a  sad  ])athos." 

While  ordimii'ily  a  noisy  bird,  the  careful  listenei'  may  occasionalh  be 
treated  to  (piite  a  pleasing  etfort  at  singing  or  warbling.  Its  remarkable  powers 
of  numicry  have  otten  been  couunented  on,  and  it  is  astoni.shing  how  accuratelv 
the  Blue  Jay  is  able  to  imitate  the  various  calls,  alarm  notes,  and  cries  of  dis- 


1  riir  Auk,  Vol.  V.  isss,  pp.  i;u,  infi. 


THE  BLIIK  JAY. 


3r)9 


tress  of  otlior  birds,  and  of"  many  inaiHiiials  as  well.  These  will  roadilv  de(<;i\o 
anyone,  and  tlio  Hhu?  day  seems  to  deliji'lit  in  playin;;'  tricks  on  its  nnsnspcct- 
inj^'  neiji'ldxirs  in  tliis  manner,  apjjarently  out  of  pure  miscliicf  'I'liey  are  t  pe- 
eially  fond  of  teasinji'  Owls,  and  occasionally  Hawks  also,  but  sometimes  I'irli 
disastrous  residts  to  tlienisolves.  Wiiile  in  tlie  woods  they  are  comparatively 
safe;  but  if  one  ventures  into  tlie  open,  and  the  Hawk  shouhl  <i'et  tireil  of  its 
tormentor  and  turn  on  him,  thc^  conscipiences  are  usually  serious  for  the  lilne 
day.  His  ili^'ht  is  lal)nrious  and  accomplished  oidy  with  a  jiood  deal  of  fiap- 
pinji'  of  tli(^  winji's.  lie  is  no  match  for  our  smaller  Hawks;  and  e\i'n  a  Kiiijj;- 
bird  never  fails  to  attack  a  Mhic  .la\  most  ^•i;.^•orously,  should  it  chance  to  catt-h 
one  while  flying  from  one  wood  to  aiioth'-r  or  I'ome  anywhei'c  in  the  vicinit\  of 
its  nestinj;-  site.  The  Blue  ,Fay  knows  this,  and  stays  therefore  as  much  as  pos- 
sible in  the  tindxu-,  TImy  are  usually  found  al)out  the  edges  of  clearings,  and 
not  infre(piently  nest  in  (dose  proximity  to  houses,  where,  if  not  UKdested,  tll(^^■ 
become  very  tame  and  are  soon  perfectly  at  home. 

Their  food  consists  of  all  sorts  of  animal  matter,  otfal,  insects,  grassho])per8, 
grubs,  worms,  mice,  etc.,  and,  when  })rocural)le,  the  eggs  and  young  of  smalljr 
birds,  varied  with  acorns,  beechnuts,  chestnuts,  coi-n,  and  fruits  of  dilfereut 
kinds.  'I'hey  are  not  at  all  particular  when  hungry,  but  will  eat  almost  any 
thing,  and  have  been  seen  picking  up  raw  potato  peelings,  old  dried-up  ajiplcs, 
etc.  Where  th{^y  are  resideut  they  lay  up  (piite  a  store  of  acorns,  corn,  and  nu  s 
in  various  places  for  winter  use,  l)ut  where  they  are  only  sunmier  visitors  thev 
do  not  resort  to  this  |)ractice.  In  the  fall  tli<\'  congregate  in  large  flocks  pre- 
paratory to  their  migrations.  'riie\'  nsuallv  leave  their  summer  homes  in  the 
latter  part  of  Septend)er,  returning  again  late  in  .\pril  or  early  in  May. 

Ml'.  W.  W.  Cooker  states:  "The  Nueces  ( 'anyon,  in  soiuhwestern  Texas,  is 
said  to  be  the  winter  home  of  countless  myriads.  In  that  ciis(^  they  must  migrati' 
to  the  northeast,  for  ail  ol)servers  agree  that  in  northwestern  Texas  the\'  are 
rather  a  rare  l»ird."' 

Throughout  the  greater  part  of  the  year  the  Blue  .biy  is  a  more  or  less 
restless,  noisy,  and  ro\ing  bird,  moving  in  little  companies  from  one  wood  to 
another;  during  the  nesting  season  ii  liecomes  more  (piiet  and  retiring,  and  is 
less  often  seen  or  heard.  It  prefers  mixed  woods  to  live  in,  especially  oak  and 
beech  woods,  l)ut  for  nesting  sites  dense  coniferous  thickets  are  generidly  ])re- 
ferred;  oaks,  elms,  hii'koi-ies,  and  various  fruit  trees,  thorn  hushes,  ami  shrubbery 
overrun  with  \ines  ai'e  also  used,  the  nests  being  |  laced  in  various  situations, 
sometimes  in  a  crotch  or  close  to  the  main  trunk,  or  on  the  extremity  of  a  hori- 
zontal lind),  among  the  outer  branches.  They  are  placed  at  distances  from  the 
ground  varying  from  ;">  to  aO  feet,  Imt  usually  below  "id  fei-t.  In  the  more 
southern  parts  of  their  range  nest  Imilding  begins  in  tin  latter  jiart  of  March, 
and  full  sets  of  eggs  m;iy  l)e  looked  for  by  Api'il  1.").  In  our  Middle  States  it 
nests  a  couple  (.!'  week;;  later,  and  ir.  the  noitliern  portions  fre<|Uently  not  l)etore 
.lune.  I  believe  hut  one  Ijrood  is  usually  reared  in  a  season,  but  in  liie  South 
thev  ma\'  occasionallv  raise  two. 

'  llinl  .\Ii},'i;itii>n  in  tlu^  NUssis.sipiii  \  .ill.  v.  Hull. ■tin  II.  I'.  S.  |)c|iai'tiiiPiit  .f  \};ri(M,ltni-i>.  IXKS,  |i.  1.".". 


iH 


n  I 


'.(  .*' 


■  ■  -  '#j'^n 


3G0  I'IKK  llI8T(>UIKa  OF  NOIiTII  A.MKI.'irAN  lillfDS. 

The  lU'sts  iiro  f^ciu'rally  woll  liiddoii,  and  an^  rather  l)ulky  l>iit  coinpactly 
built  strucfunis,  avi-rafiiii^i'  fniiii  7  to  8  iiu-hcs  in  outer  dianieter  hv  4  to  4.J 
inches  in  deiith;  tlie  inner  cii))  measures  al)out  .'5A  to  4  inches  in  diameter  l)y 
"M  inches  in  (U']tth.  Outwardly  they  are  composed  of  small  twif>rt  (thorny  ones 
l>ein<4'  liret'erred),  hark,  moss,  lichens,  jiaper,  ra;is,  strings,  wool,  leaves,  anil  dry 

corporated  and  sometinu's  cemented 


j-rasses, 


the  various  materials  \h-\ 


n<>-  wel 


m 


too'other  with  nnul,  hut  not  always;  the  lininj;-  is 


usually  com])ose( 


1  ex(d 


usive 


»y 


of  tine  rootlets.     Occiasionally  the  Hlue  Jay  will  take  the  nest  of  another  species 


1»V  f 


orce, 


l)uilt 


Mr.  W.  Iv  Loiicks,  of  I'eorin,  Illinois,  wi'ite: 

1 


V  nest  of  a  nair  of  Hohins, 


ni  an  elm  tree,  was  stolen  and  appropriated   l)v  a  pai 


1 
.f  tl 


lese  lards. 


It 


was  fitted  up  to  suit  their  needs,  and  egf^s  were  deposited  in  it  before  the  eyes  of 
the  an<>ry  Kobins." 

.ludfie  .T.  N.  (^lark,  of  Old  Saybrook,  Connecticut,  found  a  nest  of  the  lilue 
day,  in  the  sprinj^'  of  \Hx:\,  in  a  ratlusr  curious  place.  It  was  built  amonj;-  the 
roots  of  a  lar^-e  tree  that  had  l)een  prostrateil  by  the  wind,  tiu'nin<;'  up  a  larf;e 
mass  of  roots,  with  the  adlu'ring  soil.  Near  tlm  top  of  this  mass,  some  H  teet 
from  the  <>round,  under  the  liorder  of  the  turf,  Avhich  had  curved  over,  making 
a  screen,  the  nest,  with  its  liv( 

The  nundier  of  e<>'<is  to  a  set  varies  from  throe  to  six;  sets  of  four  or  five  are 
most  often  found,  and  an  (•"i''  is  ( 


was  neatly  hidden  from  view. 


iliich  lasts  from  lifteen  t 


le|»osited  daily.     IJoth  sexes  assist  in  incubati< 


»n, 


o  sixteen  (lavs, 


he  \iiiini;-  "TOW  rather  slow 


anil 


are  fed  on  insect.-^,  worms,  and  animal  food.  'I'hev  often  lea\e  the  nest  before 
they  arc?  i'lUly  feathered,  and  when  scarcely  abli"  to  fly.  At  this  time  they  fre- 
(|uently  betray  their  presence  by  their  inces.sant  clamor  for  fond,  iie\-er  aiipearing 


to  yet  enniiiih  to  satisf\-  their  el 


lo 


111 


(MIS  appetiti : 


Tl 


le  itareiits  are  i-xceei 


devoted  to  them,  anil  are  close  sitters. 


iistaiices  lia\e  oeeii   reconlei 


1  wl 


liiiji'ly 
lere  a 


female  Hlue  ,\n\  allowed  her  head  and  back  to  lie  stroked  while  sittiii"-  on  her 


Tl 


le  en-j-s  ( 


if  the  liliie  da\'  var\-  "reatlv  in  their  "round  col 


or. 


Ill  some 


this  is  olive  <>Teen,  olive  butf,  and  pea  green;  in  others  it  is  plain  butf  color,  or 
again  cream  and  N'inaceoiis  biiti".  'Phis  is  irregularlv  spotted  and  iilotched  with 
ditfereiit  shades  of  browns  and  lavender,  the  markings  being  generally  heaviest 
about  the  larger  end.     A  peculiar  set  of  three  eggs  in  the  Uniti-d  States  National 


M 


iisciiin  collcctiiin  has  a  pale 


bliiisl 


i-t;reen  "roiiii' 


I  col 


or,  w 


ith  oiilv  a  few  rather 


large  blotches  of  slate  and  la\eiiiler  about  tiie  laii;cr  end,  and  one  of  these 


is  almost  iinsjxitteil 


IS    SIllIK 


,tli,  cl. 


use  grained,  rather  stroii;.;',  iind  occa- 


sioi 


lally  sligiitly  glossy.     The  (•iXiSf^ 


are  usua 


V  ovate  in  sha] 


r 


average  measurenieiit  of  one  hiuidred  and  thirty-live  e^ 
llectioii  is  -J.S.O-i   bv  •J(».44    milliiiietn 


th 


iled 


States  National  Miiseuiii  co 

1)\'  O.Sl    inches.      The  largest  r'^'^  of  the  series  measures 


r  about  1.10 
,'i0.4S   bv  --'l.')!!  milli- 


metres, or  l.^tt  by  ().S5  inches; 
bv  ().7y  inch. 


tl 


le  smalles 


t,  -iS.!')  bv  -'((.OT  milliiiietnis,  or  O.'.tl) 


I  Oriiithi)loi,'i«t  ami  OologUt,  Vol.  S,  ISSf,  1).  78. 


TIIK  IMAK  JAY. 


361 


.,  r 


Tim  typo  wpociinun,  No,  2<>.'J7"i  (I'l.  5,  Kig.  f)),  Bendirc  collection,  troiii  a 
set  ol'  tlirct!  t'^fix,  tiikcn  .Timo  11,  l.S7(),  near  MiiHCittine,  Iowa,  antl  No.  2")SS;5 
(I'l.  r>,  Fiy.  (!),  lialpli  colli'ction,  from  a  set  of  Hve  ejij^s,  taken  liy  \h:  William 
L.  Halpli,  near  Floyd,  Oneiila  County,  New  York,  represent  the  two  jirevailinf"' 
t\pes  of  coloration  of  the  e<;f"'s  of  this  spe(nes. 

140.     Cyanocitta  cristata  florincola  (Joiiks. 

n.OIMDA   IMAi:  JAY. 

Clianofiitlii  rristdtii  tloriiirolit  ('ocKS,  Koy,  ed.  L',  l.S,S4,  4'_M. 

(li —,('—,  |{ —,("—,  r  »77((.) 

Gkoobai'iik'AI.  iiANtfK:  Florida  and  tlieUulf  coast  to  Boutheusturn  Texiis;  ('asually 
to  sontliwosteru  Te.xas  (Bexar  County). 

The  Floridfi,  Mine  .lay  i.-«  a  sli<i'htly  smaller  bird  than  its  northern  relative 
and  is  a  connuon  resident  in  certain  localities,  l)reedin<i-  thronj;hont  its  ran<ic. 
It  is  .somewhat  duller  in  plumage  than  the  latter,  the  white  on  tln^  tips  of  the 
secondaries  and  tail  feathers  l)ein}"'  more  restricted.  It  has  Iteen  taken  in  south- 
ern Louisiana,  and  the  latt^  Mr.  Charles  W.  Heckliam  found  it  at  Leon  Sprin>is, 
some  20  miles  northwest  of  San  Antonio,  in  March,  1H87,  this  heinji'  the  na)st 
westerly  record  for  this  subspecies.  It  is  evidently  rar(!  in  that  vicinity,  as  Mr. 
II.  1'.  Attwater  does  not  jiive  it  in  his  list  of  birds  observed  in  the  vicinity  of 
San  .\ntonio,  Texas. 

It  is  quite  couunon  in  manv  ])art^'  of  Florida,  and  l)r.  William  L.  Walph 
has  taken  several  nests  and  eg'^^'s  in  the  nei<>'hborliood  of  San  -Mateo,  Florida. 
Ui'  tells  me  that  its  <>'en('ral  habits  are  similar  to  thos(f  of  the  IJlue  Jay,  and 
one  of  its  favorite  foods  here  is  the  seed  of  the  cabbajie  ])almetto.  Where 
not  unich  nudested  it  becomes  even  tamer  and  more  familiar  than  its  north- 
ern relative,  and  breeds  like  it  in  the  vicinity  of  houses,  ainon<>-  the  oranj^-e 
}>To\('s.  Two  nests  found  by  Dr.  Kalph  were  placed  in  low,  flat  ])ine  woods, 
2.")  and  .'id  feet,  respectively,  from  tlie  jrround;  these  were  com|Hised  of  twijis, 
Spanish  moss,  pin(!  needles,  and  ])ieces  of  .loth,  and  lineil  witli  i'uw,  roots.  In 
some  of  the  nests  the  materials  wei'e  cemented  together  Mith  nnid.  A  third 
nest  was  place<l  in  an  oran<;e  tree  .standinj;'  within  a  few  feet  of  a  house,  near 
the  banks  of  the  St.  .lolm's  Hiver,  about  20  fee"  •V'>>(  the  {ground;  it  ^\as  com- 
])osed  of  twigs,  catkins,  i»lant  fibers,  weeds,  grasses,  pieces  of  string,  and  a 
little  Spanish  moss,  and  tliijse  materials  were  cemented  together  with  nmd;  tlie 
lining  consisted  >'ntirely  of  wire  grass  (^Arifititl(i).  Anothei'  nes,  was  jdaced 
among  souu'  small  Itranches  at  the  end  of  a  lind)  of  an  orange  tree,  about  1 1  feet 
from  the  ground,  and  was  composed  of  similar  materials  outwardly,  but  no  mud 
was  used  in  its  construction,  and  it  was  thickly  lined  with  fine  rootlets  of  the 
orange  tree. 

The  average  measurement  of  two  nests  is  about  8  inches  in  outside  <lian!eter 
by  4  inches  in  depth,  the  inner  cup  measuring  about  4  inches  in  dianu'ter  by  2^ 
iuches  in  depth. 


^^,1 


'\ 


'^ 


lip' 


^.V:>: 


:.•   >l:'i'^ 


3«i2 


lAVK  IIIHTOHIKS  OF  NOKTIl   AMKIilCAN   lilUhS. 


In  the  vicinity  •>{'  Sun  Mated,  Floridn,  tlic  uiiiy  pniiit  t'roiii  wliicli  I  Iiiivo 
any  l)n'C(liii;^-  rcronls,  niditicatiitn  iicnin.s  snnM'timcs  in  tlic  second  week  of  A|)ril 
and  lasts  tln-on^li  tiiis  inontli.  'I'lie  earliest  date  on  wliicli  Dr.  Ualpii  tool<  a  set 
of  ('j;m>s  was  April  17;  incui»ati(»n  was  tlien  advanced  al>ont  one-third;  tlie  latest, 
May  4,  incni»atioii  ix-in;;-  advanced  oiie-t'onrtli.  I'rohaliK-  two  ia-oods  are  raised 
liere  in  a  season.  'I'lii^  •'^'^'^  "'  ''•''*  sulis|)ecies  are  indistin;iiiislial>l((  from  tlioso 
(»t'  tlfe  former,  and  tlio  same  description  will  answer  e(pially  well  for  hotli. 

TIm!  averaji'e  measin-t'Tnent  of  sixteen  ejif;s  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  -21  .X',\  Ity  'JO.d.'S  millimetres,  or  almut  1. 1(1  liv  0.81  inches. 
The  larji'est  ej,'-ji-  measin-es  'JlLiM  by  •_'(».;}•_'  millimetres,  or  1.1'>  liy  O.SO  inches; 
the  smallest,  •_>."».  10  hy  ■JO.s;)  millimetres,  ov  1   i)y  (t.SL'  inches. 

The  tyjie  specimens,  Nos.  •_'-H)l»()  and  •_',').">!);{  (i'l.  .">,  FIns.  7  niid  S),  from  sets 
of  three  and  t'onr  e>>'^s,  IJalph  collection,  were  taken  liy  Dr.  William  L.  U'alph, 
near  San  .Mateo,  Florida,  the  (irst  on  April  ,'{(),  IH!)1,  tlu^  last  on  May  1,  iSlfJ, 
and  repi'csent  avura<fe-coIored  e|if;'s  of  this  subspecies. 


141.     Cyanocitta  stelleri  ((iMi:i,iN). 

.srKLLKK'S    ,I.\V. 

Cornm  ulrllrri  (rMKLIN,  Systcniii  Niitura',  [,  17SS,  ;{70. 

VyanodtUi  Khlleri  SrUH'KLANn,  Annals  of  Natural  llisloiy.  XV,  l.si."),  i>(il. 

(B  4,(5,  V,  1.';!.5,  K  L",((»,  C  ;!.")(>,  I'   ITS.) 

(iKOfiRAPiiif'Ar.  BANCiK:  Nortliwcstcrn  Nortli  .\iiiciica;  Ironi  norllicrn  Oalit'ornia 
niirtli  to  .southcia  .Maska:  cast  to  the  (Jascadc  .Moinitainsot'  Orcntai.  N\'asliin;;lon,  and  in 
western  Uritisli  Culunibia,  on  both  slopes. 

Steller's  Jay,  also  known  locally  as  the  "^lonntain"  or  "Pine". fay,  is  a 
well-known  inend)erof  the  fauna  of  the  northwest  coast,  and  is  sure  to  Ito  heard 
from  wherever  found.  Like  its  relative,  the  connnon  Hlue  .lay,  it.  is  an  inces- 
sant scold,  never  at  rest,  fully  as  iiuiuisitivc.  pryino-  into  the  domestic  atl'airs 
of  other  birds,  and,  I  think,  e(|ually  destructive.  It  is  usually  a  constant  I'csi- 
dent  iuid  breeds  wherever  found.  It  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  canyons  and  pine- 
dad  slopes  of  the  hij^her  mountains,  and  is  not  as  often  seen  in  the  deep  forests 
as  on  their  outskirts  near  water  c(an'ses.  Although  rarely  molested  thronohout 
its  rauji'e,  when;  collectors  ai'c  few,  it  is  exceedin}il\'  sh\  and  more  dilHcult  to 
ap]»roach  within  shotoun  ranj;e  than  is  the  l>lue  .lay.  I  found  this  species  (piite 
connnon  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Klamath,  in  sontliwcstern  Oreij-on,  and  I  had 
aljunilant  opportunities  to  observe  it  closely.  This  locality  forms  nearly  the 
southern  limit  of  its  ran^^e,  and  specimens  intermediate  Ixstween  the  Mhu'-fronted 
and  the  Hlack-hi-aded  .Jays  are  occasionally  foimd  there,  but  tla^  majority  of  the 
birds  are  I'cferable  to  this  sjjecies.  During'  the  winti-r  months,  especially  when 
heavy  snows  covereil  the  j^jround,  small  parties  of  these  .lays  now  and  then  paid 
visits  to  the  back  yard  of  my  (piartei's  in  search  of  kitclien  refuse,  and  most 
of  the  specimens  obtained  by  me  wen-  killed  or  caught  in  steel  traps  while  so 


■"^r-;-' 


STKI.LKK'H  JAY. 


lUVA 


m 


ciifi'ii^icil.  To  luiiit  tlu'i  I  sni'cusst'iil'y  in  tlio  <)|m'Ii  lakes  Imtli  time  iiml  iiiitifiii'c. 
Should  Villi  sec  one  Hyiii},'  into  tlw*  lower  parts  of  ii  l>iisliy  lir  or  s|iriicc  ami  tliiiik 
yoii  had  your  specimen  located,  Itet'ore  you  could  ;i-et  within  shootinji  distance 
you  ini^'ht  now  and  then  catch  a  ^linipse  of  him  ho|i|iin;>'  up  from  limit  to  limli, 
always  keeitinji'  close  to  the  trunk  an<l  nioviny;  u])  spirally,  and  liy  tlio  timo  yon 


were  close  ononiih    von  woi 


nhl  fail  to  tind  the  bird  where  you  expected,  l»ut 
perhaps  hear  his  harsh  note  of  warning;'  or  derision  from  some  other  tree  ahead. 


.Ile.'t 


or  ni  man\'  wa\'s. 


They  seem  to  deli;;hl  in  teasin;^-  the  would-l>e  ci 

Like  the  Mine  ,lay,  they  are  expei't  mimics,  and    I    have  lieeii  deceived   by 
casion;   they  can  imitate  to  perfection  the  notes  of  all 


tl 


lem  on  more  than  one  o( 


the  Itaptores  found  within  their  ranj.>x'  and  si-em  to  take  pleasure  in  doinj;'  so, 
probably  to  impose  on  the  numerous  sninll  birds  in  their  vicinity.  Tlicy  are 
omnivorous,  and  while  ])in(*  seeds  undonbte(lly  form  a  considerable  part  of  their 


daih'   l>ill   of  fare  dur 


mi. 


th 


i(!   wmter  months,   scarceh'  anxthm"'  e(hlil(^  comes 


th 


ibl< 


amiss.     1  havt*  sc^en  them,  after  eatin;;'  their  fill  of  kitchen  ret'use,  carry  oil'  larj^c 
s  of  meat,  bread,  etc.,  hide  them  somewhere  near,  and  come  Itack  at  once 


pieces 

foi-  more,  keepin;^-  up  their  visits  until  nothiiifi-  remaine(l.  Tiieir  strong'  feet  are 
used  in  j;raspini;'  and  hoiilin;^'  the  food,  which  is  torn  olf  in  pieces  suitable  for 
swallowinji'.  On  these  foraf^inff  expeditions  they  are  silent  and  constantly  on  the 
lookout  for  dan;i'er. 

Their  ordinary  call  iKttes  are  harsh  and  discordant,  some  resemidinji'  certain 
of  those  of  the  .Ma'.pie,  and  otliers  the  (piernlous  notes  of  the  b'eil-breasted 
Sapsucker,  which   tii.  y  art!  especially   fond  of  mimickinji-.      A  note  frei|iiently 


iieard  while  tK'iiij''  from  one  tr«'e  to  another 


soiinil 


lil 


ke  "(ifierk,  (p'lerk,    some- 


tiim^s  rapidh' repeateil;  another,  while  at  rest  in  some  iinshx-  thicket,  resembles  a 
shrill  whistle,  like  "twee-ish,  twee-ish."  In  the  early  sjiriiif;'  I  have  occasionally 
heard  one  of  tlujse  birds  make  a  very  fair  attenii)t  at  sinjiinji',  utterin;>'  a  series 
of  low,  nmsical,  warlilin;;'  notes,  intermixed  sometinu's  with  a  shrill  whistle. 
They  are  not  as  social  as  manv  other  species  of  this  famih',  and  it  is  rare  to  see 
more  than  a  dozen  tof^'ether  at  any  time,  this  occiirrinji'  ""ly  '"  winter,  when  two 


or 


three  familii's  may  join  toi^cther  in  a  forajiin;;'  expedition 

In  the  southern  |iarts  of  their  ranj^e  nest  biiildiuji'  bejiins  late  in 


Mi 


early  in  April,  anil  correspoiidiiiffly  later  ntirthward.     At  Firt  Klamath  I  noticed 
them  <;'atherin^  nestini;'  i  i 


terials  durinii' the  iirst  week  in  .\'ii' 


il,  an 


d  all  the  nests 


I  found  there  (five  in  nnmiter)  were  placed  at  the  extremili  ■.-<  of  lar^^e  horizontal 
limio  of  the   hijiliest  pine  trees,  near  water,  {generally  from  40  to  ad  feet  from 


tl 


lotiTouni 


I,  and 


in  positions  practically  inaccessible, 


'he  birds  seemed  to  realizi 


this,  and  were  not  at  all  particular  aiiout  hiilin<i'  their  nests,  as  the  majority  could 
l)e  easily  seen  from  below.  Usually  they  prefer  bushy  lir  trees,  which  appear 
to  be  their  favorite  ne.stin}>'  sites  throufihout  the  j^reater  ])art  of  their  ranjic;  now 
and  then  a  vine,  a  maple,  or  a,  hawthorn  bush  is  stdected. 


Mr.  A.  W.  iVnthon\'  writes  m 


'Htelk 


ers  .lav  is  comi 


ion  aliniit  Heaverton, 


( )re<ion.     A   nearly  tiiiL-hed  nest  was  disco\-ereil  on   March  ;{1,  in  a  lit   sapliiij;', 
about  10  feet  from  the  yround.     The  first  egy  was  dejiosited  on  A[)ril  10,  and 


/;4l 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


1.0     Ifi^  IIIM 

^^^^=         ISO     M32       iilll  n  n 


I.I 


1.25 


Uttl 


22 

I4£    mil  2.0 


11.8 


i:4_    1111.6 


V 


<s^ 


/2 


/ 


"^ 


»*' 


7 


'/ 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  873-4503 


^ 


364 


LIFE  H18TOBIE8  OF  NORTH  AMKKUJAN  UIKI)8. 


one  on  each  consecutive  day  initil  the  14tli,  when  the  set  of  four  was  taken. 
Tl>e  nests  I  liave  seen  were  placed  close  tt)  the  trunks  of  small  firs,  usually  in 
very  dense  se(;ond-growth  thickets,  not  over  25  feet  from  the  ground." 

Mud  forms  an  important  item  in  all  the  nests  I  have  examined.  They  vary 
from  ")  to  (50  feet  in  height  from  the  ground.  A  nest  of  this  species  now  bef(»re 
me  was  saddled  on  a  small  liuih  of  a  leaning  fir,  10  feet  from  the  gromid  and  30 
feet  froHi  the  bottom  of  a  bank.  Outwardlj'  it  is  composed  of  small  twigs,  moss, 
and  dry  grass,  the  whole  well  cemented  with  mud  up  to  the  rim  of  the  nest; 
it  is  lined  with  a  thick  layer  of  fine  roots;  outer  diameter,  !)  inches  by  6  inches 
deep;  the  iimer  cup  of  the  nest  is  4J  inches  in  diameter  by  2J  dee]).  It  was 
taken  by  .Messrs.  Cooke  and  Warner,  near  Salem,  Oregon,  April  26,  18!)!,  and 
i'ontained  four  fresh  egg.s.  The  fenuile  was  on  the  nest,  while  the  male  kept  out 
of  sight,  a  short  distance  away,  until  the  former  left  the  nest,  when  he  appeared 
aud  kept  up  a  constant  chatter  until  shot.  The  female  was  also  taken;  both 
parents  were  forwarded  with  the  nest  and  eggs,  and  are  now  in  the  United 
States  National  Museum  collection.  The  nest  was  well  concealed  from  view 
from  the  top  of  the  bank,  but  easily  .seen  from  an  old  road  running  iiluug  the 
foot  of  tile  blurt".  P\ill  sets  of  eggs  may  usually  be  looked  for  during  the  latter 
part  of  April  and  the  lirst  two  weeks  in  Maj'. 

Inculmtion,  in  which  the  male  assists  to  some  e.Ktent,  lasts  about  sixteen 
days,  aud  I  believe  usually  ouly  one  brood  is  raisiMl  in  a  season.  The  young 
follow  the  j)areuts  for  some  time,  aii<l  are  cared  for  several  weeks  after  leaving 
the  nest.  The  number  of  eggs  to  a  set  varies  from  three  to  five;  sets  of  foiu' 
are  most  often  founti.  They  are  a  dull,  pale  bluish-green  in  ground  color,  and 
are  spotted  and  Idotched  over  their  entire  surface  with  irreguhirly  shaped  mark- 
ings of  different  shades  of  brown  and  lavender,  which  an^  usually  mosf  numerous 
about  the  larger  end  of  the  egg.  In  shape  they  vary  from  ovate  to  elongate 
ovate.     The  shell  is  finely  granulated  and  strong,  with  little  or  no  gloss. 

The  average  measurement  of  ten  eggs  is  31.50  l)y  23.37  millimetres,  or 
about  1.24  by  0.92  inches.  The  largest  v.^iix  measun-s  34.04  by  23.62  milli- 
metres, or  1.34  by  0.1)3  inches;  the  smallest,  2!).46  by  22.61  millimetres,  or  1.16 
Ijy  0.8!)  in.tiies. 

The  type  specimen,  No  24388  ( PI.  h,  Fig.  fl),  from  a  set  of  four  eggs,  taken 
by  Mes.srs.  (^ooke  and  Wanicr,  near  Salem,  Oregon,  on  April  26,  1891,  repre- 
sents a  typical  egg  of  this  species. 


Vr 


THE  BLUEFltONTEl)  JAY. 


365 


14a.     Cyanocitta  stelleri  frontalis  (KinnwAY). 

MM  K-KKOXTKIl  JAY. 

Cyanura  stellen  viw. /ronUilin  Uidoway,  American  Joiiiniil  of  Sciences  inul  Arts,  :Ui  ser., 

V,  Jan.,  1873,  41. 
Cyanovilta  utelleri  \ar.  frontalis  Bouoaru,  Catiilogiie  Aves,  1370,  279. 
(B  — ,  O  2356,  K  290a,  C  353,  U  478a.) 

(fEOORAi'HicAL  KANOB:  Western  North  America;  from  northern  Lower  California 
north  throngli  the  coast  ranges  of  Oallfornia  ar.il  Oregon  to  northwestern  Washington 
(and  southern  British  ('olumhia  ?);  east  to  both  slopes  of  the  Sierra  Nevsula  Mountains,  in 
California  and  Nevada;  apparently  not  present  in  the  Cascade  Mountains  of  Oregon  and 
Washington. 

Tlie  raiip^e  of  tho  lilue-frouteil  Jiiy,  also  known  as  the  "Siena  Jay"  and 
"California  Mountain  Jay,"  lias  recently  l)een  extended  considerably  to  the 
northward  hy  Mr.  U.  H.  Lawrence,  who  found  it  not  at  all  rare  in  western  Wash- 
injicton,  in  the  I^ujpt  Sound  rej^ion,  and  it  is  presumable,  therefore,  that  it  is  also 
founil  throu<,diout  the  ^oast  ranges  of  Urej^on,  occupying  here  the  same  gi'ound 
as  the  ])receding  species. 

No  tyjiical  specimens  of  this  race  fron\  any  portion  (»f  Oregoji  have,  to  my 
'  T^owledfjce,  l)eeu  brought  to  the  notice  of  ornitludogist.s.  It  undoubtedly  inter- 
ji"*.!  1.  ..itli  Steller's  Jay  in  northern  California  and  southern  Oregon,  as  at  Fort 
Kl*.  '1,  f«v  instance,  where  I  have  found  intermediates  between  these  races. 
The  majority  of  the  birds  found  there,  however,  come  nearer  to  Ciftnioritta  stelleri 
than  to  tlu*  present  race. 

Mr.  J,.  Hi  Iding  found  the  Blue-fronted  Jay  in  the  northern  j)arts  of  the 
Peninsula  (tf  Lower  California,  at\'alle  Pahnas,  Vallecitas,  and  Guadalupe  Can- 
yon, in  May,  1H85.' 

It  reaches  its  eastern  limits  on  the  eastern  sloj)es  of  the  Sierra  Nevadas, 
when^  it  is  common  in  pliices  uf)  to  !t,.'")()0  feet.  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam's  parties 
failed  to  observe!  it  in  any  of  the  desert  ranges  east  of  these  mountains  during 
their  extended  explorations  of  the  Death  Valley  country  in  the  summer  of  18111. 

While  essentially  a  bird  of  the  coniferous  forests  and  rarely  found  any 
distance  away  from  these,  exce|)tiiig  in  winter  when  small  parties  visit  occasion- 
ally the  more  open  regions  at  the  base  of  tlie  foothill.-t,  in  sttme  parts  of  California 
it  is  moHf  or  less  a  resident  of  the  oak  belt  as  well. 

Mr.  H.  11.  Heck  writes  me:  "It  is  a  connuon  resident  of  the  Santa  Clara 
Valley,  California,  as  well  as  of  the  coast  ranges,  from  Santa  Cruz  to  40  miles 
below  Monterey,  wherever  I  have  been.  I  have  found  about  a  dozen  of  their 
nests,  placed  in  oaks,  buckeye,  laurel,  and  holly  bushes,  at  various  distances 
ranging  from  7  to  40  feet  from  the  ground.     They  wen^  always  found  close  to  the 


water. 


Th 


birds 


s  are  close  sitters,  and 


I  I  h 


lave  seen  them  remain  on  the  nest 


imtil  I  nearly  touched  them,  when  they  would  fly  off  a  short  distance,  .^creaming 
and  calling  for  their  mates,  who  soon  appeared  and  helpisd  to  make  a  louder 

>  ProvHuiliugs  of  the  CuUfuriiiit  Ank  Iciii)'  uf  Soieuoes,  'id  wriei,  Vol.  II,  IMtiS,  p.  393 


■4 


■  ■     iV 


'f  >H 


M' 


k;;  I 


is--    . .. 

n       ; 


366 


LIFK  niSTOUIES  OF  NORTH  AMEKICAN  B1KU8. 


racket.  On  ono  o«'casi(»n  wliile  walkinj?  up  a  canyon  1  waw  a  couple  of  Warblers 
tiartinjj  at  one  of  these  tlays,  which  seemed  nuich  afraid  of  them.  lie  would  trv 
t4i  {fet  on  the  under  side  of  the  lind)  ho  was  on,  dodjje  his  head,  call  for  help, 
and  sometimes  strike  at  them.  Several  times  while  takin;;:  their  ey-j's  I  have 
seen  these  birds  peckinjf  viciously  at  the  limb  they  were  on,  like  a  Woodpecker, 
evidently  ventin<i'  their  spite  in  this  manner.  One  of  their  call  notes  sounds  liki- 
'chuck, chuck,' anotuer  like  'kc-lup,  ke-lup,' varied  to  'que-quer-que' occasionally, 
and  a  note  of  distress  or  auf^er  sounds  like  'cit-rftck,  cft-rftck.'" 

Mr.  F.  Stephens  informs  uie  that  they  are  fond  of  acorns,  and  j^ive  tlu^ 
California  Woodpeckei.:  considerable  employment  in  chasin<>  them  away  from 
their  supplies  stored  av  ay  in  the  bark  of  the  pines. 

Mr.  C'harles  A.  Alien,  of  Nicasio,  California,  says:  "The  notes  of  the  IMue- 
frontecl  .lay  are  variable,  at  tinu^s  hiwish  and  raspiu}.'-,  and  afj^ain  very  soft  and 
melodi(Uis.  They  will  imitate  the  call  of  the  Western  Ked-tailed  Hawk  so  per- 
fectly that  I  have  many  times  becMi  almost  deceived  by  them.  I  have  .sati.sfied 
myself  beyond  dispute  that  they  are  wondeH'ully  sweet  tonfisters.  Many  tinu-s 
1  have  seen  them  sittin<>'  alont*  in  the  shade  of  thick  redwood  trees  sinfiin^^'  as 
sweetly  as  any  bird  1  ever  heanl.  I  presume  the  male  bird  is  the  souffster;  I 
have  never  shot  one  at  such  a  tinuf  to  lind  out;  it  always  appeared  to  me  as 
thou<;h  tile  b'rd  retired  to  tlie  solitude  of  the  heavy  redwood  forests  to  enjoy 
his  solo  midi,sturl»ed." 

Like  Steller's  Jay,  they  are  onmivorous,  living  indiscrim.inately  on  both 
animal  and  vegetalde  matter,  while  acorns,  as  well  as  pine  seeds,  form  no  incon- 
sideral)Ie  part  of  their  food.  Like  other  mend)ers  of  this  family,  they  are  very 
destructive  to  the  young  and  eggs  of  smaller  birds;  but  they  also  have  their 
enemies. 

Among  .some  manuscript  notes  kindly  loaned  me  by  Mr.  L.  lielding  1  find 
till'  following  item: 

"At  Hig  Trees,  Calaveras  County,  California,  May  ;{!>,  !S7!I,  1  found  a  nest 
of  this  Itird  in  a  clu.ster  of  small  cedars,  about  (i  feet  from  the  ground.  It  was 
com])osi'd  of  sticks,  mixed  with  mud  and  leaves,  and  linetl  with  jiine  needles.  It 
coutaineil  young  birds  about  a  week  old.  Three  days  afterwards,  having  shot 
a  Cooper's  Hawk  not  far  from  this  nest,  and  noticing  that  it  had  recently  made 
a  meal  of  young  .lays,  I  repaired  to  the  place,  and,  as  I  had  conjectured,  found 
they  were  missing.  When  1  remembered  the  annoyance  these  .lays  had  caused 
the  small  birds  in  their  neighborhood,  I  felt  that  they  merited  the  loss  of  their 
ort'spring.  Tile  Blue-fronted  .Tay  is  credited  with  giving  tleer  and  other  ganu* 
notice  of  tile  hunter's  approach  (ami  doulitless  this  is  correct  as  far  as  deer  are 
concerned),  often  following  them  with  its  characteristic  cries,  and  I  have  on  .sev- 
eral occasions  lieen  notified  by  them  of  the  presence  and  approach  of  deer,  and 
once  found,  tliroiigli  the  instrumentality  of  .biys,  one  of  these  animals  which  1 
had  woimded." 

The  Hlue-fronted  .lay,  in  some  portions  of  its  range,  shows  a  predilection  for 
nesting  in  natiu'al  cavities  in  trees  and  stul»s,  which  is  a  radical  departure  from 
its  ordinary  mode  of  nesting.     The  late  Col.  N.  S.  Gross  wrote  as  follows  on 


s:; 


\\    ->. 


THE  ULUK  FUOXTKU  JAY. 


867 


this  .su]>j(H't:  "Wliilis  collectin;'  l)ir(l.s  and  tlieir  (<<j<^s  in  company  with  my 
brotliur,  Capt.  I  J.  F.  (.loss,  in  tlie  Hprinjjf  ot"  1884,  in  the  vicinity  of  JuHan,  Cali- 
t'ornia,  wo  iouiul  a  nunihor  o(  tho  nests  of  the  Hhie-fronted  Jay,  and  in  all  oases 
hnt  one  in  holes  and  troujfh-like  (!avities  in  trees  and  stubs,  ninj^ing  from  4  to  50 
feet  from  the  {ground,  jjenerally  Id  to  20  feet  up.'" 

Since  the  construction  of  the  Oentral  Pacific  Railroad  over  the  Sierra  Nevadas 
nmny  of  the  .lays  nest  in  tlie  extensive  snowsheds  found  alonp;  the  line  of  this 
road,  and  numi)ers  of  their  nests  are  yearly  torn  down  by  the  railroad  employees; 
but  this  does  not  appear  to  disirouruf^^e  them,  as  they  continue  to  build  new  nests 
in  similar  localities.  Besides  the  trees  and  shrubs  already  mentioned  as  bein<? 
used  for  nestin;"-  sites  by  this  subspecies,  it  also  builds  occasionally  in  sycamores 
an<l  willow  thickets,  althou;fii  firs,  cedars,  and  pines  are  most  often  u.sed.  Birds 
bre'jdinjif  in  the  hij^'her  moimtains  retina  in  the  late  fall  to  lower  altitudes,  win- 
terin<>-  usually  in  the  foothills,  from  2,000  to  4,000  feet  above  sea  level. 

Tiu}  nests  are  similar  in  size  and  i-ttustruction  to  those  of  Steller's  Jay,  and 
tlit^  sanu^  description  will  answer  for  both.  Occasionally  one  is  linetl  with  ])ine 
needles  in  lieu  of  rootlets.  Nidificatiou  connnences  sometimes  in  the  latter  part 
of  Ajiril,  more  frefjuently  in  May,  and  now  and  then  it  is  delayed  into  June. 
The  ninnber  of  cff^js  to  a  set  varies  from  three  to  five,  sets  of  four  being  m<tst 
counnon.  An  eji-g  is  deposited  daily,  and  incubation  lasts  about  sixteen  days. 
The  male  assists  in  these  duties,  and  usually  but  one  brood  is  rai.sed  in  a  season. 
The  e<fgs  resemble  those  of  Steller's  ,Jay,  in  shape,  {ground  c^olor,  and  inarkinf^s, 
but  they  avera<fe  a  trifle  smaller,  and  the  same  description  will  answer  for  them. 

The  averajre  measurement  of  forty-eight  eggs  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum  coUeciion  is  30.22  by  22.G1  millimetres,  or  1.1!)  by  0.8!)  inches.  The 
largest  egg  of  the  series  measures  34.04  l»y  23.88  millimetres,  or  1.34  by  0.94 
inches;   the  smallest,  28.1!)  by  22.3r>  millimetres,  or  1.11  by  0.88  inches. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  249(!4  (I'l.  5,  Fig.  10),  Ral|)h  collection,  from  a  set 
of  four  eggs  taken  near  Santa  Cruz,  California,  on  April  30,  187(!,  rei)resents 
one  of  tile  lighter-colored  tyj)es  of  the  series. 

143.     Cyanocitta  stelleri  macrolopha  (Haiku). 

LONO-CRESTKl)  .lAY. 

Cyanocitta  macrolopha  Haibd,  Procoetlings  Aciulomy  Natural  Siriences,  I'hilndolpliia,  June, 

1854,  118. 
Cyanocitta  stelleri  macrolopha  Coites,  Bulletin  i)f  the  NutttiU  Oriiithologiual  Olub,  ^',  April, 

1880,  !»8. 

(B  430,  (J  23.V(,  U  L'lMI/*,  21»0c,  t',  ;Wl>,  U  47S6.) 

Geoobai'IIICal  RAN(iK:  Soutliei'ii  Kocky  Mountiiiiis;  north  to  southern  Wyoniiii}r; 
west  tn  the  Uintah  Mountains,  in  eastern  Utah,  and  the  higher  ranges  of  northwestern 
Arizona;  south  to  northern  Mexico. 

The  Long-crested  Jay  is  a  resident  of  the  southern  Uockj'  Mountain 
regions  and  breeds  wherever  fouiiil.  Jlr.  F.  Stephens  rei)orts  it  as  conmiou 
among  tlie  pine  forests  of  the  Chiricahua  ^lountains,  in  southern  Arizona. 

'  The  Aiik,  \ol.  ]I,  188.-.,  p.  217. 


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868 


LIFK  HISTOllIKa  OP  NORTH  AMKttlCAN  BIUDS. 


Dr.  Edjrur  A.  MeaniH  obHorvetl  it  in  tlio  Sim  Fraiu-isiro  MouiitniiiR,  in  north- 
ern Arizona,  and  sayn:  "It  iHarenidont  to  the  altitude  of  1(),()()()  feet,  iwcendinff 
Htill  fiu-tlier.  On  the  San  Francisco  M«mntainH  I  found  itn  nest,  with  fresli  e<j:jtfs, 
at  the  upper  limits  of  the  pines,  in  the  second  week  in  .Tune,  1887,  while  the 
nests  found  in  the  lower  Mogollons  during  the  last  third  of  May  of  the  same 
year  all  contained  young."* 

Mr.  W.  G.  Smith  writes:  "1  found  ihese  Jays  very  connnon  in  the  moun- 
tains of  Colorado  at  all  seasons,  hut  (luring  winter  they  prefer  lower  altitudes, 
coming  around  the  houses  about  the  towns,  and  they  are  not  particular  then 
upon  what  they  feed.  At  such  times  they  are  rather  tame  and  noi.sy,  and, 
like  all  Jays,  very  active.  In  Larimer  County,  Colora«io,  they  begin  breed- 
ing early  in  Ma}',  but  1  have  taken  sets  of  fresh  eggs  at  an  altitude  of  about 
9,000  feet  in  the  middle  i>f  June,  and  in  favorable  seasons  I  think  they  breed 
nuich  higher  still.  Although  their  ne-sts  are  bulky,  yet  they  are  rather  ditficult 
to  find.  The  birds  are  very  (juiet  during  the  nesting  season,  and  are  then  rarely 
seen.  The  female  sits  very  close,  and  will  allow  you  almost  to  touch  her  before 
leaving  the  nest.  On  account  of  the  early  date  on  which  they  nest,  their  eggs 
are  sometimes  frozen  and  then  abandoned.  I  have  occasionally  foimd  one  or 
two  eggs  in  this  condition.  After  the  entire  clutch  is  laid  \  think  they  are 
never  left  unprotected.  During  the  breeding  season  these  birds  are  perfect 
terrors  to  all  smaller  birds,  incessantly  hunting  for  their  eggs  and  young,  of 
which  they  devour  great  numbers.  L  have  seen  spirited  combats  between  them 
and  other  birds,  especially  Robins,  at  whose  cries  of  alarm  all  of  the  species 
within  liearing  distance  hastened  to  help  to  fight  off  their  connnon  enemy,  which 
they  frequently  succeeded  in  doing.  Even  the  little  Pigmy  Nuthatches  are 
capable  of  driving  away  these  wludesale  destroyei"s.  I  have  noticed  them 
hiding  grains  of  Indian  corn  in  cracks  and  under  the  bark  of  trees,  providing 
for  a  possible  scarcity  of  food  in  the  future." 

Their  general  habits  an<l  call  notes  resemble  those  of  the  prec^eding  sub- 
species. Their  nests  are  usually  placed  in  sniall  bushy  pines  or  other  conifers, 
at  no  great  distances  from  the  groimd,  varying  mostly  from  H  to  ir»  feet. 

Lieut.  Harry  C.  Henson,  United  States  Army,  found  the  Long-crested  Jay 
breeding  near  Fort  Star.ton,  New  Mexico,  in  Ma\-,  1884. 

A  nest  and  four  eggs,  presented  to  the  United  States  National  Museum 
collection  by  Mr.  Denis  (iale,  were  found  near  CJold  Hill,  Hoidder  County,  Colo- 
rado, in  a  black  willow,  !l  feet  from  the  ground,  at  an  altitude  of  r),r>()0  feet,  on 
Aprils.'},  18S!t,  the  earliest  bre«'ding  record  I  have  for  this  subspecies.  Four 
sets  of  eggs  in  tlie  Ralph  coUecticui,  oi»tained  in  Kstes  I'ark,  Colorado,  were 
taken,  respectively,  on  May  3,  9,  21,  and  25;  all  of  the  eggs  were  fresh  when 
found,  excepting  those  of  the  last  date,  in  which  incubation  had  connnenced. 
The  breeding  season,  in  (Colorado  at  lea.st,  appears  to  bo  at  its  height  in  this 
month,  but  in  the  higher  mountain  ranges  it  is  protracted  into  June,  while  in  tiie 
mountiiins  in  southern  Arizona  it  probably  couunences  early  in  April. 

'The  Auk,  Vol.  VII,  im),  p.  2.-i6. 


THE  LONOCBESTEU  JAY. 


369 


nio  nostH  of  the  Long-crested  Jay,  of  which  several  are  before  me,  resem- 
ble those  of  the  preceding  subspecies  in  general  construction,  and  mud  enters 
largely  into  their  composition.  Wliile  they  va.y  but  little  outwardly  in  size  and 
bidk;  the  inner  cup  shovtrs  more  variation,  rmging  from  3  J  to  4J  inches  in 
diameter,  and  2^  to  2f  inches  in  depth.  The  iiuier  lining  consists  mostly  of 
small  rootlets,  in  one  instance  considerable  horsehair  being  intermixed,  while  in 
another  the  lining  consists  principally  of  gr<iss  and  pine  needles. 

The  eggs  vary  from  three  to  six  in  number,  sets  of  four  or  five  being 
most  often  found.  They  are  indistinguishable  from  those  of  Steller's  Jay,  with 
the  exception  of  being  perhaps  a  trifle  r  ore  glossy.  Their  breeding  habits  are 
also  similar. 

The  average  measurement  of  thirty  eggs  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  30.94  by  22.35  millimetres,  or  1.22  by  0.88  inches.  The 
largest  egg  of  the  series  measures  33.78  by  23.62  millimetres,  or  1.33  by  0.93 
inches;  the  smallest,  27.94  by  21.59  millimetres,  or  1.10  by  0.85  inches. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  23774  (PI.  5,  Fig.  11),  from  a  set  of  five  eggs 
taken  by  Lieut.  IL  C.  Benson,  Fourth  Cavalry,  United  States  Army,  near  F"'ort 
Stanton,  New  Mexico,  in  May,  1884,  represents  a  large  and  boldly  marked  egg, 
while  No.  24444  (PI.  6,  Fig.  12),  also  from  a  set  of  five  eggs,  Ralph  collection, 
taken  in  Estes  Park,  Colorado,  on  May  25,  1890,  represents  in  its  markings  an 
average  egg  of  this  subspecies. 


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144.    Cyanodtta  stelleri  annectens  (Baird). 

BLACK-HEAUED  JAY. 

I  Cynnura  stelleri]  var.  amiectens  Ba  tBD,  History  of  North  American  Birds,  II,  1874,  281  in 

text. 
Cyanoeitta  stelleri  annectens  Ridoway,  Proceedings  U.  8.  National  Museum,  III,  August 

24, 1880,  184. 

(B  4.W,  part;  C  l'35o,  part;  R  2906;  0  .'WL',  part;  U  478c.) 

Oeookaphical  range:  Northern  Rocky  Mountains;  south  to  southern  Wyoming 
and  northern  Utah  (Wasatch  Range);  west  to  Oregon  and  Washington,  eitstof  the  Cas- 
cade Mountains. 

Tlie  Bla(^k-headed  Jay  is  a  resident  of  the  northern  Rocky  Mountain  regions 
of  tiie  United  Stato.-i,  and  doubtless  occurs  also  in  corresponding  localities  in  the 
southern  parts  of  British  North  America,  in  eastern  British  Columbia,  and  in 
the  Province  of  Alberta. 

Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  found  it  breeding  in  Parley's  Park,  in  the  Wasatch 
Mountains,  Utah,  June  25,  1869,  which  mark  about  the  southern  limits  of  its 
range.  "  The  nest  was  placed  in  a  small  fir  tree  on  the  edge  of  a  wood.  It 
was  saddled  on  a  horizontal  branch,  about  15  feet  from  the  ground,  and  con- 
tained six  eggs.  The  base  of  the  nest  was  composed  of  coarse,  strong  sticks, 
rudely  put  together.  Upon  this  was  constructed  a  solid,  firm  plastering  of  mud 
of  a  uniform  concave  shape,  lined  with  fine,  wiry  roots.     The  external  diameter 

I68IW— No.  3 24 


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it) 

I 

I 


370 


LIKE  H18TOFUES  OF  NORTH  AMKItlCAN  lilitDB. 


is  nlxMit  9  iiu'hoH,  tmd  tlio  lu-ijrht  of  tlio  uunt  4  inciiiM.  Tho  interior  is  5  inc.hos 
in  (liiuiii!t«r  and  .'J  in  deptli."  ' 

I  have  met  with  this  subspecies  in  tho  Hitter  Root  Mountains,  in  Montana 
and  Idaho,  as  well  as  in  the  Hhie  Mountains  of  Oreffon  and  Wasliinjyton;  hut  it 
appeared  nowhere  to  he  eonnnon.  At  Fort  Walla  Walla,  SVashinffton,  I  shot  a 
number  of  these  birds  durin;^  the  winter  months,  when  they  left  the  mountains 
and  fora<fed  about  tho  settlements  in  tho  valleys.  At  such  times  I  have  fre- 
quently seen  them  amonjjf  tlie  willows  alonj;  creek  bottoms,  fully  20  miles  from 
the  nearest  i)ine  timber.  I  sent  eleven  skins,  taken  in  this  loeality,  to  Mr.  William 
Brewster,  of  Cambridj^e,  Massachusetts,  who  pronomu-ed  five  of  them  typical 
('f/(uio(ift(i  strllrrl  (uniccfnin,  iuv\  two  nearly  typical  t'l/aiiocitta  ulelleri,  and  four 
intermediate  between  these  two  forms. 

Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam  reports  this  Jay  as  veiy  rare  in  south  central  Idaho, 
but  found  it  common,  in  1872,  ui  tho  Teton  Basin,  near  tho  boundary  lino 
between  Idaho  and  Wyominjj.* 

I  failed  to  notice  any  ditt'erence  in  their  habits  from  those  of  Steller's  Jay, 
excepting  that  they  appeared  to  be  less  noisy,  and  on  this  account  they  are 
perhaj)s  less  often  observed. 

The  only  egfjs  of  this  subspecies  in  the  United  StatOfl  National  Museum 
collection  are  three,  from  the  set  })reviously  referred  to  as  taken  by  Mr.  Robert 
Kidgway.  They  resemble  the  eggs  of  tho  three  ))roceding  subspecies  in  every 
l)articular,  and  meiisure,  respectively,  31.50  by  21.34,  32  by  21.84,  and  32  by 
22.35  millimetres;  or  1.24  1)y  0.S4,  1.26  by  0.H6,  and  1.26  by  0.88  inches. 

The  type  si)ecimen,  No.  15431  (not  figured),  from  an  incomidete  set  of  six 
eggs,  was  taken  by  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway,  in  Parley's  Park,  Utah,  as  previously 
stated. 


6l^    > 


145.    Aphelocoma  floridana  (Baktuam). 

FLOiUUA  .lAY. 

Cornm  floriilnnm  Hautram,  Travels  in  Carolina,  1791,  2t)l. 
Aplulotvma  Jhritlaiia  Cauanis,  Museum  IJcinoiiiiuin,  I,  18.~il,  1221. 

(B  4;t9,  C  230,  It  L'tfl,  C  354,  U  479.) 

Geogiiai'HICal  iiANCiE :  Florida. 

Tho  range  of  the  Florida  Jay,  locally  known  as  the  "Send)"  or  "Bush" 
Jay,  ap|)ears  to  be  confined  to  the  Florida  Peninsula,  and  even  there  it  is  oidy 
foiuid  in  certain  localities.  As  far  as  I  am  al)le  to  learn,  it  has  not  yet  been 
ol)served  north  of  8t.  i\ngustine  or  south  of  Lake  Worth,  on  the  ea.st  ctiast;  nor 
north  of  Pine  Point  and  south  of  Punta  Rassa,  on  the  Gulf  coast.  It  therefore 
occupies  only  a  comi)aratively  small  area  of  the  State.  In  certain  sections  of 
Florida,  especially  near  the  coast,  and  close  to  some  of  the  larger  rivers,  sandy 
ridges  are  found  which  i)roduce  an  almost  impenetrable  thicket  of  low,  scrubby 

'  UiHtory  of  North  Americun  Uirda,  1874,  Vol.  II,  pp.281,L'82. 

<  North  Amerioim  Fauuu,  No,  5,  U.  8.  l>opartiueut  of  ARricultnro,  1891,  p.  91). 


IP' 


THS  FLORIDA  JAY. 


871 


onkfl,  mixod  horo  niul  thoru  witli  stuiitod  pinoH,  lutuo  of  tlicso  buHlioH  attaining 
a  iioight  of  nioro  than  10  fuot,  and  tlieno  "HcrubH,"  at*  thuy  are  locally  called, 
arc  tho  honiu  of  the  Florida  Jay.  They  are  not  found  in  the  more  open  pine 
forcHtii,  n(»r  in  the  extenHive  swampu  ho  al)undant  in  thitt  State,  and  are  rarely 
Heen  any  diHtanco  away  from  tho  oak  thicketu. 

Their  food,  like  that  of  the  rcHt  of  this  family,  conaiHtH  of  iiiHectH,  {^rubs, 
wood  tickH,  HuailH,  offal,  and  other  animal  matter,  variotiH  HcedH,  fruitH,  and  acomH, 
and  they  are  likewise  charfjod  with  being  very  dewtriictive  to  the  young  and 
eggH  of  other  birds.  Their  call  notes  are  said  to  be  somewhat  simihir  to  those 
of  the  lUue  Jay,  but  on  the  whole  perhaps  not  so  l<md  and  harsh.  Where 
not  unduly  molested  they  l)ecome  quite  tame  and  familiar,  and  will  allow 
themselves  to  be  approached  closely.  Dr.  Ralph  says  that  ho  stopped  one 
night  at  the  house  of  a  settlei*,  near  Titusville,  Florida,  who  lived  some  distance 
from  other  settlers.  He  was  evidently  a  friend  of  the  feathered  tribe,  his  only 
neighbors.  On  his  calling  or  whistling,  several  Florida  Jays,  Cardinals,  and 
Mockingbirds  would  quickly  a])pear,  alight  on  his  head  and  shoulders,  and  take 
the  food  out  of  his  hands.  They  were  equally  familiar  with  strangers,  fighting 
and  quarreling  among  themselves  for  choice  places  on  their  persons.  It  is 
astonishing  how  quickly  some  birds,  as  well  as  mammals,  lose  all  their  fear 
and  become  almost  domesticated  if  treated  kindly,  and  that  lonely  settler 
imdoubtedly  passed  many  a  pleasant  hour  in  company  with  his  feathered 
friends.  Their  flight  is  slow,  evidently  laborious,  and  is  said  to  resemble  that  of 
the  I^Iockingbird  somewhat.  A  good  deal  of  their  time  is  spent  on  the  groiuid, 
where  they  are  far  mt)re  at  home  than  on  tho  wing,  moving  with  the  greatest 
ease  and  dexterity  through  the  densest  thickets  and  undergrowth. 

In  fav(»rablo  localities  they  are  said  to  breed  in  communities,  a  number  of 
pail's  nesting  in  close  proximity  to  each  other.  In  the  more  southern  parts 
of  their  range  nidification  begins  sometimes  in  March,  but  generally  they  nest 
more  frecpiently  in  April  and  May,  jmd  sometimes  even  as  late  as  the  middle  of 
June,  which  looks  as  if  two  broods  might  now  and  then  be  raised  in  a  setison. 

The  eggs  of  the  Florida  Jay  range  from  three  to  five  in  number,  and  their 
ground  color  varies  from  pea  green  to  pale  glaucous  gi-een.  They  are  blotched 
and  spotted  with  irregidarly  shaped  markings  of  cinnamon  rufous  and  vinaceous 
cinnamon,  these  being  generally  heaviest  about  tiie  larger  'jnd  of  the  ef!;g.  They 
are  usually  ovate  in  shape,  though  an  occasional  set  may  be  called  elongate 
ovate;  the  shell  is  smooth  and  compact,  and  shows  but  little  gloss. 

Tiio  average  measurement  of  thirty-six  eggs  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  27.31  by  20.32  millimetres,  or  about  1.07  by  0.80  inches. 
Tho  largest  egg  of  the  series  measures  30.78  by  20.57  millimetres,  or  1.21  by 
0.81  inches ;  the  smallest,  24.64  by  20.07  millimetres,  or  0.97  by  0.79  inch. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  24704  (PI.  5,  Fig.  13),  Ralph  collection,  from  a  set 
of  three  eggs,  wiis  taken  near  Daytona,  Volusia  County,  Florida,  on  May  14, 
1891,  and  represents  a  small-sized  but  average-colored  egg  of  tho  series. 


■I  -  i  ^t  ■ ' 


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■  f  I  ijf  : 


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mi 

I- 


872  liil'K  lllU'i'UlUE8  OF  ^UUTll  AMEUKJA^J  lilUDS. 


146.    Aphelocoma  woodhousei  (lUmu). 

W<M»I)II(UIHK'H  .lAV. 

Vyanoeitta  woodhounei  Raiki),  IIjiiIb  of  North  Ainericn,  IHM,  1*1.  5U. 
Aphelocoma  tcuodhoimi  Uiihiway,  Field  luid  Funmt,  Juii«>,  1877,  INM. 

(I»  4;W,  0  230fl,  U  L'02,  C  SfiS,  IT  480.) 

Oeoorapiiical  itAN«}K:  WcHterii  United  States;  north  to  H(>iithi>itHt4tru  Oregon, 
Mmtheni  Idaho  uihI  VVyoiiiliiK;  eiint  t^t  Colorado  and  New  Mexico;  wcHt  to  Nevada  and 
BoiitheaMtern  Califoruia;  south  tlirough  Arizona,  New  Mexico,  and  western  Texas  into 
northern  Mczieo. 

WoodliouHe's  ilay  is  an  iiiliabiinnt  of  tho  Houtlioni  Hocky  Mountain  ref^ons 
an<l  tho  ranfjc'rt  of  tlio  Great  Hasin  botweon  tlio  former  and  the  Sierra  Nevadas. 
Besides  the  hiralities  already  mentioned,  it  is  common  in  many  parts  of  Utah. 
During  the  biological  survey  made  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  C.  Hart  Mennam, 
in  the  Death  Valley  region  of  southeastern  California,  in  the  spring  and  sunmier 
of  1891,  Woodhouse's  Jay  was  found  on  all  of  the  desert  ranges  which  furnish  a 
growth  of  pifion  or  juniper.  In  California  it  was  observed  in  the  White  Moun- 
tains, Inyo,  Argus,  Coso,  and  Panamint  ranges;  in  Nevada,  in  the  Charleston, 
Grapevine,  Juniper,  and  I'ahroc,  mountains,  and  in  Utah,  in  the  lieaverdaui 
Mountains.  In  the  latter  part  of  June  young  which  were  able  to  fly  were  found 
among  the  willows  along  the  streams  in  the  J^anamint  Mountains,  north  of 
Telescope  Peak.' 

Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  found  these  birds  very  abundant  in  various  })art8  of 
Nevada,  and  also  met  with  tliem  in  Utah  and  at  City  of  Rocks,  Idaho.  I  observed 
this  species  on  the  southern  slopes  of  Steens  Moimtain,  in  southeastern  Oregon, 
in  August,  1877,  which  locality  marks  about  the  uorthwestem  limits  of  their 
range. 

Mr.  Charles  E.  Aiken  was,  I  believe,  tho  first  natUi.ilist  who  took  the  nests 
and  eggs  of  this  Jay,  and  he  sent  me  several  sets  taken  in  El  Paso  County, 
Colorado,  in  1873. 

Dr.  Elliott  Coues,  in  his  Birds  of  the  Northwest,  states:  "It  is  very  abundant 
in  tho  upi)er  parts  of  Arizona,  and  widely  and  ecjually  distributed  in  all  sorts 
of  i)laces,  with  the  exce])tiou,  perhaps,  of  the  recesses  of  pine  woods,  which  are 
generally  relinfjuished  in  favor  of  the  long-crested  species.  Its  preference,  liow- 
ever,  is  for  oak  openings,  rough,  broken  hillsides  covered  with  patches  of  juniper, 
manzanita,  and  yuccas,  bushy  ravines,  and  wooded  creek  bottoms."'' 

Mr.  William  Lloyd,  in  his  List  of  Birds  of  Western  Texas,  says  regarding 
this  species:  "  Resident  wiierever  there  is  slnn  oak,  at  the  heads  of  nearly  all 
creeks.  Toleraldy  (;onnnon.  Nest  with  three  eggs  found  April  lil,  18S5,  on 
8{)ring  ( 'reek,  in  low  underbrush;  another,  same  date  and  position  of  nest,  with 
three  young."  ^ 

■North  American  Fiiiinik,  No.  7,  IT.  8.  Departiiiout  of  Agriculture,  1893,  p.  69. 
•IT.  H.  Oeologiral  Surrey  of  tlio Territories,  No.  3,  1874,  p.  !iiO. 
'The  Auk,  Vol.  IV,  1887,  p.  290. 


13- 


WOODUOrSK'S  JAY. 


878 


Mr.  Scott  foniul  VVoo(11u)U.h»''h  .lay  n  «-<»iiiin<<n  and  retiident  »])ocieH  at  the 
lioiul  watoi'rt  «>t'  Mineral  ('HH'k,  ant!  alHo  coiiunon  in  tliu  footliillH  of  the  Oatalinu 
Mountainx,  in  Houthurn  Arizona.  Hi'  sayi*:  "It  trcqnt-ntly  UHHociatuH  with  A/ilif- 
loitinia  sirherii  arizotue,  l»nt  it  is  not  ho  |rn>pirions  as  that  sju'cies.  liruuds  in  hito 
A|>ril  and  May,  an<l  I  think  hut  ono  l)rood  is  r*'ar«-d.  As  tar  as  [  am  ahhi  to 
jiidjrt',  this  s[>e»M('s  dotts  not  ranjjti  btdow  3,000  nor  above  0,000  feet  in  tlio  foot- 
hills of  the  Catalina  Mountains.  I  have  not  nu't  with  it  at  other  |K*iuts  than 
those  indicated  in  the  I'inal  and  Catalina  mountains."' 

Like  the  rest  of  the  .Fay  family,  the  notes  of  Wt>odliouse's  Jay  are  (juito 
varied  and  not  unlike  those  of  the  California  .lay.  Its  food  also  is  similar,  an<l 
in  rcjfions  where  oaks  or  nut  pines  are  abundant  consists  principally  of  the  frnit 
of  these  trees,  various  insects,  and  presumably  also  of  the  y«>unff  »"d  cggn  of 
smaller  birds.  They  are  ajiparently  equally  as  adept  at  thieving  as  are  the 
better-known  species  of  this  family,  and  j)robably  do  fully  as  much  damage. 
They  ranj^e  up  to  an  altitude  of  7,000  feet  in  stunmer. 

Capt.  W.  L.  Carpenter,  United  States  Army,  foun<l  it  breedinf^  near  Prescott, 
Arizona,  on  .Fune  G,  18iU,  and  writes  as  follows:  "The  nest  was  placed  about 
.')  feet  from  the  ji^round,  in  the  center  of  thick  brush,  and  was  difHcult  to  reach.  It 
was  found  on  a  brush-(!overed  ridji^e,  cut  up  by  ravines,  covered  with  oak,  lemon- 
beiTy,  manzanita,  juniper,  yucca,  prickly  pear,  mescal,  and  other  {growths  which 
contril)ute  to  the  appearance  of  a  northern  Arizona  landscape,  about  100  feet 
above  a  small  valley  throuj^h  which  flowed  a  rivulet.  The  parents  remained 
in  the  vicinity,  screaming  harshly,  bounding  through- the  jinii|H'r  trees,  and  trying 
for  a  long  while  to  <lraw  me  away.  When  1  finally  located  tlut  lu'st,  finding 
further  dtH'eption  U8ele.s8,  the  one  which  I  took  to  be  the  f(*male  disap|)eared;  the 
other  then  perched  within  10  feet  of  me  an<l  peered  at  me  silently,  with  his 
head  cocked  on  one  sifle,  an  interested  spei^tator  of  further  proceedings.  As 
we  w.atched  each  other  so  closely  I  could  not  forbear  saying,  'Ah,  yes,  my  fine* 
fellow,  you  are  right;  we  are  a.  j)air  of  robbers.  How  many  birds'  nests  have 
you  robbed  this  morning  and  devoured  the  joung,  too?'  When  I  had  secured 
the  nest  and  packed  the  eggs  away,  he  fiew  off  with  loud  screams,  no  doubt 
intended  for  .Fay -like  anathemas,  whi»'h  1  could  ])ut  feel  were  well  merited." 

The  nests  are  placed  in  scrub  oaks,  pirtous,  and  thick  shrubbery,  usually  but 
a  short  distant^c  from  the  ground  an<l  not  far  from  water.  The  nest  taken  by 
Captain  Carpenter,  which  is  before  uh',  is  composed  of  a  flight  platform  of  very 
crooked  interlaced  twigs,  and  on  these  is  placed  a  lining  of  fine  roots  and  .some 
horsehair.  No  mud  is  used  in  its  construction.  The  lining  is  about  three- 
fourths  of  an  inch  in  thickness.  C'ompared  with  other  .Fays'  nests  this  is  a 
rather  small  structure,  and  not  nearly  as  deep.  It  measures  about  7  inches  in 
outer  diameter  by  4  inches  in  depth,  and  tlie  iiuier  cup  3.J  inches  in  diameter  by 
2  inches  in  depth. 

In  the  more  southern  portions  of  their  range  nidification  begins  in  the  latter 
part  of  March  or  the  first  week  in  April,  varying  somewhat  according  to  altitude. 

'The  Aiik,  Vi.l.  IV,  1887,  p.  aO. 


374 


LIFK  HIHTOKIKS  OF  NORTH  AMUKICAN  BIUnR. 


In  Colorado  mo«t  of  thoHo  l)ir(l»  appiMir  to  l)roo(l  in  May,  whilo  in  n<»rtliom 
Arizona  w«'ll-incu1>at«'(l  (>^^k  iiavo  Ihhmi  found  aH  lato  an  tlu*  HrHt  v/vvk  in  .Tuiio. 
Incubation  laHtH  almut  mxtuun  dayH,  hoth  paruntH  prol)al>]y  iiMitiHtinfr;  an<l  I  think 
that  1)ut  onu  lirood  iM  raiHod  in  a  Hoamtn.  The  nunibor  of  o^^a  hiid  to  a  Hct  varit'H 
from  tliroo  to  mx,  UHually  four  or  tivo.  T\w  (ground  (•oh>r  of  tlicw  t'}(ffs  irt  a  dirty 
p«a  jfnH'u  or  a  pah)  Hajji*  jfrtHMi;  th'jy  aro  Hparin|rly  HpottiMl  and  tli'ckud  ov»'r  tlio 
ontiri*  Hurfactt  witli  in-i-jjuhir  niarkingH  of  f«rnigin«)UH  brown,  tawny,  and  lavi-n- 
dor,  th«*Ho  i)oin{f  UHually  hmvinHt  ab<nit  th«  hirffor  end  of  tlio  oj;p,  but  nowhoro  ho 
abundant  aH  to  hich*  tho  p'ound  cohtr.  Tiut  nhidl  in  compact,  rather  nmooth,  and 
but  nliglitly  Jfhissy.  Tlu^y  vary  in  nhapc  from  ovate  or  nhort  ovato  to  (dongatu 
ovato. 

The  averagfc  mcaHurcmcnt  of  twenty-two  egpn  in  the  United  States  Natif*nal 
Muneum  collection  in  27.57  by  20.0!)  millimetren,  or  about  l.(M)  by  0.7!)  inchen. 
The  largcHt  ejrff  motiHurcH  29.4(1  l>y  20.32  millimetres,  or  1.16  by  0.80  inchen; 
the  HmalleHt,  25.40  by  19.81  millimetreH,  or  1  by  0.78  inch. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  20359  (1*1.  5,  P'ijf.  14),  Hendire  collection,  from  a 
set  of  six  efffjH,  was  taken  by  Mr.  (.'harles  K.  Aikon,  in  El  I'aso  County,  Colo- 
rado, on  May  18,  1874,  and  repruseuts  an  average  marked  egg  of  this  s|>ecie8. 


147.    Aphelocoma  californica  (Vigors). 

CALIFORNIA  JAY. 

Gnyruhm  enUfornic\i»  VlooR.<<,  Zoology  Heediey's  Voynge,  IfWO,  21,  PI.  V. 
Ayphelocoma]  cali/ornica  Cauanib,  Museum  Ilciiicanuni,  I,  Octol)er  15,  1851,  221. 

(B  437,  0  2306,  R  2»3,  C  350,  V  481.) 

Orooraphical  RANGE:  Pacific  Const  rcgioiiH;  from  northern  Ijower  Onlifornin 
north  through  ('aliforniii  (excepting  Houtheosteni  parts),  western  Oregon,  to  southweHtern 
Washington;  euHt  to  anil  iududing  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Hierra  Xcvada,  in  California 
ami  western  Nevada,  and  the  eastern  sloi)eH  of  the  Cascade  Mountains,  in  Oregon. 

The  California  Jay  is  a  common  resident  in  Huitable  localitieH  throughout 
the  greater  portion  of  its  range,  its  favorite  haunts  being  the  oak-i-overed  foothill 
regions  of  the  higher  mountains,  the  brush-covered  sides  of  the  canyons  leading 
into  these,  and  the  shrubbery  along  water  courses.  It  avoids  the  (sxtensive  pine 
forests,  and  is  nvrely  met  with  in  such  localities,  excepting  along  their  bordeiu 
In  summer  it  has  been  found  at  altitudes  of  from  6,000  to  8,000  feet,  but  it  is 
much  more  common  in  the  lower  agricultural  uistricts  and  the  oak  belt.  Where 
these  trees  are  abundant  the  California  Jay  is  sure  to  be  also  present. 

Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony  found  it  common  in  the  vicinity  of  Knsenada,  in  Lower 
California,  which  marks  about  the  southern  limit  of  its  habitat.  Its  ea.stern 
range  terminates  along  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Sien*a  Novadas,  where  it  is  only 
found  in  isolated  localities,  tand  it  was  not  observed  in  any  of  the  desert  ranges 
to  the  ea.st  of  these  mountains  by  Dr.  Merriam's  exploring  parties.  Mr.  Robert 
llidgway  reports  it  sus  quite  common  in  the  vicinity  of  Cai-son  City,  Nevada. 


TIIK  CAMKOIiNIA  JAY. 


87ft 


Mr.  II.  \y.  IIoiiHliaw  mot  with  it  a  t'(»tmi<lfml>l«'  tliHtanctt  imrth  of  this  poiiif,  iiiul  I 
Hiint  ii  nialo  uihI  naw  Hovural  paira  nii  May  10,  1KK3,  tliiiiy  iiiiUiM  muitli  of  Kort 
Klaniatli,  <)n*)roii,  on  tlio  ruad  t(»  Linltvillo,  on  ii  liillmd**  rovcrod  wit)i  mountain 
mahogany  IxihIiom,  wIuto  they  w«ro  (tvidontly  lin-cdinff.  TliiM  locality  in  vhhI  of 
Klamath  Lako  and  tho  CaHcado  Moiintaiim.  Mr.  Ih'imhaw  ropoiiM  a  H|i«M-iin<'n 
taken  at  Tho  DalU'w, October  4,  ISTf),  and  Mr.  U.  II.  i^awrencif  conmd«*rs  it  «-om- 
mon  at  liid^efield  and  Vancouv(*r,  WaHliin^yton,  ax  is  alno  the  White-fronted  .lay. 
lie  writtm  from  Portland,  f)re>fon,  under  date  of  October  1{>,  1H9*2:  "Ki<yht 
California  Jays  hgou,  mostly  in  small  trees  at  the  roadside  and  on  tho  }n'<>niid. 
ThisHpocioH  frequonts  tho  bushy  Htri|ts  ((orderin;;  fences  and  tho  ("dfros  of  fields 
and  slon^hs  in  thoOohunbia  Hiver  bottom.  .Fud^injr  from  the  lunnbers  seen  at 
Uidjjerteld  and  tho  Hurroundin;;s  this  mtocies  chooses,  I  should  expect  to  hud  it 
well  up  in  tho  valley  of  the  Cowlitz  River,  Washinjjton."  Mr.  Lawrence  adds: 
"The  call  notes  of  tho  California  .Fay  bear  nujch  resenddanc**  to  those  of 
(Jj/nnocitta  sMIrri  frmttalis,  but  they  are  not  so  loud  and  stronjf.  One  of  their 
calls  BoundH  like  'hi-o'  or  'heo-hee,  hee-lu'e;'  another,  not  so  harsh  nor  so  loud, 
is  'whe,  whe,  whc.'" 

Mr.  Charh's  A.  Allen,  of  Nicasio,  California,  writes:  "I  consider  tlu'ir  calls 
fully  as  harsh  and  raspinjj  as  those  of  any  other  meinbor  of  this  family.  One 
of  their  notes  of  alarm,  uttered  when  they  see  somethiu}'!'  they  «lo  not  like, 
especially  an  Owl  asleep  in  a  tree,  soiuids  like  'cnr,  cftr,  cfir;'  as  soon  as  this 
is  heard  by  others  in  tho  vicinity  they  will  <'ounn(!Uce  to  {father  and  join  in  tho 
chorus.  A  sort  of  social  note  of  recojjfuition  sounds  like  'whfize,  whfizc,'  <>iven 
while  movin<f  about  amonj;  the  trees  and  shrubbery,  and  one  of  their  couunon 
call  notes  sounds  like  'croak,  creak.' 

"  No  birtl  is  nioro  destructive  of  the  sm.aller  species  buildiuji-  open,  uncon- 
cealed nests  than  this  ,Tay.  1  have  seen  one  aliffht  on  a  lind)  near  a  nest,  eat 
the  e<fgs  that  it  ccmtained,  and,  not  satisfied  with  this,  };ive  the  nest  a  (h»\vn  and 
inward  stroke  with  its  bill,  ripping;  it  open.  They  are  esi)ecially  destructive  to 
the  nests  of  the  Black-chinned  and  Anna's  Tlunuuin^ibirds  and  the  Ctround  Tit. 
They  also  become  altof^ether  too  familiar  about  the  poultry  houses,  and  will  eat 
the  eggs  as  fast  as  tho  hens  lay  them.  As  .soon  as  they  hear  a  hen  cackle  after 
laying,  three  or  four  of  these  birds  <jo  to  the  s])ot  at  once.  Even  the  ( hickeii 
house  affords  no  protection  against  these  roljbers,  if  they  can  find  a  way  of 
entering  it;  shooting  is  e(|U.ally  iiieflectual,  for  they  ant  too  numerous.  I'hey 
destroy  vast  <|uantities  of  fruit  in  apjde,  jjeach,  ju-ar,  and  plum  orchards,  as  well 
as  many  sm.'dler  fruits.  Shooting  them  by  luuidreds  and  hanging  their  (-arcasses 
in  tho  fruit  trees  as  scarecrows  is  of  no  avail;  they  do  not  know  enough  to  be 
frightened  at  anything.  I  have  tried  to  poison  them,  but  never  saw  a  dead  one 
except  when  shot.  They  also  destroy  a  great  deal  of  young  wheat  when  first 
sown,  until  it  is  2  or  3  inches  high.  They  jiull  it  out  of  the  ground  and  eat  the 
soft,  swelled  gi'ains;  after  the  stalks  l)egin  to  grow  they  will  not  molest  it.  I 
have  never  seen  one  Jay  eat  .another's  eggs,  but  they  po.ssibly  may  do  so  on  rare 
occasions.  One  not  familiar  with  theses  birds  can  not  realize  the*  amount  of 
mischief  they  can  do,  and  they  are  incr<'asing  in  nundiers  from  year  to  year." 


r 


..■-.-  ,l» 

"■   ii! 


p 

I 

m 

1  if 


>u 


m- 


376 


LIFE  IIlSTOKIEii  OF  NOUTII  AMEKICAX  BIRDS. 


hi'.. 


I  Imve  reccivinl  Hiiiiilar  testimony  from  other  irorresiKUulentrt  in  ( 'alifoniia, 
and  thero  seems  to  be  no  doubt  that  tlie  (California  Jay  is  -..iie  of  the  {greatest 
nuisan  -es  wherever  it  is  abundant,  which  seems  to  be  the  case  throughout  tlio 
gi'viatcr  jv)rtion  of  the  State,  and  no  one  has  anything  good  to  say  of  it.  In  its 
general  habits  it  resembles  the  IMue  .Tay  considerably;  it  is  an  equally  good 
mimic,  but  it  is  less  shy  and  wary  and  far  more  familiar  and  impertinent.  Its 
flight  is  slow  and  laborious,  accomplished  liy  considerable  flapping  f>f  the  wings, 
and  only  resorted  to  for  short  distances  and  through  necessity.  On  the  ground 
and  in  bushes  it  is  quick  and  agile  in  rdl  its  movements,  hopping  about  from 
limb  to  limb,  and  darting  through  the  thickest  undergrowth  with  great  ease.  It 
is  onuiivorous,  and  away  from  the  settlements  its  food  consists  priuci}>ally  t>f 
acorns,  the  seeds  of  the  nut  pine,  insects  of  various  kinds,  wild  fruits,  and  ben'ies. 

Mr.  K.  II.  Beck,  of  Benyessa,  California,  writes  me  that  he  has  seen  tliem 
with  lizards  in  their  claws.  In  the  winter  they  mostly  congregate  in  the  sjmib- 
bery  found  along  the  creek  Iwttoms,  and  among  the  oak  groves  in  the  lower 
foothills,  leaving  the  more  isolated  localities  in  the  mountain  gorges  where  many 
of  them  spend  the  sunmiers.  In  southern  California  nidification  commences 
occasionally  in  the  beginning  of  April,  and  con'espondingly  later  northward, 
where  it  is  generally  at  its  height  during  the  first  two  weeks  in  May.  I  think 
it  not  improbable  that  in  favorable  localities  two  broods  are  occasionally  raised 
in  a  season.  Mr.  F.  Ste[»]iens  took  a  set  of  four  eggs  near  Owen's  I^ake,  Inyo 
County,  California,  in  which  incubation  had  just  conmienced,  as  late  a«  .lune 
8,  1891,  and  in  a  locality  where  these  birds  were  not  likely  to  have  been 
previously  disturbed. 

The  nests  are  usually  fovuid  on  brush-covered  hillsides  or  in  creek  bottoms, 
placed  in  low  bushes  and  thickets,  such  as  blackbeny,  poison  oak,  wild  (^nosc- 
berry,  currant,  hazel,  hawthorn,  and  scnib-  lak  bushes,  or  in  osage-orange  hedges; 
occasionally  in  a  small  })inon  pine  or  a  bushy  young  fir,  and  quite  frequently 
on  a  horizontal  limb  of  an  oak,  varying  in  height  from  3  to  30  feet  from 
the  ground.  In  the  majority  of  cases  the  nests  are  located  Dear  water,  Init 
sometimes  one  may  V>e  found  fully  a  mile  distant.  Externally  they  are  com- 
posed of  a  jilatform  of  interlaced  twigs,  nii.xed  occasionall}'  with  moss,  wheat 
stubble,  and  dry  grass;  on  this  the  nest  jiroper  is  j)laced,  which  consists  of  a 
lining  of  fine  roots,  sometimes  mixed  with  horsehair.  No  mud  enters  into  the 
composition  of  their  nests.  One  now  before  me,  taken  l)y  Mr.  F.  Stephens,  as 
mentioned  above,  measures  9  inches  in  outer  diameter  by  3^  inches  in  height;  the 
inner  cuj)  is  4  inches  in  diameter  l)y  2  inches  deep.  Outwardly  it  is  comp<>sed 
of  small  twigs  of  sagebrush,  and  the  lining  consists  entirely  of  fine  roots;  it  is 
compactly  built  and  well  constructed.  The  nests  are  usually  well  concealed,  and 
the  birds  are  dose  sitters,  sometimes  remaining  on  the  nests  until  almost  touched. 

The  numlier  of  eggs  to  a  set  varies  from  three  to  six,  sets  of  four  or  five 
being  most  common;  the  male  assists  in  the  construction  of  the  nest,  and  to 
some  extent  in  incubation,  which  lasts  about  sixteen  days.  The  young  are  able 
to  leave  the  nest  in  about  eighteen  days,  and  follow  the  parents  for  some  time. 


m 


THE  CALIFORNIA  JAY. 


377 


Lato  in  the  auinincr  tliey  eongrogatts  in  straggling  flocks  in  localities  where  tliey 
find  subsistence*  most  abundant,  as  near  orcshards  and  among  the  oak  groves  in 
the  foothills,  which  at  that  time  supply  them  with  the  bulk  of  their  food;  here 
they  are  constantly  at  war  with  the  Californian  Woodpeckers,  whom  they  try  to 
rob  of  their  carefully  hoanled  winter  stores  whenever  an  opportunity  jiresents 
itself,  while  in  the  winter  they  come  around  the  farmhouses  and  steal  whatever 
eatables  they  can. 

The  gi'ound  color  of  the  egg  of  the  California  Jay  is  very  variable,  ranging 
from  deep  sea  green  to  pea  and  sage  green,  and  again  to  dull  olive  and  vinaceous 
buft".  The  eggs  with  a  greenish  ground  color  usually  have  markings  of  a  dark 
bottle-green  tint,  mixed  sometimes  with  different  shades  of  sage  gretai.  The 
eggs  having  a  bufly  ground  color  are  spotted,  blotched,  and  speckled  with 
different  shades  of  feiTuginous,  cinnamon,  rufous,  and  occasionally  lavender. 
The  markings  are  generally  scattered  over  the  entire  surface  of  the  i^gg,  and  are 
usually  heavier  about  the  larger  end,  but  nowhere  so  profuse  as  to  hide  the 
ground  color.  These  markings  vary  considerably  in  size;  some  are  irregular  in 
shape,  others  are  ((uite  even  iii  size  throughout,  and  occasionally  they  are  fine 
and  j)rofuse,  resembling  in  style  of  markings  the  well-known  eggs  of  some  of  the 
Thrashers  (JIarporhynchus).  A  few  instances  are  known  where  imspotted  eggs 
have  been  found.  The  shell  is  close  grained  and  lusterless.  In  shape  the  eggs 
are  mostly  ovate ;  a  few  are  elongate  ovate. 

The  average  measurement  of  seventy-six  eggs  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  27.82  by  20.(52  millimetres,  or  about  1.10  by  0.81  inches. 
The  largest  egg  of  the  series  measures  30.78  by  21.84  millimetres,  or  1.21  by 
0.8G  inches;  the  smallest,  24.89  by  19.30  millimetres,  <ir  0.98  by  0.76  inch. 

The  type  specimens  figured  iire  selected  to  show  some  of  the  different  styles 
of  coloration  found  among  the  eggs  of  this  species,  which  are  subject  to  a  great 
deal  of  variation.  No.  20309  (PI.  5,  Fig.  lA),  Bendire  collection,  taken  near 
Niciusio,  Marin  County,  California,  April  31,  1878,  represents  one  of  the  rarer 
color  phases;  No.  2084(1  (PI.  A,  Fig.  l(i),  presented  by  Dr.  James  C.  Merrill, 
United  States  Army,  from  a  set  of  three  eggs  taken  near  Santa  Cruz,  California, 
April  23,  1877,  .slu>\vs  another  rather  rare  .style  of  coloriitioii;  No.  24331  (PI.  f). 
Fig.  17),  received  from  the  United  States  Department  of  .\gi'icultiu"e,  from  a  set  of 
four  eggs,  taken  by  Mr.  V.  Stephens,  near  Owen's  Lake,  Inyo  Ci>unty,  California, 
on  June  8, 1891,  shows  one  of  the  commoner  types;  and  No.  2(!9")0  (1^1.  5,  Fig. 
18),  from  an  incomplete  set  of  two  eggs,  taken  by  Mr.  J.  Van  Denburgh,  near 
Los  Gatos,  California,  on  May  IG,  1889,  shows  a  rather  light-colored  and  nearly 
immaculate  specimen. 


M 


m 

M 


IT 


m 


\.  I 


378 


LIFE  UISTOBIE8  UF  NOUTII  AMERICAN  lURDB. 


i\\ 


\.U 


148.    Aphelocoma  califomica  hypoleuca  Ridoway. 

XANTIIS'S  JAY. 

Apheloaimn  californica  hypoleuca  UinowAV,  Manual  of  Nortli  American  Birdn,  1887,  3fi<i. 
(H  437,  pint;  C  23<i/>,  part;  U  2)>;{,  i)art;  O  356,  part;  U  48lrt.) 

(jEooRAi'iiiciAL  RANOE:  Southern  Lower  ('alit'oruia;  north  to  nlM)ut  hititndo  28°. 

Very  little  is  yet  known  about  tlie  life  history  of  Xantxis's  Jay  (a  some- 
what smaller  hird  than  the  preceding),  which  inhabits  the  Houthern  half  of  the 
California  Peninsula.  Mr.  Xantiis,  in  whose  honor  this  subspecies  is  named, 
found  it  a  conunon  resident  in  the  vicinity  of  Cape  St.  Lucas,  and  states  that  its 
habits  are  much  the  same  as  those  of  the  California  .Jay.  They  were  also  met 
with  by  Mr.  L.  lielding  in  the  same  region.  Mr.  Walter  E.  liryant  states:  "I 
saw  a  few  among  the  mangroves  of  Magdalena  Island,  and  along  the  mangrove- 
bordered  rstero  to  San  Jorge,  and  northward  as  far  as  latitude  28°."  Regarding 
its  nesting  ha))its,  he  says:  "A  single  nest  of  this  new  variety  was  foinid  by 
myself  a  few  miles  southward  of  San  Ignacio,  on  April  12,  1889.  The  nest  was 
built  about  3  metres  high,  in  a  gi*een  acacia,  near  the  trail.  The  female  was 
sitting  and  did  not*  fly  until  j)reparations  for  climbing  the  tree  had  conmienced. 
The  ne.st  was  in  quite  an  exposed  situation,  among  scant  twigs  on  a  horizontal 
branch.  It  is  (romi)osed  of  small,  loosely  laid  dry  twigs,  and  is  a  shallow  recep- 
tacle, lined  with  fiber  and  horsehair.  The  eggs,  three  in  number  (set  No.  899, 
collection  of  W.  E.  Bryant),  contained  small  embryos.  They  are  more  finely 
spotted  than  some  similar  Jays'  eggs,  with  shell  spots  of  pale  lilac  gray  Jind 
surface  spots  of  pale  olive  green.  The  groinid  color  is  dull  glaucous  green. 
They  measure  27.5  by  20.5,  27.5  by  21,  and  27  by  21  millimetres  "'(or  about 
1.08  by  0.79,  1.08  by  0.83,  and  l.Ofi'by  0.83  inches). 

I  have  l)een  inialde  to  leani  anything  further  about  the  general  habits 
of  this  subspecies;  they  are  undoubtedly  very  similar  to  those  of  the  Califor- 
nia .Jay. 

Two  eggs  in  the  United  States  National  Museum  collection,  taken  by  Mr. 
Xantus  in  the  vicinity  of  Cape  St.  Lucas,  in  the  sjjring  of  18(J0,  have  a  pale 
bluish-green  ground  color  and  are  spotted  over  the  entire  surface  with  small 
markings  of  gi'ayish  l)rown,  which  are  slightly  heavier  about  the  larger  end  of  the 
egg.  The  eggs  are  ovate  in  shape  and  slightly  glossy,  and  are  evidently  out  of 
different  nests.  One  measures  28.70  by  21.34  millimetres,  or  1.13  by  0.84  inciies; 
the  other,  24.13  by  17.78  millimetres,  or  0.95  by  0.70  inch. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  5174  (not  figured),  in  die  United  States  National 
Mu.seum  collection,  was  taken  as  above  stated,  and  closely  resembles  an  average 
egg  of  the  Califoniia  Jay. 


>  l'roce«(liU{{ii  of  the  Culifurniu  Aradeiuy  iif  SoicuceH,  2il  mii'Iiih,  Vol.  II,  1881),  p)).  :!4  und  293. 


It     - 


BELDING'S  JAY. 


379 


149.     Aphelocoma  califomica  obscura  Anthony. 

helding's  jay. 

Aphelocoma  caUfornica  ohsmra  Anthony,  Procowlings  ('tttifoniiit  Actulomy  of  Sciences,  2(1 
series,  II,  October  11, 1889,  75. 

(B  _,  C  — ,  R  — ,  C  — ,  U  4816.) 

GBooRApniOAL  BANGS:  San  Pedro  Martir  Monntains,  Lower  California. 

Belding's  Jay,  another  subspecies  of  tlio  California  Jay,  was  recently 
described  by  Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony,  in  the  "  Proceedings  of  the  California  Acad- 
emy of  Sciences"  (2d  series,  Vol.  II,  October  11,  1889,  pp.  73,  75).  The  type, 
which  differs  from  Aphelocoma  californu'ti  in  its  mucli  darker  colors  and  weaker 
feet,  was  obtained  by  him  at  Valladores,  Lower  California,  September  8,  1888. 
In  describing  the  region  where  his  specimens  were  collected,  he  says:  "About 
1.50  miles  south  of  the  United  States  boundary,  and  midway  between  the  Patufic 
Ocean  and  the  Gulf  of  California,  lies  a  high  range  of  mountains  which  is 
marked  upon  the  later  maps  of  the  peninsula  as  'San  Pedro  Martir.'  Tiie  region 
embraces  a  series  of  small  ranges  which  rise  from  an  elevated  mesa  having  a 
mean  elevation  of  about  8,000  feet  and  an  extent  of  60  by  20  miles.  In  these 
mountains  are  born  the  only  streams  tliat  this  part  of  the  peninsula  affords, 
and  an  abundance  of  pine  timber  is  found  throughout  the  region.  Many  of  the 
ranges  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  San  Pedro  Mjirtir  rise  to  an  elevation  of  11,000 
feet,  or  even  in  one  or  two  places  to  12, .500  (?)  feet. 

"  Rising  as  the  region  does  from  the  dry,  barren  hills  of  the  lower  country 
to  an  elevation  higher  than  any  other  on  the  peninsida  or  in  southern  California, 
and  i)resenting  in  its  al})ine  vegetation  and  clear  mountain  streams  features  so 
different  from  the  dry  manzanlta  and  sage-covered  hills  of  the  surrounding 
country,  it  is  not  unnatural  to  suj)})ose  that  its  animal  life  would  be  found  to 
differ  in  some  respects  from  that  of  the  surrounding  hills,  etc." 

In  these  regions  Helding's  Jay  is  found,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  Mr. 
Anthony  will  bo  able  to  pay  ani>ther  visit  to  these  mountains  and  exjjlore  them 
more  thoroughly.  Notliing  is  yet  known  regarding  the  nesting  hal>its  and  eggs 
of  this  well-marked  subspecies. 


I* 


-|ii^ 


if  '■ 


150.     Aphelocoma  insularis  IIenshaw. 

SANTA  Cin;Z  .lAY. 

Aphelopoma  ituularis  FlKNsnAW,  Auk,  III,  October,  1880,  452. 

(B  — ,  0  — ,  U  — ,  V  — ,  U  481.1.) 

OEOoreAi'HiCAL  RANOE:  Santa  Oux  Island,  southern  California. 

The  Santa  Cruz  Jay,  which  seems  to  be  ctmfined  to  tlie  similarly  named 
island,  onc!  of  the  innermost  of  the  Santa  Barbara  grouj),  about  2.'}  miles  distant 
from  the  California  coast,  was  first  discovered  by  Mr.  II.  W.  IIenshaw,  in  .June, 


:W. 


4 


f^i 


1 


Ij' 


m 


I.- 


h>' 


ISil 


380 


LIFE  H1FTOEIB8  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


1875,  ami  described  by  him  in  "The  Auk"  (Vol.  Ill,  188fi,  pp.  4.')2,4.')3).  It  is 
a  larjjer  binl  than  the  California  Jay,  and  generally  deeper  colored.  Very  little 
is  yet  known  about  the  life  history  of  this  species. 

Mr.  Eli  Whitney  Blake,  jr.,  who  visite<l  this  island  on  two  occasions  in  1887, 
states:  "  It  is  by  far  the  commonest  land  bird  of  the  island,  and  familiar  to  the 
verge  of  impudence.  General  habits  like  those  of  its  near  relatives  on  the  main- 
huid.  Several  nests  which  nuist  have  belonged  to  this  species  were  j)laced  in 
trees  or  bushes,  between  6  and  30  feet  from  the  ground.  They  exhibited  no 
marked  peculiarity  of  construction." ' 

The  eggs  of  this  species,  as  far  as  I  am  aware,  remain  still  to  be  described. 
There  is  probably  but  little  difference  between  them  and  those  of  the  Cali- 
fornia Jay. 


151.     Aphelocoma  sieberii  arizonse  Riuoway. 

ARIZONA  .lAY. 

GyanoeUtn  ultranmrinn  vitr.  nrhoiuv  liiixtwAY,   Hiilletiii  I'jhsox   Iiistitiit/C,  V,   December, 

187.3,  199. 
Aphel4>eoma  tieherii  urizoiuv  Kiuuway,  ProcetHlings  U.  8.  National  Muauuiii,  VUI,  1885, 

;«5. 

(H  440,  C  237,  U  296,  <3  357,  U  482.) 

Geoobaphioai,  kanok:  Hdutherii  New  Mexico  and  Arizona;  south  into  Sonora  and 
Chiliiiahua,  Me.xico. 

The  Arizona  Jay  is  a  common  resident  throughout  the  oak  })elt  of  .southern 
Arizona  and  Njw  Mexico  which  generally  fringes  the  foothills  of  the  mountiiins 
and  ranges  wjll  up  among  the  pines.  In  suitable  localities  these  Jays  are  very 
abundant,  especially  so  along  the  sIojjcs  of  the  Santa  Catalina,  Iluachuca,  Santa 
Rita,  and  'Jhiricahua  mountiiins,  in  soutliern  Arizona,  and  the  ranges  adjacent  to 
the  Rio  Mimbres,  in  southern  New  Mexico.  They  are  rarely  seen  any  distance 
out  on  file  arid  plains;  but  after  the  breeding  season  is  over  small  flocks  are 
sometin  es  met  with  among  the  shrubbery  of  the  few  water  courses,  several 
miles  away  from  their  regular  habitat.  I  repeatedly  noticed  several  of  these 
Jays  along  the  Rillito  Creek,  near  my  camp,  in  1872-73,  in  the  early  spring 
and  up  to  the  middle  of  May,  evidently  on  ii  raid  after  <'ggs  and  tlie  young  of 
smaller  birds,  wiiicli  l)reed  in  abundance  here  among  the  undergrowth  in  the 
creek  bottoms.  On  such  occasions  they  were  very  silent,  and  their  presence 
was  oidy  betrayt^l  hy  the  scoMings  they  received  from  the  numerous  resident 
bird  population.  On  their  own  heath  they  are  as  noisy  as  any  of  our  Jays,  and 
apj)arently  far  more  sociable,  a  number  of  pairs  fre(|uently  breeding  in  a  small 
oak  i-  Ml  close  j)roximity  to  each  other,  in  this  respect  resembling  the  I'ifion 

Jay.      .       .dso  breeds  in  colonies  at  times.    They  do  not  unite  in  as  large  flocks, 
howtvcT,  but  move  about  more  in  small  family  jiarties,  from  half  a  <lozen  to 

'  The  Auk,  Vol.  IV,  18S7,  p.  3a9. 


i5«*>' 


Iv-,  '■: 


1: 


TUE  AltlZONA  JAY. 


381 


twenty  or  thirty,  in  fact  it  is  rare  to  see  one  alonu.  Tliey  are  exceedingly 
restless,  constantly  on  the  move,  prying  into  this  or  that,  spending  a  good  por- 
tion of  their  time  on  the  ground,  now  hopping  on  a  low  limb,  and  the  next  minute 
down  again,  twit(!hing  their  tails  almost  constantly.  Their  call  notes  are  harsh 
and  far-reaching,  and  are  somewhat  similar  to  those  of  the  California  Jay. 
'■'hey  are  as  great  robbers  of  the  eggs  and  young  of  smaller  birds  as  thefonner. 
The  other  birds  inhai)iting  the  same  surrounding-s  and  building  open  nests  must 
certainly  have  a  hard  time  of  it  in  i-earing  their  young. 

Their  food  consists  of  grasshopjters  and  insects  of  various  kinds,  animal 
matter  when  obtainable,  wild  fruits,  seeds,  and  esj)ecially  acorns.  The  latter 
probably  form  the  bulk  of  their  subsistence  throughout  the  greater  portion  of  the 
year.  In  the  Suharita  Pass,  between  the  Santa  Catalina  and  the  Rincon  moun- 
tains, near  Tucson,  Arizona,  I  noticed  about  twenty  feeding  on  the  fig-like  fruit 
of  the  suahara,  of  which,  like  many  other  birds,  they  seemed  to  bo  very  fond. 
Their  flight  appears  to  me  to  be  far  less  laborious  than  that  of  the  California 
Jay.  It  reminds  me  of  that  of  some  of  our  Raptores,  rising  now  high  in  the  air, 
partly  closing  their  wings,  and  then  darting  suddenly  down,  then  up  again,  and 
rei)eating  these  movements  for  some  time.  In  southern  Arizona  the  mating 
season  begins  about  the  end  of  February,  and  nidification  follows  soon  after. 

According  to  observations  made  by  Mr.  W.  E.  D.  Scott,  the  Arizona  Jay 
sometimes  does  not  commence  laying  until  fully  two  weeks  after  the  nest  has 
been  cor.ipleted,  and  again  builds  an  additional  nest  close  to  the  first,  without 
occupying  it.  A  nest  is  described  by  him  as  follows:  "It  was  built  in  an  oak 
sapling,  about  10  feet  from  the  ground,  and  is  composed  of  dry  rootlets  laid 
very  loosely  in  concentric  rings;,  and  with  little  or  no  attempt  at  weaving 
together.  There  is  nothing  like  a  lining,  and  the  walls  of  the  structure  have  an 
average  thickness  of  about  three-quarters  of  an  inch.  The  interior  diameter  is 
f)  inches,  and  the  greatest  interior  depth  is  1^  inches.  The  whole  fabric  recalls 
to  mind  a  rather  deep  saucer.  The  nest  was  not  built  in  a  crotch,  but  where 
several  small  branches  and  twigs  leave  the  large  branch  (1^  inches  in  diameter) 
which  forms  the  main  suppoi't.  All  the  other  nests  I  have  seen  resemble  this 
one  so  closel}'  that  this  description  will  answer  fitr  them." ' 

A  nest  of  this  species,  taken  by  Lieut.  11.  C.  Benson,  United  States  Arm}-, 
on  April  6,  1887,  differs  somewhat  from  those  described  by  Mr.  Scott.  It  is 
composed  outwardly  of  small  sticks  and  twigs;  next  conies  a  layer  of  fine  root- 
hsts,  well  woven  together — this  mass  is  alone  <jver  half  an  inch  in  thickness — 
and,  finally,  the  inner  nest  is  lined  with  a  liberal  supply'  of  horsehair.  It  is  well 
constructed,  and  measures  about  10  inches  across  externally  by  4  inches  in 
dejith;  the  inner  diameter  is  about  4^  by  2  inches  in  depth. 

The  nest  and  eggs  of  the  Arizona  Jay  were  firat  discovered  by  Mr.  F. 
Stei»lieiis,  near  Fort  Bayard,  New  Mexico,  on  Ajiril  29,  1876,  and  since  tlion 
he  has  found  it  breeding  in  the  Chiricahua  and  Santa  llita  mountains;  he  con- 
siders it  a  foothill  bird,  not  going  far  into  tlio  pines  and  not  appearing  on  the 
plains. 

■The  Aiik,  Vol.  Ill,  1880,  p.  81. 


■><.:.■: 


:.tl 


Ij.'-! 

,!rvi 

la  i ' ,  ■ 

Jr. -^ 


!'■"■ 


382 


LIFK  UISTOItlES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


Lioutonaiit  Boiihou,  United  States  Army,  found  them  breeding  ubtmduntly 
in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Iluachueu,  Arizona,  duriufr  April  and  May,  1887.  All  of 
the  nests  taken  by  him,  some  thirty  in  number,  were  placed  in  oaks,  from  12  to 
30  feet  from  the  {fi'cmnd,  usually  about  15  feet  hi;;h,  being  generally  only  moder- 
ately concealed.  Ilis  first  sot  was  found  on  April  C,  and  the  majority  were 
taken  in  this  month;  his  latest  record  is  May  10.  The  breeding  season  seems 
to  be  at  its  height  during  the  latter  half  of  April.  But  one  brood  appears  to  bo 
raised  in  a  season,  and  incubation  lasts  about  sixteen  days.  The  number  of 
eggs  to  a  set  varies  from  four  to  seven;  sets  of  four  eggs  are  more  frequently 
found  than  larger  ones,  and  in  thirty-fimr  sets  now  before  mo  there  is  only  one 
of  si.K  and  one  of  seven  eggs.  These  differ  from  all  the  known  eggs  of  this 
family  found  within  the*  United  States  by  being  xmspotted.  They  are  glaucous 
green  in  color,  and  the  majority  are  nuich  more  glossy  than  Jays'  eggs  gen- 
erally are. 

In  the  fine  series  of  specimens,  one  hundred  and  thirty-six  in  niimbei*, 
nearly  all  collected  by  Lieutenant  Benson,  !  can  not  find  a  single  one  that  sh(»\vs 
any  trace  of  markings;  they  are  all  perfectly  immaculate.  The  shell  is  smooth 
and  compact;  in  shape  they  vary  from  ovate  to  elongate  ovate. 

The  average  measurement  of  this  series  is  30.28  by  22.2(!  millimetres,  or 
about  1.1!)  by  0.H8  inches.  The  largest  egg  measures  35.05  by  22.10  millimetres, 
or  1.38  by  0.87  inches;  the  smallest  26.92  by  21.59  millimetres,  or  l.OO  by  0.85 
inches. 

The  type  specimens,  Nos.  22969  and  22997  (PI.  5,  Figs.  19  and  20),  from 
sets  of  four  and  five  eggs,  respectively,  were  collected  by  Lieut.  II.  C.  Benson, 
Fourtli  Cavalry,  United  States  Anny,  near  Fort  Huachuca,  Arizona,  on  April  15, 
aud  27,  1887,  and  represent  average  types  of  this  species. 


152.    Aphelocoma  cyanotis  Kiuoway. 

ItLUE-KAKKD  .JAY. 

Aphvlocoma  vyaiwtin  UniGWAY,  Manual  of  Nortli  Ainerican  IJirds,  1887,  ;{57. 

(B  — .  C  — ,  R  — ,  0  — ,  U  48(»,1.) 

CiKonBAi'HK.'AL  KAN(iE:  Eastern  Mexi'j,  fruui  the  States  uf  Tuebla,  Mexico,  and 
Sail  Luis  I'otosi  north  to  western  Texas. 

'I'iie  Blue-ejired  Jay,  a  recent  addition  to  our  fauna,  was  first  described  by 
Mr.  Jloljcrt  Uidgway  from  a  specimen  now  in  tlie  United  States  National  Museum 
collection,  taken  by  Mr.  John  Taylor,  in  Sei)tember,  183(!,  in  Mexico  (exact 
locality  not  known),  and  it  was  only  rediscovered  a  few  years  ago  l)y  the  late 
Mr.  1'.  L.  ,Fouy,  near  (liarcas,  Puebla,  Mexico,  which  remains  as  yet  the  mo.st 
southern  point  of  its  known  range.  Since  then  tiie  United  States  I)ej»artment 
of  Agriculture  has  received  a  numl)er  of  specimens  from  different  localities  in 
the  States  of  Mexic<»  and  San  Luis  Potosi,  where  it  appears  to  be  common,  and 
also  three  from  Pai.sano,  Brewster  County,  Texas,  a  station  on  the  S(  iithern 


THE  BLUE-EABED  JAY. 


883 


Pacific  Railroad,  and  the  liiji^heHt  point  (5,082  feet)  on  this  road.'  These  speci- 
niuns  were  taken  (tn  July  14,  18,  and  21,  1890,  and  it  is  probable  that  this 
species  breeds  there,  l^he  mountain  slopes  here,  forming'  a  southern  extension 
of  the  Guadalupe  range,  are  covered  in  places  with  scrub  oak  and  juniper  groves, 
and  these  form  the  homo  of  this  Jay. 

Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher,  in  his  note  in  "The  Auk"  already  mentioned,  referring  to 
these  Texas  specimens,  says:  "Through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  llidgway  they  were 
compared  with  the  type  of  Aphelocoma  ii/anotis  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection,  and  were  found  to  be  rijferablo  to  that  species.  They  differ 
from  cyanoHs  \\i  averaging  a  little  smaller,  and  in  having  a  more  slender  bill,  thus 
grading  toward  woodhousei,  as  might  bo  expected,  where  the  range  of  that  bird  is 
ajjproached.  In  coloration,  however,  allowing  for  the  slight  difference  due  in 
the  wearing  of  the  plumage,  they  are  identical  with  cifanotis,  and  in  no  way 
resemble  woodhousei." 

Its  nests  and  eggs  still  remain  unknown,  as  far  as  I  am  aware,  but  they  iire 
not  likely  to  diffur  very  nmch  from  those  of  the  other  members  of  this  genus. 
The  mountains  and  hilly  regions  of  that  part  of  Texas  where  this  Jay  is  found 
have  been  but  very  indifferently  explored,  and  undoubtedly  other  species  new  to 
our  fauna  will  be  found  here  when  this  section  becomes  better  known  from  an 
ornithological  standpoint.* 

153.     Xanthoura  luxuosa  (Lesson). 

GKKEN  JAY. 

Qarrnlm  hixuoHus  Lesson,  Kevuo  Zoologiqne,  1839, 100, 
Xanthoura  luxuosa  Bonai'ABTK,  Consi)ectu8  Avium,  1, 1850,  380. 

(B  442,  0  238,  It  290,  C  358,  U  483.) 

GEOnRAPHiOAL  BANOE:  Lower  Itio  Graudo  Valley,  iu  Texhis;  south  through  oustorii 
Mexico  to  Vera  Cruz  and  Puebhi. 

The  range  of  the  Green  or  Rio  Grande  .Jay  is  a  very  restricted  one  in  the 
United  States,  including  only  the  lower  Rio  Grande  Valley,  northwest  to  about 
Rio  Grande  City,  Texas. 

Mr.  D.  B.  Burrows,  writing  mo  from  Roma,  Texas,  says:  "These  birds  are 
common  a  few  miles  below  Rio  Grande  City,  but  are  never  seen  above  this  place." 

'The  Auk,  Vol.  XI,  p.  3L'7. 

''  Since  tbis  wiih  writt«ii  Mr.  H.  P.  Attwator,  of  San  Antonio,  Texas,  to  whom  I  am  iiulebteil  for  a  g^unt 
lU'iil  of  vnluiible  information  relating  to  Ti>xuh  birds,  biw kinilly  8( nl  mo  a  itkiii  of  ii  Jay,  a  foinalc,  Hliot  neiir 
tbe  bead  waters  of  the  Nueces  Kiver,  iu  Edwards  County,  TuNas,  jii  December  1,  1S!)1,  wbicb,  on  ciirefnl 
comparigou  witb  a  fair  series  of  skins  of  the  lllne-eared  Jay  now  in  the  V.  S.  National  Mnsciim,  as  well  as 
in  tbe  collection  of  birds  in  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  does  not  appear  to  me  to  bi^  referable  to 
this  species,  although  it  resembles  it  rather  closely.  I  um  inclined  to  believe  that  on  the  whole  it  comes 
neariT  to  ApMocoma  Bumiehratti  Ridgway,  and  may  prove  to  be  a  new  race  of  this  species.  In  the  moan- 
time  I  have  received  some  additional  material,  consisting  of  an  adult  umlo  and  3  adult  females,  as  well  as  a 
young  female,  only  a  few  days  from  the  nest.  One  of  the  adults  was  taken  on  March  18,  the  renmining  ones 
on  May  8,  1895.  Mr.  Attwater  obtained  these  8]iecies  near  tbe  source  of  Johnson  Creek,  about  20  miles 
northwest  of  Kerrville,  Kerr  County,  Texas,  where  this  species  is  not  uncommon  and  breeds.  Although  theao 
skins  are  iu  ratlnr  worn  plumage  and  in  poor  condition,  they  appear  to  be  referable  to  this  species  instead 
of  Aphelocoma  oumichraiti,  as  was  at  first  surmised.    This  extends  its  range  somewhat  farther  eastward. 


m 


U 


..    -1  •   :  .1 


■'■ 


384 


LIl'K  HISTORIES  OF  NOUTll  AMKUIUAN  BIRDS. 


Tlio  "Pajiiro  vurdc,"  jw  this  hiitl  in  called  by  the  Spanish-speiikini;  popula- 
tion of  thirt  region,  is  a  cotninou  resident  throughout  the  heavier-timbered  river 
bottoms  and  the  chapan'al  bordering  the  Rio  Grande,  especiuUy  in  the  vicinity 
of  Hidalgo  and  Loinita,  and  breeds  wherever  found. 

Dr.  Jaiu»'s  ('.  Merrill,  United  States  Army,  in  speaking  of  this  species,  says: 
"The  Rio  Grande  Jay  is  a  coinm<m  re.sident  about  Fort  Jirown  and  higher  up 
the  river,  but  does  not  seem  to  pass  nuich  into  the  interior  of  Texas.  It  is  a 
noisy  and  gaudy  species,  soon  making  its  presence  known  by  its  harsh  cries  or 
by  its  green  and  yellow  plumage,  seen  for  a  moment  as  it  moves  about.  Though 
at  times  shy,  it  is  oftc^n  very  tame  and  l>old,  entering  tents  and  taking  food  oft' 
of  plates  or  from  the  kitchen,  whenever  a  good  opportunity  ofl"ers.  Large  num- 
bers are  caught  by  the  soldiers  in  traps  baited  with  com,  but  the  plumage  ia 
their  only  attraction  as  a  cage  bird."' 

There  is  little  or  no  difference  in  the  general  habits  of  the  Green  Jay  from 
those  of  the  other  membei-s  <»f  this  family. 

Mr.  (leorge  li.  Sennett  .says:  "Of  all  the  birds  on  the  l<»wer  Rio  Grande, 
this  is  the  most  mischievous,  robbing  and  despoiling  other  bird.s'  nests  without 
mercy." - 

\'»'rv  little  has  as  yet  been  recorded  regarding  the  food  of  this  Jay,  exce{)t- 
ing  what  1  have  already  mentioned,  but  it  is  presumable  that  it  does  not  vary 
much  from  that  of  our  better-known  species.  The  nesting  season  co?nmences 
early  in  April  and  liists  through  May.  The  first  nest  and  eggs  brought  to  the 
attention  of  naturalists,  as  far  as  I  am  aware,  are  those  taken  by  Dr.  Meirill  on 
May  27,  1H7(),  near  Kdinburg  (now  Hidalgo),  Texas,  about  70  miles  above  Fort 
IJrown,  on  the  Rio  (jrnuuhf,  and  recorded  in  the  "Jiulletiu  of  the  Nuttall  Onii- 
thological  Club,  l87()"  (Vol.  I,  p.  8!l).  This  is  described  as  follows:  "It  was 
placed  on  the  horizontal  branch  of  awaicjui  tree,  about  2.')  feet  from  the  ground, 
and  was  built  of  twigs  and  rootlets.  Tiie  cavity  was  slight,  and  the  entire 
structure  so  thin  that  the  eggs  could  be  seen  through  the  bottom.  They  wore 
three  in  number  and  (piite  fresh." 

Two  n«'sts  now  in  the  United  States  National  Mu.seum  collection  resemble 
the  above,  and  are  frailer  than  any  other  Jays'  nests  I  have  ever  seen.  They 
do  not  always  build  such  .slight  structures,  however.  Mr.  Sennett  describes 
one  as  follows:  "Tiie  nest  of  the  Jay  was  some  !(  feet  from  the  ground,  on  the 
outer  branches  of  a  small  tree,  and  composed  wholly  of  sticks  an<l  fine  twigs. 
The  sticks  were  so  full  of  thorns  that  when  they  were  crossed  about  among  tiie 
living  itranches  more*  firmness  wiis  given  to  the  nest  than  .isual,  and  by  cutting 
oft'  the  branches  I  could  readily  take  it  entire.  The  outside  diameter  is  K  inches 
one  way  l)y  8  the  other;  its  depth  is  4  inches;  inside  it  is  3.J  inches  wide  by  2 
inches  deep."'' 

The  nests  ar(^  gentirally  placed  in  dense  thickets  and  well  hidden  among 
the  branches  at  heights  varying  tisiudly  from  5  to  10  feet  from  the  groiuid,  and 

'  Proceeiliugs  <if  tlio  U.  S.  Nationiil  Mimonni,  Vol.  I,  1878,  p.  136. 
"Bulletin  »f  the  1'.  S.  ficcilnnical  Survey,  1879,  Vol.  V,  No.  3,  p.  400. 
'  V.  8.  fioologieal  Survey,  1878.  Vol.  IV,  No.  1,  p.  30. 


THK  GBKKN  JAY. 


385 


rarely  in  liirjy**  tn-oH.  Tlioy  urn  frtM|U((iitly  fnund  in  n-tiiiiia,  iiiuiniliuita,  hrasil, 
aixl  lia«-klterrv  IuihIics  or  trees.  Tlui  outer  nest  consists  iisiialh'  ot'  a  slijrlit 
|)latt'orni  of  small  thorny  twi<;'s  an*l  brandies,  s])arin<rly  linetl  with  tine  rootlets, 
HHiall  pieees  of  a  wire-like  vine,  bits  of  moss,  and  oeeasionally  dry  grains  and 
leaves.  The  (Jreen  .lay  apparently  does  not  u,so  mud  in  the  constrtietion 
of  its  nest.  The  earliest  l)re(Hlin(;  record  I  have  is  April  [\,  and  the  latest  is 
May  -(>.  The  breedinj*'  season  is  at  its  height  during  the  last  week  in  April  and 
the  first  week  in  May.  It  is  probable  that  two  broods  are  sometimes  raised  in  a 
season.  The  length  of  incubation  is  not  likely  to  vary  more  than  a  dayor  so 
from  that  of  our  better-known  .lays. 

The  number  of  eggs  laid  by  this  species  is  from  three  to  five;  sets  of  four 
are  most  often  found.  Tlu!  prevailing  ground  color  «>f  these  eggs  is  grayish 
white,  occasionally  pale  greenish  white  or  butf  color.  I^liey  are  profusely 
H|M)tted  and  blotched — but  never  heavily  enough  to  hide  thct  ground  <'olor — with 
dirt'erent  shades  of  bn»wn,  gi'ay,  and  lavt^nder;  these  markings  are  geiKn-ally 
more  abuiulant  about  the  larger  en<l  of  the  v<i;ir.  The  shell  is  close  grained,  mod- 
erately strong,  and  shows  little  «)r  no  gloss.  Their  shajie  is  mostl}'  ovate,  and 
sometimes  short  ovate. 

The  average  measurement  of  seventy  eggs  in  the  United  .States  National 
Museum  collection  is  27.31  by  20.43  millimetres,  or  alxmt  l.dS  l)y  (>.H()  inches. 
The  largest  {.^^ii  of  the  series  measures  30.7H  by  21.S4  millimetres,  or  1.21  by 
086  iiushes;  the  smallest,  24.H!»  by  19.30  millimetres,  or  0.!)8  by  0.7(i  inch. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  20H43  (I'l.  3,  Fig.  ir»),  from  a  set  of  four  eggs,  was 
taken  by  Dr.  .James  C!.  Merrill,  I 'nited  States  Army,  near  Fort  Hrown,  Te.xas, 
on  April  23,  1H77,  and  represents  one  of  the  commoner  tyj)es.  No.h.  2(J3r)!l  and 
263(!2  (IM.  3,  Figs.  l(!  and  17),  Ralph  collection,  both  from  sets  of  four,  taken 
near  Hrownsville,  Texas,  on  A\m\  3  and  May  U,  18'J3,  respectively,  show  diH'er- 
eut  and  less  conuuon  styles  of  marking. 


iltili-  ' 


<-■',' 


154.    Perisoreus  canadensis  Linnvkus. 

CANADA  .rAV. 


I,  I 


Cornm  canailninin  liiynA'.vs,  Systcma  Natiinr,  cil.  12,  I,  ITfJO,  l.TS, 
Perisotnin  mnadeiiaiK  Uonapakte,  (rcograpliical  aiul  CoiiipiU'ativc  hist,  1838,  27. 

(B  44;?,  V  2;«»,  K  297,  V  350,  U  484.) 

GEor.RAPniCAL  RANOE:  From  iiortliern  New  England,  northern  Now  York,  nortlicrn 
Miclii);nn,  and  Minnesota,  nortbwiird  tlirougli  tlie  Donn'nion  of  Canndsi  to  Iladson  liayand 
the  interior  of  British  Nortli  America,  east  of  the  Kocky  Mountains ;  casually  south  to 
northern  Massachusetts  (Berkshire  Oountyl. 

The  Canada  ,Tay  is  locally  known  as  "Whi.sky  .Tack"  and  "Whi.sky  .Tolm," 
a  conniption  of  its  Indian  name,  "  Wiss-kii-chon"  or  "Wis-ka-tjon;"  it  is  also 
sometimes  called  "Moose  Hird,"  "Hudson  Iky  liird,"  "Caribou  IJird,"  "Meat 
Bird,"  "fJrease  Bird,"  "Camp  Robber,"  and  "Venisnn  Hawk,"  by  tlie  guides  and 
lumbermen  of  the  Adirondack  wilderness;  it  is  only  found  in  the  more  northern 

16806-Xo.  3 25 


,1,1 


i! 


: 


i; 


n 


V 


m 


380 


LIFE  U1STOUIB8  OF  NOHTH  AMEUIUAN  liUlDS. 


parts  of  tlio  Uniti'tl  StateH,  wlioro  it.  in  a  roHident  luwl  l)rt'0<lH.  Witliiii  our  Inir- 
(lurH  it  iH  iiioHt  eoiiiiiion  in  iiorthorii  Mainu  and  nortlioru  Miiim-Hot^i,  inhaltitiii^' 
tlio  extousivo  piny  and  tainamck  forostH  found  tiicn-.  In  tho  AdiroudaukH,  in 
northern  Now  York,  it  occurn  only  in  tho  wilder  pnitictns,  and  it  is  not  unconi- 
ni(»n  in  HuctiouH  of  tho  Wliito  and  CJroen  Mountains,  in  northurn  Now  JIanipshiro 
and  Vonnont.  It  occasionally  straffjjlos  a  littlo  t'lrthcr  south  than  tho  points 
inontionod,  l)ut  such  occurroncos  aro  rathor  raro.  Northward  it  rauj^vs  throu}>h 
tho  Dominion  of  Canada  to  tho  western  shores  of  Hudson  Hay,  to  Fort  Clnurhill, 
and  thenoo  throuffhout  tho  inier'ntr  of  the  fur  countries  to  tho  limit  of  timl)er 
within  tho  Arctic  Circle,  oast  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

No  l)ird  is  better  known  to  the  lumbormen,  trappers,  and  hunters  alon;>'  our 
nortliern  bordei  than  the  Canada  Jay,  which  is  a  constant  attendant  at  tlieir 
camps,  and  aii'ords  tiiom  no  little  amusement  durin^r  the  lonely  hours  spent  in  tiie 
woods.  To  ouu  not  familiar  with  thatm  bii'ds  it  is  u»toui»hiu<^  how  tamo  they 
bocomo. 

Mr.  Manly  Hardy  writes:  "  Tho  Canada  Jay  is  a  constant  resident  of  nortii- 
orn  Maine,  but  in  some  seasons  they  are  far  more  abunchint  than  in  others, 
beiii},'  usually  found  in  companies  of  from  three  to  ten.  'I'iiey  aro  tho  boldest 
of  all  our  birds,  (fxcopt  tho  Chickadee  (/'«/•«;  (itiicttjnilii.s),  and  in  cool  impu- 
dence far  surpass  all  others.  Thoy  will  enter  tents,  and  often  ali^^ht  on  tho  bow 
of  a  canoo  whore  tho  padillo  at  every  stroke  ctunes  within  IS  inches  of  them. 
I  know  of  nothiuff  which  can  be  euten  that  they  will  not  take,  and  I  had  ono 
steal  all  my  candles,  pulliujjf  theui  out  endwi.se  out;  l)y  one  from  a  piece  of  birch 
bark  they  wore  rolled  in,  and  anotlie.  pecked  il  larj^e  hole  in  a  cake  of  castile 
soap.  A  duck  which  I  liad  picked  and  laid  down  for  a  few  minutes  had  tho  entire 
))reast  eaten  out  by  ono  or  move  of  these  birds.  I  have  seen  ono  alight  in  the 
middle  of  my  canoo  and  jjock  away  at  the  carcass  of  a  beaver  I  liad  skinned. 
They  often  spoil  deer  saddles  by  peckinfir  into  them  near  tlio  kidneys,  'i'licy  do 
great  <lama<ro  to  the  trajtpers  by  stealinj;'  tho  bait  from  traps  st't  for  martens  and 
minks  and  by  eatin<;  trapped  game;  they  will  spoil  a  marten  in  a  short  time. 
They  will  sit  (piietly  and  see  you  build  a  log  trap  an<l  l)ait  it,  and  then,  almost 
before  your  back  is  turned,  you  hear  their  hateful  'ca-ca-ca'  as  they  glide  down 
and  j)eer  into  it.  Tlioy  will  work  steadily  carrying  off  meat  and  hiding  it.  1 
have  thrown  out  pieces  and  watched  ono  to  see  ln)w  nmch  ho  would  carry  off. 
He  flew  across  a  wide  stream  and  in  a  short  time  looked  as  bloody  as  a  butcher 
from  carrying  large  pieces;  but  his  j)atienco  held  out  longer  than  inilie.  I 
think  one  would  work  as  long  as  Mark  Twj'in's  California  Jay  did  trying  to  fill 
a  minor's  cabin  with  acorns  through  a  knot  hole  in  tho  roof  Tiioy  oat  insects 
of  different  kinds,  and  I  havo  found  carrion  beetles  in  their  crops;  they  also  eat 
the  fungi  or  inushrooms  growing  on  stumps,  using  the.s«*  largely  when  other  food 
is  scarce.  Thoy  aro  fond  of  tho  berries  of  tho  mountain  iish,  and,  in  fact,  few 
things  como  amiss;  and  I  believe  they  do  not  possess  a  single  good  (piality 
excepting  industry.  They  breed  e.'n-ly  in  March.  While  on  a  trip  to  the  famous 
Ripogeuus  Falls,  iu  June,  18'J1,  I  saw  many  young  Canada  Jays;  these  wore 


TUB  CANADA  JAY. 


887 


Hlattf  hliu-k,  tiltniit  tlio  nilor  of  a  Ctithird,  aixl  my  {riiiilo  iiii'oniuMl  nit'  tliat  ho 
8UW  tluf  yiiimn'  Hyiujr  alxmt  as  early  as  A|nil  10." 

A  f(>m'S|Miii(ltfnt  iff  "The  Aiiicricaii  Field"  (in  Vol.  ;U,  duly  l!l,  1H!I(»,  p. 
r>4),  under  tlict  mini  do  plume  of  "A<ramak,"  writes  aliout  the  Canada  .lay  an 
tollows:  "lie  will  uat  anything  t'rnin  soap  to  |dii^  tohaeeo.  His  appetite*  and 
mpaeity  to  stow  away  food  is  beyond  helief  One  day  we  had  a  dozen  lar^e 
Hahnon  trout  hun<;  up  to  dry,  hut  hein^r  alisent  from  eamp  for  a  few  hours  wu 
returned  to  fintl  four  Whisky  .lacks  had  totally  annihilated  oin-  lish,  They  woidd 
Hy  ort"  with  pieces  half  as  larffe  as  themselves  an<l  in  a  few  minuti's  return  for 
more.  It  is  not  possihh*  they  could  ha\e  i^aten  it  all.  I  have  fed  them  snudi 
hits  till  they  could  hardly  fly  enouf,di  to  jfet  in  a  tn-e.  Our  pork,  soap,  tobacco, 
and  other  provisions  were  unsafe  in  their  si^dit  and  reach.  Our  Indians  used  to 
say:  'Ilim  eat  moccasins,  fur  cap,  matches,  anytink.'  I  once*  snared  two  of 
them  and  put  them  in  a  ca<;<«  madt*  of  birch  bark  and  tamarack  roots.  Half  an 
hour  after  their  capture  they  would  eat  jrreedily  from  my  hand,  lie  is  well 
named  '  Whisky  .lack,'  as  I  iiovur  saw  a  nioro  insane,  drunkeu-actin;:'  creature 
in  my  life." 

The  apparent  absence  of  all  fear  of  man,  its  extreme  familiarity,  ami  tlio 
many  cunnin^r  and  amusiii}^'  traits  of  our  ('anaila  .lay  must  certainly  commend 
him  to  any  lover  of  nature  and  <fo  far  toward  balanciii};  accounts  for  the  daiiiaffe 
he  sometimes  dot^s  throuj^h  theft,  wliih'  his  absence  from  the  silent  pine,  fir,  and 
spruce  forests  and  tamarack  swamps  in  which  he  makes  his  home  wimld  cer- 
tainly be  felt,  and  by  none  more  than  the  hardy  trapper  or  Iiunter,  wlios««  only 
companion  he  is  on  many  lonely  tramps  throiiji'li  the  deep  winter  snows,  where 
for  days  at  a  time  not  another  livinj''  creature  is  seen. 

Mr.  Iv  A.  Samuels,  in  his  Birds  of  New  Kiijiland  (p.  .'W!7),  says:  "I  have 
had  numerous  opportunities  for  <d)serviii}>'  its  habits,  and  I  can  positiveK'  aflirni 
that  it  is  equally  rapacious  and  destructive  with  the  Hhie  .lay,  which  it  resembles 
in  motions  and  cry.  i  once  knew  of  a  sin<;le  pair  of  the  birds  destroyiii};  the 
youiiff  in  four  nests  of  tlui  cominon  Snowbird  (Jiitiri)  liifrm<ilis)  in  a  sinj>le  day." 

Its  tli<rlit  is  .Hh)W  and  lal»orious,  and  only  acconipli.shed  with  a  f^reat  deal  of 
tla)»i)in;;'  of  the  wiiifjs,  wliih-  it  niovi's  on  the  <;round  and  in  trees  with  an  expert- 
ness  equal  to  that  of  our  better-kiatwn  Blue  .Jay.  It  utters  a  number  of  ])ecu- 
liar  notes  and  sounds  which  are  utterly  impo.ssible  of  reproduction  on  jtaper. 

The  nestin<>'  season  be<iiiis  early,  long  before  the  .snow  has  disappeared,  and 
therefore  comparatively  little  is  yet  kn»»wn  about  its  breediu);  habits. 

Mr.  R.  MacFarlano  found  several  nests  and  ef^fis  of  tiie  Canada  .Tay  near 
Anderson  River  Fort,  British  North  America,  duriii}'-  the  first  week  in  May,  and 
rej)orts  them  tolerably  numerous  in  the  wooded  country,  even  to  its  northern 
and  eastern  limits;  but  none  were  observed  by  him  in  the  barrens  w«'st  or  east 
of  Horton  River,  nor  <m  the  Arctic  coast.  The  nests  found  by  him  were  placed 
iu  spruce  or  tamarack  trees,  often  in  the  middle  of  a  swamp,  on  braiu-lies,  (dose 
to  the  trunks,  and  well  concealed  from  view,  and  at  lieiji^hts  of  9  or  1(1  feet. 

The  Canada  .Tay,  like  the  other  members  of  this  family,  is  silent  and 
retiring  during  the  breeding  seiisoii,  and  is  then  seldom  seen  or  heard.     In  the 


) 
I* ' 


II 


h 


'O.J 


I 

If..' 


I'     ' 


IJI'E  UlSTOltlEB  OF  NOinU  AJIKKICAN  UIItl>8. 


nioru  HO(ith<*rii  |Mii'ti(>n  oC  itM  raii<ro  iiitlilicatioii  li<-;riiiM  in  Miircli,  mid  soiiiDwIiiit. 
lat«*i' rai'tlicr  iioi'tli.  'I'Ik*  nest  \h  u  liiilky  alViiir.  Out*  now  lM*t'iir<!  iii<>,  Mciit  Itv 
Mr.  MacFai'liiiut,  and  collccttMl  nitar  tlu*  lltidHoii  Kay  I'nrtt,  at  I'clicaii  N'iu'I'owh, 
in  latitudu  ftO"  30',  coiibiiiiod  four  «'}fK'*  when  taken,  in  Man-li,  \H\)l.  It  whk 
plat-cd  in  a  xMiall  H|iriii'()  tr«>o,  near  tlio  trunk,  alioiit  M  feet  t'r<>n>  tlx*  ground.  It 
in  ciiiniMtHt'd  uf  Huiall  twi^^M,  plant  lilu'rH,  willow  liark,  and  (|uitt<  a  uiiihm  of  tlio 
down  and  catkins  of  tlitt  rottouwood  or  aHpcu,  tluM  nuitcrial  constituting^'  fully 
onc-lialf  of  tliu  lU'Ht.  Tliu  iinuM'  cu|)  Ih  liniMl  with  tiiu'r  material  of  the  Hanie 
kind,  and  .lays'  feathers,  which  are  easily  recofrui/.ed  hy  their  llull'y  appearance. 
Tlu)  nest  is  about  8  iiu'hes  wid«  hy  t  inches  deep;  tint  inner  cavity  heinj;' 
almut  3  inches  in  width  hy  2^  inches  in  depth.  A  nest  taken  near  Ashland, 
Aroostook  Coiuity,  Maine,  is  composed  externally  of  hits  of  rotten  wood,  mixed 
with  tree  moss,  jdant  iihers,  and  catkins,  and  is  lined  with  similar  hut  finer 
materials.  This  is  a  synnnetrical,  well-liuilt  structure,  much  neater  than  the 
fonuer,  and  measures  7  inches  in  outer  dianu^ter  by  4  inches  deep;  the  cavity 
is  3  inches  witle  by  2  inches  (U'cp. 

Tho  number  of  eirirs  laid,  as  far  as  known  to  me,  is  three  or  four,  althou^fh 
mU  of  five  may  somotimes  ]w  fcuiud.  'riieir  {ground  color  is  f^enerally  palo 
>,'ray,  more-  rarely  pearl  {fray.  They  are  profu.sely  tieckeil  and  spottt^l  over  the 
entire  surface  with  different  shades  (»f  brown,  slate  f^ray,  and  lavender.  Their 
shape  is  ovate;  the  shell  is  smooth,  close  ffrained,  and  souu»what  {flossy. 

Tho  average  measunfuient  of  eighteen  eggs  in  tho  United  States  National 
JEuseum  collection  is  2it.3H  by  2(».!tl  millinu!tre.s,  or  abtmt  l.K!  by  ().H2  inches. 
The  largest  L^^^r  measures  30.78  by  22.3r>  nullimetres,  or  1.21  by  0.88  inches; 
tho  smallest,  26.42  by  20.32  millimetres,  or  1.04  by  0.80  inches. 

Tho  tyi)e  speci'nions,  Nos.  2037()  and  20377  (IM.  3,  Figs.  18  and  If)),  both 
from  sets  of  four  eggs,  Hendire  collection,  were  taken  in  (,'olchester  C'tuuity, 
Nova  Scotia,  on  April  2  and  4,  1884,  and  represent  the  ditferent  styles  of 
markings  found  among  the  eggs  of  this  species  in  tho  collectiou,  as  well  as  tho 
variutiou  in  hIzo. 


155-     Perisoreus  canadensis  capitalis  IUikd. 

ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  JAV. 

I'erimreux  cnnath-nais  vivr.  co^u^fl/i*  "  UAiiin  MS.,"  Itidgway,  Halletiu  Essex  lustitute,  V, 
Nov.,  1873,  lit;}. 

(B  — ,  Vj  23!)/*,  U  297a,  O  3(W,  V.  4.S4rt.) 

(lEooRArnniAL  hanok:  Uocky  Monntiiin  rt'nioiis  of  the  llnitod  States,  from  New 
Mexico  uiid  Arizoua  iiortU  into  Britisli  North  America;  west  t^)  eiisteru  Ore^'oii  and 
Idaho. 

Tho  Rocky  Moimtnin  or  ^V^nto-llcnded  Jay  is  a  common  resident  of  all  the 
higher  ranges  of  the  Kooky  l^foiuitain  system  in  the  United  States,  and  occms 
also  in  tho  White  Mountains  of  Arizona,  which  form  about  the  southern  limit  of 


XnR  IIOCKY  MO'TNTAIN  JAY. 


sae 


its  i-)in<rc.  It  piiHrtoH  iioi'tli  into  Itrit'iHli  Nortli  jVincrii'ii  iiiul  ii|i|)iir«iit1y  boyoiid, 
i»iit  liiiw  tar  in  tlmt  din'ttion  Imn  not  yet  been  (Icti^rinincil.  It  in  ni(»Kinit«'Iy 
connnun  in  Hnitiiliio  Incaiitios  in  Oulorudo,  Wyumin^,  unil  Montanii. 

I  tirst  nit>t  witli  tlit*  Uocky  Moiintuin  Jay  on  Ortolicr  31,  lH7r>,  wliilo  on  n 
liinitin;,'  trip,  on  tlut  lutail  waters  of  lUiar  (!nH(k,  a  tribntary  of  Silvicn  Uivcr,  in 
tim  lUno  Mountains,  in  (Jniiit  (!onnty,  Orojron,  at  an  altitnilo  of  altont  O.^OO 
fijyt  It  appoai'iMl  to  Iki  ratlmr  rare,  only  two  rt|M'«^ini»Mis  l)i)injc  olwcrvttd.  Tlumo 
wore  attracted  Ity  a  doer  which  I  iiad  killed,  and  were  feedin;;on  the  olVal.  I  shot 
one  of  the  liirdn,  which  is  now  in  the  United  States  National  Musenni  collection. 
I  l)eli(>ve  this  point  marks  ahont  the  wosturn  limits  of  its  ran;>:e,  the  somewhat 
smaller  ( M'('<ron  .lay  hein;;'  also  fonnil  in  the  same  monntains,  not  more  than  10 
miles  west  of  this  locality.  I  also  saw  a  few  of  these  birds  in  tlu*  Hitter  Uoot 
Monntains,  as  well  as  in  the  Yellowstone  National  I'ark,  in  1H77,  bnt  had  no 
opportnnity  then  to  observe  them  closely.  Their  jfen«u'al  habits  appear  to  bo 
very  similar  to  those  of  the  C!anada  Jay.  Dr.  James  C.  Merrill,  United  Statea 
Army,  met  with  it  near  Fort  Sherman,  Idaho,  where  it  appears  to  be  a  some- 
what irrejiidar  visitor  within  a  few  miles  of  this  Pass. 

Mr.  Frank  M.  Drew,  in  his  paju-r  on  the  Hirds  of  San  Jiian  (!onnty,  (yolo- 
ra(h),  in  the  "Nnttall  (h-nitholo^-ical  (Mnb  Hulletin"  (V(.l.  VI,  1H8I,  p.  140), 
speakinj;  of  this  bird  says;  "(^nite  abinidant,  in  smnmer  ran^jiiifr  from  10,000 
feet  altitud**  to  timber  lin(>.  In  antunm,  when  on  his  first  tonr  of  inspection 
aroinid  th(«  house,  ho  hops  alonij;  in  lucurions  sidelong  manner,  just  lik(Mi  school- 
ji'irl  in  a  slow  hurry.  White-headed,  ^rave,  and  seilate,  he  seems  a  very  para^^on 
of  propriety,  and  if  you  appear  to  lie  a  suitable  persona;-*',  he  will  lat  apt  to 
</\\{i  you  a  bit  of  advice.  Ilecomiu;,''  conlidential,  he  sputters  out  a  lot  of  non- 
sense in  a  manner  which  c-auses  you  to  think  him  a  veritable  'Whisky  Jack;' 
y<'t,  whenever  he  is  disposed,  a  more  bland,  minil-liis-own-business-appearinf^ 
bird  will  be  hard  to  lind,  as  will  also  be  many  small  articles  aroimd  <'amp  iifter 
one  of  his  visits,  foi-  his  whimsical  brain  has  a  f^reat  fancy  for  anythin^f  which 
may  l»e  valuable  to  you,  but  perfectly  useless  to  him." 

\'ery  litthi  is  yet  known  about  the  lu'sts  and  e;'<,''s  of  the  Hocky  Mountain 
.lay,  and  they  are  unrepresented  in  the  United  States  National  .Museum  collec- 
tion. The  late  Dr.  T.  M.  Mrewer  received  both  from  Jlr.  Edwin  Carter,  of 
Mreckenrid^je,  Colorado,  and  describes  them  as  follows: 

"On  April  2,  1S7!I,  Mr.  Carter  found  the  nest  of  the  Kooky  Mountain 
Jay  near  |{reckenrid;;'e,  ('olorado,  at  an  altitude  of  alxmt  10,000  feet.  The  nest 
Wiis  placed  on  a  horizontal  branch  of  a  pint;  tree,  .'J  feet  from  the  trunk  and  40 
feet  from  the  ;iround.  It  contained  three  *'nn'*'  i'pi'iirently  its  full  complement, 
which  were  sli^^'htly  inculiated.  I'he  nest,  \\hi(di  is  now  before  mo  as  I  write, 
is  warmly,  stron<;ly,  and  compactly  interwoven  of  various  materials,  of  which 
the;  feathers  anil  down  of  various  kinds  of  birds  constitute  tlu^  characteristic, 
in;;redient.  Tho  ne-st  measures  4  inches  in  external  hei}>lit  and  7  in  dianu^ter. 
Tluf  cavity  is  2  inches  deep  and  4  in  diameter  at  tho  tt>p.  The  external 
fraui   vork  of  the  nest  is  a  rude  but  strong  interweaving  of  twigs  and  snadl 


390 


LIKK  IIISTOUIKS  OK  NOUTIl  AMKISIOAN  lURDS. 


briUuOies  of  jiino,  inrlosing  ii  rlosely  inqtiicted  inner  nest,  composed  of  stronj^ly 
l»len<l('d  materials,  stems  of  <frasses,  liemj)en  tibers  of  j>lants,  liark,  down, 
feathers,  ete.  'Die  walls  of  the  nest  are  2  inches  thick,  and  the  inner  nest  is 
warm  and  soft. 

"The  measurements  of  the  e^<;s  before  me  are  l.t!)  l)y  0.8(1,  1.1  (I  by  O.SCJ, 
and  1.10  by  O.Sd  inches,  (or  30.22  by  21. S4,  2!».4);  by  21. St,  and  27.!)4  by  21. S4 
millimetie."*).  Their  ground  color  is  a  j{rayisli  white,  in  two  the  niaikinj;s  are 
all  ffroiijM'd  around  the  larj>t'r  end,  the  residue;  of  the  surfaci*  beinjj  nearly 
mimarked.  In  ont;  the  markiufjs  an*  well  distrii)uted  over  tlu*  entire  e^ff^', 
but  larji'er  anil  conHucMit  at  the  rounded  end.  Tim  markinj^s  arc  lar<;er,  nioHi 
continent,  and  not  .so  di.stinct  and  separate  as  in  the  ef><fs  of  I'rrisorrits 
iiniadfii.sis,  and  are  of  ii  distinct  shade  of  brown.  While  there  is  an  absence 
of  slate  and  lilac,  and  whili*  tlu*  markings  are  all  of  om;  color,  ihere  is  a  tinjfe 
of  purple  shadiuj;'  tlieui  all,  and  the  blotches  vary  ^jreatly,  in  the  dej)th  and 
intensity  of  tin*  shadinj;,  from  very  lij^ht  to  a  very  deep  color.  The  parent 
accompanying-  tlu*  nest  and  ej;'^s  is  a  female.'" 

These  i'ixixti  are  now  in  the  museum  at  ( "amltrid^e,  Massachusetts,  when*  I 
have  had  the  opportunity  of  examininj;'  them.  As  as  they  do  not  materially 
differ  t'rom  those  of  the  precedin;;'  specit-s,  and  as  they  art!  in  a  ]toor  state  of 
preservation,  I  have  not  ti<rured  any. 

156.     Perisoreus  canadensis  fumifrons  HmowAY. 


■!^<'*^ 


r- 


AI,.\SKAN  .lAV. 

I'f'fuioreiiM  cantiilfiisis  fiimi/roiin  l{i»tiwA\,  rrocct'diiifrs  V.  S.  Natioiinl  Museum,  III,  Marcli 

li7,  1S80,  5. 

(1!  _,  o  _,  i;,  -JOT/,,  (;  ;U!0,  ('  4,S4/*.) 

(Seoouai'IIIOAI,  iiAN(iK:  Alaska,  exci'i)tin};  the  soutlicrn  <'(>asl  district.^. 

This  snbsju'cies  is  a  resident  ami  bn>e(ls  wherever  found.  Acci^nlinfy  to  Mr. 
Ti.  M.  Tinner,  tlu*  Alaskan  or  Smoky-fi'tuiteil  ,lay  is  known  as  tlit*  "Si')jah"  to 
the  Itussian-speakinj"-  element  of  Alaska;  he  writes:  "It  rarely  occurs  in  the 
vicinity  of  St.  Micha(>ls.  Two  specimens  were  obtained  at  the  liedoubt  duriuj;- 
my  three  and  a  half  years'  stay  there.  Aloiij;'  the  Yukon  River  it  is  abundant 
and  a  ]»ermanent  resident.  'I'lie  nu)st  of  my  sjx'cimens  were  obtained  from  Fort 
Yukon,  Nulato,  and  .Vnvick,  on  the  ^'ukon  Uiver."" 

Mr.  1'].  W.  Nelson,  in  speakinj^of  the  jicofrraphical  ran<^e  of  the  Alaskan  ilay, 
says:  "Many  specimens  from  tlu*  tapper  Yukon  are  nearly  typical  I'cri.soniis 
raiiadi'iisis,  but  the  present  form  <frailually  replaced  it  lower  down  this  .stream 
until,  near  Nnlato  to  the  coast,  birds  approaching^  the  ((tiidilnisis  style  are  almo.st 
unknown.  The  jiresent  form  is  the  only  /'rrisorrns  i\m\u\  throujihout  the  Sitkan 
and  Kailiak  rcffion,  thence  north  along-  the  reyion  bordering  the  iJenufj^  Sea 
coast,  and  np  th<*  wooded  interior. 

'  lliillcliii  III'  Iho  Nutliill  Oinit.)iiilc.u;ii:il  Clnl),  Vol.  IV,  1H7!I.  \>\>.  -•:«•,  -'10. 
'H'liMtriliiilioiis  III  till'  Natiniil  Mixtiii.v  ni'  Alitslta,  Nn.  \\,  lSS)i,  p.  Ili7. 


TIIK  AliAHKAN  .lAY. 


391 


"'I'wo  nosta  wcro  lu'oujrlit  nic  tVoiii  tlio  iiioutli  of  tlui  'Piinnna  IJivcr  hv  ^ll. 
Fran(,'t>is  Mfiv'uT,  wlio  obtained  tliciii  April  1,  ISSO,  after  considtM-altlc  |H>rsuasion 
anil  an  otVcr  of  a  lar^r  reward  in  tlom-  to  tiie  natives  dnrinji'  a  time  of  seareitv. 
Uv  these  means  lie  sueeeeded  in  ^'•ettini--  a  native  to  search  for  tiie  nests  of  this 
hird.  Tlie  yoini<?  fellow  retnrned  in  ii  few  Ikmm's  with  two  nests,  eaeli  ('ontainin<r 
half-j;T()wn  vonnji'.  \Valkin<;'  into  the  house,  he  told  the  trader  to  take  the  nests 
and  liirds  at  once,  for  he  was  snre  some  evil  wonlil  resnlt  from  his  act,  and  takin^^- 
his  Hour  he  hnrried  away  before  the  birds  and  nests  were  examineil.  All  the  old 
crones  and  men  of  the  vicinity  projthesied  that  the  weather  wonld  turn  cold  and 
that  a  verv  late  s])rin<i-  wonld  ensue  as  a  result  of  this  robbery.  As  (diauc(> 
would  have  it.  the  prophecies  of  the  old  soothsayers  came  true  in  a  remarkable 
decree,  and  the  sprinj;'  was  the  coldest  and  most  backward,  by  nearly  a  month, 
of  anv  year  since  the  Americans  have  had  ])(>ssession  of  the  country.  In  the 
followin«i'  sprinj;-  (of  tSSl)  1  asked  the  same  trader  to  try  anil  j-'et  eii-j;-s  of  this 
Itird  by  sending;-  out  natives  earlier  in  the  se.ison.  He  complied,  and  olVered  still 
{rreater  rewards  than  on  the  first  occasion,  but  the  natives  could  not  be  bribed 
to  risk  the  visitation  of  the  birds'  anji'er,  and  the  old  people  positively  forbade 
any  of  the  yoen^icr  ones  to  have  anything-  to  do  with  the  matter;  therefore 
the  attempt  was  abandoned.  One  ])oint  was  gained,  however,  and  that  w.as  the 
information  how  the  natives  fmuid  the  nests  so  readily.  They  told  the  trader 
that  these  nests  could  always  be  easily  found  by  examininj;-  the  snow  at  the  base 
of  each  busliy-toi)ited  spruce,  and  whenever  a  number  of  small  dry  twi^s  wen* 
found  lyinij  near  toj^ether  upon  the  snow  under  a  tree  there  was  a  j.;Teat  proi)a- 
bility  of  a  Jav's  nest  beinii'  snu<j:ly  esconced  in  the  thick  bnmches  overhe.id. 

"The  two  nests,  now  before  me,  are  built  of  a  matted  mass  of  a  cotton-like 
down  of  some  jdant;  about  the  upper  ediie  and  in  the  cavity  are  pieces  of  rabbit 
fur,  a  few  llonuil  Owl  feathers,  and  tine  strips  of  l)ark.  The  entir(>  nest  rests 
upon  a  horizontal  branch  nearly  "_*  iiu'hes  in  diameter,  and  ;i  .scanty  nuud)er  of 
small  dead  spruce  twiii's,  (!  to  S  inches  lon^',  loo.sely  woven  into  the  structure, 
ji'ive  it  consistency  and  jjrevent  it  from  Iteinn'  easily  dama<i'ed.  This  nest  is  -U 
inches  hijih  by  (!  l>road.  with  a  cavity  '2\  inches  dee|)  by  ,'i-'|  inches  aia-oss  the 
top.  The  other  nest  was  placed  in  the  fork  of  a  small  lii'ancli  less  than  half  an 
inch  in  diameter,  and  rests  on  a  roiinh  platform  of  slender  spruce  twiy-s.  The 
main  part  of  the  ni'st  is  made  of  the  same  cottony  sui)stance  as  is  the  first,  and 
is  also  intcrwoM'U  with  twii^s.  .Viiove  this  is  a  layer  of  fine,  fiiirous  lilack  moss, 
siu'h  as  occiu's  on  spruce  trees.  The  inside  of  the  cavity  is  slightly  lined  with 
line  j^ra-ss.  This  nest  measures  1  inches  lii^h  l)y  (I  inches  iiroad,  and  the  cavity 
2  inches  deep  by  ■_'•'{  inches  across  the  to])."' 

Mr.  W.  It.  Dall,  of  the  I'niti'd  Slates  Coast  Survey,  also  took  a  nest  of  this 
Jay  near  Nulato,  with  four  half-^rown  youn^'.  on  .\pril  "JO,  showiuji-  that  these 
birds  usually  nest  in  ^farch,  notwithstanding  the  iiUense  cold  w  Inch  occnrs  occa- 
sionally at  this  time  of  the  year. 

The  eji^'s  of  this  subspecies,  as  far  as  1  am  aware,  still  remain  unknown, 
but  the\'  .are  not  likely  to  differ  nmch  from  those  of  the  Canad.i  .la\-. 


f 


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'  licport  nimii  Niitnriil  llislm-.v  CnlUTliiMis  inadc  in  AliinUii,  Nii.  III.  ISST,  p.  KlTi. 


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392  LIFE  UlSTOltlES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


157.     Perisoreus  canadensis  nigricapillus  Ridoway. 

LAIIRADOK  JAY. 

Perisorem  canadennin  niflricapillim   Kidqway,    I'rociecdings  U.  8.  National  iMtiReiiiii,  V, 
1882,  15. 

(IJ  _,  O  _,  \l  -_,  (!  _,  U  484r.) 

Geoouapiiioai,  ranok:  (Joswit  rejrions  of  Labrmlor  and  tlietiinl)ert»il  portioiiH  of  tlm 
interior;  uortli  to  Hudson  8trait. 

The  Liihrador  Jay  is  a  resident  and  breeds  wherever  found.  ?^>r  all  the 
knowledfife  wo  po.ssess  of  the  life  history  of  this  Jay  wcs  are  jnnnc^ipally  iiwlebted 
to  Mr.  L.  M.Turner,  from  whose  copious  manuscript  notes  on  the  "Birds  of 
Labrador  and  Ungava"  I  extract  the  most  interesting^  portions: 

"This  Jay  is  an  abundant  resident  throujfliout  the  entin*  rej^'ion  wherever 
timi)er  is  to  l)e  found.  I  observed  the  bird  at.  Uigolet,  Davis  Inlet,  (jleorges 
River,  Whale  River,  Fort  Chimo,  and  far  in  the  interior.  At  certain  seasons  it  is 
more  plentiful  than  at  other'times;  after  August  it  is  very  abundant  until  the  next 
May,  and  is  then  very  scarce  until  the  following  September.  Over  one  hundred 
and  thirty  specimens  were  preserved,  and  among  this  nmnber  are  birds  of  nearly 
every  month  of  the  year.  The  l)reeding  season  could  not  bo  determintHl  with 
exactness,  as  it  varies  according  to  the  exigencitw  of  the  weather.  An  adult 
female  procured  April  !(,  1883,  contained  ova  of  various  sizes,  the  larg(!r  ones 
nu^asuring,  respectively,  0.50,  0.44,  and  0.33  inch  in  diameter;  the  largest  ovum 
was  apj)arently  ready  to  descend  into  the  oviduct.  *  *  *  'Pl^.  Indians 
assert  that  Ai)ril  is  the  month  in  which  the  Jays  l)reed,  and  tliat  oidy  one  brood  is 
n^ared  each  year.  Young  birds  as  large  and  actually  heavier  than  adults  were 
obtained,  fully  featlx^ed,  from  June  18  to  2!t.  From  >ray  to  September  those 
Jays  are  almost  sihMit;  not  a  sound  will  be  heard  in  patclies  of  wood  frequented 
by  them,  and  as  tlu-y  certainly  attemjjt  to  conceal  themselves  dm-ing  this  period, 
it  is  extremely  ditficult  to  obtain  specimens,  for  they  sit  so  ipiietly  among  the 
tliick  moss  and  branches  of  the  trees  that  detection  is  ftnly  ranOy  ])ossible.  In 
<  )ctolM'r  they  assume  their  winter  plumage  and  Ix^come  livelier,  ntt(;ring  frecpicnt 
wliistles  which  sound  exactly  like  those  made  by  ont*  boy  who  hails  anotiier; 
in  fact,  I  have  often  mistaken  the  sound  for  th;it  of  ii  p(frs(m  whistling  to  attract 
my  attention.  HMu'ir  power  of  mimicry  is  also  good;  the  notes  of  the  American 
iiough-l(!gg(Ml  TIawk,  for  instance,  are  well  imiti.ted,  as  ari^  also  the  clucking 
sounds  of  the  (!atl)ird  wIumi  it  enters  a  thicket. 

"During  the  winter  time  these  birds  obtain  a  scantysupplyof  food,  and  during 
excessively  sevens  ])eriods  they  fre<juently  are  .-so  reduced  that  a  specinu'u  will 
no  more  than  (Mpial  the  weight  of  a  Redpoll  (^  A  ran  this  Ihiiirid).  They  are 
onuiivorous;  nothing  comes  amiss.  1  ol)tained  a  spe<'imen  which  had  the  dried 
bracts  of  a  spruce  con(f  in  its  l)eak.  This  mass  was  (juite  large  and  covered 
with  a  viscid  saliva.  Tnspi^ction  jiroved  that  this  substsmce  contained  no  larva' 
which  could  have  tempted  the  bird  to  swallow  the  mass  through  inaltilit)'  to  tear 


TUB  LAIlltADOU  JAY. 


393 


it  apart.  They  are  persistent  visitors  to  tlio  tents  of  camping  parties,  ami  tliey 
appear  to  have  the  faculty  of  discriniinating  between  the  tents  of  natives,  who 
(the  Indians  more  especially  than  the  Eskimo)  wage  war  on  every  Wliisky  Jack 
that  conies  in  sight. 

"I  was  once  encamped  a  f(*w  miles  above  the  rapids,  some  35  miles  from 
Fort  (/'himo,  and  thought  to  take  a  nap  while  the  other  members  of  tiie  party 
watched  for  caribou  to  cross  the  river.  My  attention  was  directed  to  a  noise 
within  the  tent,  and  I  perceived  a  Wiiisky  Jack  perched  on  a  pile  of  meat.  I 
carefully  arose,  and  altiiough  the  l»ird  was  within  2  yards  of  me  it  fearlessly 
continued  to  peck  at  the  fatty  portions  exjwsed.  I  then  went  to  the  meat  and 
cut  off  small  jxirtions  and  fed  the  bird  from  my  hand,  and  in  less  than  five 
minutes  it  was  resting  on  one  hand  and  feeding  from  the  other.  I  was  suiinnsed 
at  its  familiarity,  and  continued  to  feed  it  until  it  could  swallow  no  more.  I 
then  cutoff  a  large  piece,  ])laced  it  in  the  beak  of  the  bird,  nnd  drove  it  outsider, 
when  it  flew  to  a  neighboring  tree,  so  heavily  freighted  that  it  could  scarcely 
sustain  Hight. 

"The  Indians  will  not  be  tempted  to  procure  the  eggs  of  this  bird  under 
any  circumstances.  'I'hey  believe  that  if  a  jierson  sees  the  eggs  in  the  nest,  and 
e.specially  if  he  counts  them,  some  great  misfortune  will  befall  him.  Repeated 
iiKpiiry  among  them  elicited  th.e  statement  that  they  liad  never  seen  the  eggs 
and  knew  nothing  about  the  niunl)er  laid. 

"Its  general  habits  are  similar  to  those  of  the  other  members  of  this  family. 
It  is  one  of  the  greatest  nuisances  the  trai)pers  have  to  c(»nt((nd  against,  and  one 
of  these  assiu'eil  me  that  he  iiad  taken  fifteen  of  these  bii'ds  from  a  line  of  less 
tlian  forty  traps  in  a  single  day,  and  with  good  reason  he  called  this  bird  a 
'wolverine  with  feathers  on.' 

"1  have  never  found  thi'  Labrador  Jays  in  flocks,  although  several  may  be 
in  the  neighborhood,  and  on  a  single  occasicm  only  1  saw  five  jtcrched  in  one 
tree.  If  a  gun  be  fired  it  is  certain  to  cause  a  Jay  to  investigate  it,  anil  I  think 
experience  has  taught  him  that  food  maybe  procm-ed  nt  such  times." 

Since  the  above  wiis  written  1  have  been  fortunate  enough  to  examine  a  set 
of  these  eggs,  taken  in  Labrador,  in  about  latitude  "i7°  30'  N.  .Mr.  Jewell  I). 
Sorid)orger,  of  Cand)ridge,  Massa<'husetts,  while  on  a  visit  to  that  region  in  the 
suuuner  of  IHil'J,  obtained  a  set  of  five,  and  generously  jn-esented  three  of  these 
through  the  writer  to  the  United  States  National  Museum  collection,  and  subse- 
quently also  (h'posited  the  remaining  two.  They  resemble  th<i  eggs  of  I'crisorcns 
rnnmlnisis  in  color  and  in  the  gtmeral  style  of  markings,  but  the  latter  are,  as  a 
rule,  coarser  and  larger,  and  the  eggs  are  more  pointed.  Three;  eggs  in  this  set 
maybe  called  pointed  ovate  in  shape;  the  other  two  approach  an  ovate  ])yriforni. 
They  measin-e  30.22  by  21.0S,  2!l.!)7  by  21.34  2!I.Jt7  by  21.34,  211.72  by  21.08, 
and  2!>.21  by  21..^)!)  miliimetres,  or  1.1!)  by  0.83,  1.18  l»y  0  84,  1.18  by  0.84,  1.17 
by  0.83,  and  1.1.')  by  0.8;-)  inches. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  2(!r)()0  (PI.  3,  Fig.  20),  rej)re,sents  an  average- 
colored  egg  of  this  subspecies. 


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394  LIFK  UliSTOUIKS  OV  NOUTII  AMEKIOAN  UIItDd. 

158.     Perisoreus  obscurus  (Hidoway). 

OKKOItN  .lAV. 

Perixoreufi  cniindcmiH  var.  ohHCurHn  Hidoway,  Bulletin  Essex  Tiistitnte,  Novombcr,  187.'{,  194. 
PerinoreuH  ohHvurun  SiiAKi'E,  llritisli  Musoiiiii  datiiloguo  of  Birds,  III,  1877, 105. 

(B  — ,  0  ;i3!)fl,  It  298,  C  3(!1,  U  485.) 

(iKonuAi'iiK^AL  RANGE:  Froiii  tlicliighor  iiiouiitaiiiuiis  rojjionsof  iiortlieru  (California 
north  through  (tri-gon  anil  Washington  into  British  Columbia. 

'V]u'  Oregon  Jiiy,  bettor  kuDWii  tliroufj^hout  its  rsinfro  as  "M(>ivt  Hawk," 
"Camp  l{ol)lH'r,"  and  "Venison  Hinl,"  is  a  constant  resident  of  tlie  liij,dier  nu»nn- 
tains  of  northern  (California,  Orejron,  Wasliinirton,  and  a  eonsiderablct  portion  of 
Uritisli  (!(dunil)ia,  and  breeds  wherever  found.  1  met  with  it  Hrst  on  tiie  sunnnit 
of  tiie  Hhie  Mountains,  between  Canyon  (Jity  and  Camp  Harney,  ()re<fon,  on 
June  12,  1877,  at  an  ahitude  of  about  (iJAM  feet.  I  was  eseorthij?  an  urniy 
])aymaster,  and  after  a  laborious  clinil)  to  the  top  of  the  steep  moimtain  at  the 
foot  of  which  nestles  the  little  mining  town  from  which  we  staitiid,  I  stoi)ped 
for  luncheon  and  to  rest  the  animals.  While*  so  engagcnl  1  heard  several  whis- 
tles in  a  large  pine  close  by,  and  thcso  were  answered  from  other  directions. 
Shortly  after  I  saw  one  of  these  birds  in  a  little  iir  a  few  feet  from  where 
I  was  sitting  at  lunch.  I  threw  him  s(»me  sc  ni])s  of  bread  and  meat,  and  ho 
was  by  no  means  .slow  in  accepting  the  invitation  to  help  himself.  A  few 
minutes  later  three  others  made  their  aj)pearrtnce  and  fiul  among  our  party  with 
the  utmost  un(M)ncern,  and  almost  allowed  themselves  to  l)e  touched.  Here  they 
an*  tVuiud  only  in  the  highest  portions  of  the  mountains,  which  attain  an  altitude 
of  about  7,0()<)  feet.     I  did  not  see  any  in  ihe  neighborhood  of  Camp  Harney. 

While  changing  station  fi'om  P^ortWalla  Walla,  Washington,  to  Fort  Klamath, 
Oregon,  on  June  12,  18S2,  I  met  a  brood  of  young  birds,  accompanied  by  both 
parents,  in  a  grove  of  small  pines  near  the  banks  of  the  Des  Chutes  River,  Ore- 
gon, which  had  evidently  left  their  nest  oidy  a  diiy  or  two  previously,  and  my 
men  caught  two  alive.  They  were  of  a  dark  slate-black  color,  cpiite  unlike  the 
adults.  A  few  miles  north  of  Fort  Klamath,  on  the  (Jrater  Lake  Mountain, 
they  were  very  common  and  I  had  no  difticulty  in  o])taining  all  the  specimens  I 
wanted.  While  some  of  their  notes  are  not  as  melodious  as  they  miglit  be,  the 
majonty  are  certainly  (juite  pleasing  to  the  eiu",  and  I  consider  this  .species  a 
very  fair  .songster.  I  have  listened  to  them  frecjuently,  and  have  been  surprise<l 
to  find  so  nuich  musical  ability.  Like  the  other  members  of  the  genus  IWi.soreus, 
the  Oregon  Jay  is  a  great  thief  and  nothing  edil)le  conies  uniiss;  its  g(Mieral 
habits  also  are  similar.  It  is  a  slightly  smaller  and  darker  colored  bird  than  the 
Canada  Jay. 

Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony  found  this  species  a  common  winter  resident  in  Wa.sh- 
ington  County,  Oregon,  and  says:  "'Fearless'  is  an  apjiropriate  term  to  use  in 
relation  to  this  bird;  it  seems  utterly  devoid  of  fear.  While  dressing  deer  iu  the 
thick  timber  I  have  been  almost  covered  with  Jays  flying  down  from  the  neigh- 


I'' » 


TUB  OUKGON  .lAY. 


395 


boriiifT  trees.  Tlioy  would  settle  on  my  Imok,  head,  or  shonldorH,  tu<]f{yin<r  and 
j)ullin}r  at  each  loose  shred  of  my  coat  until  one  would  think  that  their  only 
ohject  was  to  help  me  in  all  ways  possible.  At  such  times  their  only  note  is  a 
low,  i)laintive  cry."' 

The  nests  and  epfjys  of  the  (^refjon  Jay  were  first  discovered  hy  Afr.  Anthony, 
and  he  has  giinerously  <,nven  Itotii,  as  well  as  other  e(|ually  rare  specimens,  to  the 
United  States  National  Mus(nnn.  II<!  writes  as  follows  ndative  to  the  (indinji'  of 
th(Miest:  "Tlu*  birds  were  discovered  ItniMinj^tm  ^rarch4,  iHSf);  ontMif  them  was 
seen  (rlin<ifin<f  to  the  side  of  a  dead  stub,  about  75  feet  from  the  j^round.  H(!  was 
teariu};' out  bits  of  moss,  whicih  did  not  seem  to  suit,  for  they  were  dropjii^d  aj^nin 
as  fast  as  {gathered;  but  at  last,  findiu};  some  to  his  fancy,  he  flew  off  and  I  saw 
him  ffo  into  a  thick  fir  and  ilisappear.  I  couM  as  yet  see  nothiu};  of  a.  nest,  but  as 
both  birds  were  flyinj^'  in  with  sticks,  moss,  etc.,  I  was  sure  one  was  l>ein<,f  built 
ther(\  lioth  birds  W(»rked  hard,  were  very  silent,  and  did  n(»t  come  very  near 
the  {^round,  j^ettin^'  nearly  all  of  their  buildinj;-  material  from  the  tree  toj)s,  1  think. 
On  tlm  Kith  I  af^ain  visited  the  place,  and  with  tlu*  aid  of  a  field  j^lass  discovered 
the  nest,  which  was  to  all  aj)pearances  coniplete,  but  the  birds  were  not  seen. 
On  the  21st  I  took  a  boy  with  me  to  climb  tlus  tree,  and  fcmnd  tlu*  nest  finished, 
but  no  egjjs.  On  ^[airh  ii\  we  \isited  it  aj^ain  and  found  the  set  comjtlete  and 
the  female  at  home.  She  stayed  on  tlu;  e},''f's  imtil  the  climber  put  his  hand  out 
for  her,  when  she  darted  of!"  with  a  low  cry  and  was  shot  by  me.  The  ej;<^s,  fivt* 
in  number,  were  but  slij^htly  incubated;  the  nest  was  placed  al)out  Hly  feet  from 
the  {ground  and  10  feet  from  the  toj)  of  the  tree;  it  was  built  dose  to  the  trunk, 
and  was  very  well  hidden." 

This  nest,  now  before  me,  is  compactly  l)uilt  and  rather  symmetrical,  meas- 
urin<>'  7.J  inches  in  oxiter  diameter  by  4A  implies  di'cp;  the  inner  rliameter  is  ;{ 
inches  by  2.J  inches  deep.  Externally  it  is  comixtsed  of  fine  twigs,  dry  gmss, 
tree  moss,  and  plant  fibcsrs,  all  well  interlaced,  and  the  inner  cuj)  is  (Mimi)osed 
exclusively  of  fine,  <lark-looking  tree  moss. 

The  niunber  of  e<i'<;s  to  a  set  varies  from  four  to  five.  Incubation  befyina 
sometimes  as  early  as  the  latter  part  of  March,  and  a<fain  as  late  as  the  first 
week  in  May. 

Mr.  C.  W.  Swallow  writes  me  that  he  took  u  set  of  four  e}^}>'s  of  this  species 
in  (Matsop  County,  ( )rejion,  on  May  S.  This  nest  was  placed  in  a  small  hendock, 
about  10  feet  from  the  <;round.  I  Iw^lieve  as  a  rule  they  nest  in  high,  bush%' 
firs.  I  saw  a  pair  of  these  birds  evidently  feeding  young,  in  a  very  large  fir 
tree,  near  the  sunnnit  of  the  Cascade  Mountains,  on  Junc^  I>,  1S.S3,  whih(  en  route 
from  Linkville  to  Jack.sonville,  Oregon,  but  could  not  see  the  lU'st,  which  nni.st 
have  been  fully  (iO  feet  from  the  grotnid.  Mut  one  l)r(K)(l  is  reared  in  a  season. 
The  eggs  are  pearl  gray  or  light  greenish  gray  in  ground  color,  spotted  and 
flecked  with  smoke  and  lavender  gray,  and  these  markings  are  pretty  evenly 
distributed  over  tlm  entire  egg.  In  shape  they  are  ovate;  the  shell  is  smooth, 
close  grained,  and  only  moderately  glossy. 


■''1^ 


I'- 


39G 


LIFH  UISTOltlES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


They  moasure  26.07  by  20.07,  20.67  hy  20.07,  26.67  by  19.81,  26.42  by 
20.07,  and  25.40  by  20.32  inilliinetrcs,  or  1.05  by  0.79,  1.05  by  0.79,  1.06  by 
0,78,  1.04  by  0.79,  and  1  by  O.HO  huhen. 

Tho  tyiH'  specimen.  No.  22449  (IM.  3,  V\n.  21),  from  a  not  of  five  efyj^s,  was 
taken  by  Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony,  nenr  Heaverton,  Oregon,  on  March  31,  1885,  and 
represents  an  average  egy  of  the  set. 


159.    Corvus  corax  sinuatus  (Waglkk). 

AMKKICAN  UAVKN. 

Oitrrm  ninuatm  WArti.EB,  Isis,  1820,  748, 

Cori^us  oorax  niiiuatuM  UnxiWAV,  Proceedings  U.  8.  Katioiiiil  Afusenm,  VIII,  18S5,  355, 
(IJ  423,  4L'4, 0  220,  R  280,  O  338,  U  48(i,) 

(iKOORArinoAL  BANOK:  From  Hritish  ('olmiibia,  tliP  soiitliern  parts  of  tlic  Dominion 
of  Canada  and  tlit'  llnited  Statex,  mostly  west  of  tlie  Mississipiii  Valley,  sontli  tbroiijih 
Mexico  to  Guatemala.  liocal  and  mneli  rarer  in  the  eastern  United  States;  ])rin('.ipally  in 
mountainous  regious;  soutU  to  uortlieru  8outh  Caroliua,  uortlieni  Georgia,  and  uortheru 
Alabama, 

Our  Havens  have  recently  been  sepnrated  hito  two  races;  but  from  the 
information  I  have  been  abks  to  obtain  it  is  (|uestional)hi  if  the  alleged  dift'er- 
ences  of  the  two  forms  will  provi^  <'onstaiit  and  marked  enough  to  warrant  tiiis 
distinction.  There  is  not  at  ])resent  sufiicient  material  available  for  examination 
to  determine  tiiis  conclusively.  I  will  leave  this  to  abler  ornithologists  to  decide, 
and  will  follow  tiie  adopted  iiomcnclatuni  of  th(^  American  Ornithologists'  Tnion 
for  the  present,  including,  however,  the  Kavens  found  in  the  eastern  United  States 
in  this  race. 

Tho  American  Raven  is  more  generally  distributed  throughout  the  western 
parts  of  the  United  States  than  in  tiie  eastern  portions  of  its  range,  where  it  is 
only  found  locally,  and  principally  in  the  more  mountainous  regions  from  New 
pj  igland  and  northern  New  York  to  northern  Soutii  Carolina,  and  in  the  thinly 
inlial>ited  and  heavily  timbered  sections  of  some  of  our  Northern  and  Middle 
States.  It  seems  to  make  little  (HtfenMicct  to  tiiese  birds  how  desolate  the  countiy 
which  they  inliabit  may  be,  as  long  as  it  furnishes  sufHcient  food  to  sustain  life, 
and  they  nn'  not  hard  to  jili^ase  in  such  matters.  Onc^  is  liable  to  meet  with  them 
singly  or  in  pairs,  and  occasionally  in  consideralde  nund)ers,  along  the  clifl's  of 
the  seashore,  and  on  the  adjacent  islands  of  the  Pacific  coast,  from  Washington 
8(Uith  to  Lower  California,  as  well  as  in  the  mountains  and  arid  ]»lains  of  the 
interior,  even  in  the  hottest  and  most  barren  wastes  of  the  Colorado  De.sert,  as 
the  Death  Valley  region,  and  through  all  the  States  and  'I'erritories  west  of  the 
Itocky  M(mntains.  in  the  eastern  piu-ts  of  its  range  it  is  most  conunonly  found 
among  the  numerous  islands  off  the  const  of  Maine,  in  the  Adirondack  wilder- 
ness in  northern  New  York,  and  especiall\-  in  tlie  extcmsive  nioimtain  regions  of 
North  Caroliua,  where  it  appears  to  jje  as  conuuou  as  in  niauy  localities  in  the 
West, 


5.,.'t. 


THE  AMERICAN  UAVEN, 


397 


Till'  Aiiicrican  Kitvcn  is  UHnally  a  resident  wlierever  f"i»uii(i,  hut  is  likely 
to  wiinder  ctiiisideraltlo  distances  in  winter,  confirefratinfr  in  localities  wliero 
food  is  most  easily  obtained.  While  as  a  rule,  it  is  novvhen*  ahundant,  it  is 
generally  distributed  over  a  larfye  area,  and  in  certain  localities  it  niav  ho 
called  fairly  (!oinnion.  I  have  met  with  th"m  at  every  Post  at  which  1  have 
l)een  stationed  in  the  West,  but  nowhere  mi  abundantly  as  at  ("ami)  "'"'"<'Vi 
Orefi'on,  where  1  had  excellent  opportunities  to  ol)serve  them. 

They  are  Htately  and  rather  sedate-lookiuff  birds,  remain  mated  thronjih 
life,  and  are  soemin<rly  very  nun-li  attached  to  each  other,  but  a]tparently  mui-e 
\nisocial  to  others  of  their  kind.  On  tlu^  }>rouiid  their  mo\enuMits  are  deliberate 
and  dignitied;  their  walk  is  {■raceful  and  seldom  varied  with  huiried  hops  or 
jumps.  They  ai)pear  to  still  better  ailvanta;re  on  the  win<;,  esjiecially  in  winter 
anil  early  spring,  when  pairs  may  be  freciuently  seen  playing  with  each  other, 
j)erformin}i:  extraordinary  feats  in  the  air,  such  as  somersaults,  tryinji-  to  fly  on 
their  backs,  etc.  At  this  season  they  seem  to  enjoy  life  most  and  <;ive  vent 
to  their  usually  not  very  exuberant  spirits  by  a  series  of  low  tdiucklinfi'  and 
gurji'ling notes,  evidently  indifferent  efforts  at  sin<>inf;-. 

Their  ordinary  call  note  is  a  loud  "craack-craak,"  varied  sometimes  by  a 
deep,  {grunting  "koeiT-koerr,"  and  again  by  a  clucking,  a  sort  of  self-satistied 
sound,  difhcult  to  reproduce  on  paj»er;  in  fact,  they  utter  a  variety  of  notes 
when  at  ea.se  and  undisturbed,  among  others  a  metallic-sounding  "klunk," 
which  seems  to  cost  them  considerable  efl'ort.  In  places  where  they  are  not 
molested  they  become  reasonably  tame,  and  I  hav(^  seen  Havens  occasionally 
alight  in  my  yard  and  feed  among  the  chi<"kens,  a.  thing  1  have  never  seen 
Orows  do.  'J'heir  larger  size  when  compared  with  the  latter  bird  is  not  so  notice- 
able while  on  the  wing,  but  on  the  ground,  when  feeding  among  its  smaller 
relatives,  it  is  very  perceptible. 

Although  a  good  deal  has  been  written  reflecting  on  the  Haven,  my  ]ier- 
sonal  observations  conqiel  me  to  consider  it  as  a  rather  orderly  member  of  a 
somewhat  disreputahle  family  grou)).  Among  various  misdeeils  it  is  charged 
with  killing  young  lambs,  chicken.s,  and  turkeys,  as  well  as  with  destroying  tlu; 
eggs  and  young  of  different  species  of  wild  fowl;  and  while  this  is  tru<;  to  some 
e.xtent,  yet  where  these  birds  can  get  a  rcasonalde  amount  of  food  from  other 
sources  they  rarely  disturb  domestic  animals  of  any  sort.  1  have  more  than  once 
seen  a  Haven  feeding  among  my  poultry,  apparently  on  friendly  terms  with  both 
ymmg  and  old;  they  never  molested  any  to  my  knowledge;  nor  have  I  ever 
heard  complaints  of  .shepherds  that  tlu'ir  hnnbs  were  troubled,  nuich  less  killed, 
by  them.  Their  food  consists  principally  of  carrion,  dead  fish,  and  frogs,  varied 
with  insects  of  difl'erent  kinds,  including  grasshoppers  and  the  large  black  crickets 
so  abundant  at  some  seasons  in  the  West;  they  also  eat  worms,  nuissels,  snails, 
small  rodents,  including  young  rabbits,  as  well  as  refuses  from  the  kitchen  and 
slaughterhouse.  While  the  American  Haven  appears  to  ])o  a  well-behaved  bird 
in  some  localities,  this  is  by  no  means  the  case  everywhere.  Mr.  Charles  A. 
Allen,    writhig  me  on    this    subject  from    Nicasio,   California,   says:    "In  the 


R  R 


;  mi 


1 


i 


) ' ' 


P:.:^ 


ir, 


In 


i- 


398 


LIFK  111STOU1E8  OF  NORTH  AMEKIOAX  BIUDa. 


interior  of  Ciilitornia  tlio  Ravon  destroys  many  youiifj^  cliickeus  aii<l  turkeys 
urouiid  tlio  ranelies.  In  the  s|»rin<jf  months  I  liave  frecpiently  seen  one  of  these 
birds  Hyin<^  overhead  witli  a  youn<>'  fowl  or  an  e<ff,'  in  its  bill.  While  making 
off  with  one  of  the  latter  this  is  very  notieeable,  as  tlu*  e<ff^  shows  off  s(»  jtlainly 
a^jainst  the  shiny  black  of  its  |ilnma<;e.  Inland  it  nests  in  the  hifrluist  redwood 
or  lir  trees,  and  nearly  always  in  siieh  as  are  practieally  inaccessible  to  the 
av(n'a;je  collector,  and  on  the  seacoast  on  the  face  of  the  hi<>;hest  cliffs,  where 
they  prey  on  the  ej^ffs  and  youn;;'  of  the  (lulls  and  Cormorants  nesthifjf  there." 

In  the  winter  it  was  no  unusual  sif^ht  at  ('amp  Harney,  Orej^on,  to  see  a 
^ozen  or  more  Havens  and  perhaps  twice  as  many  Clrows  searchiu}^  throujjfli 
the  fresh  piles  of  manure  which  were  daily  carted  out  of  the  cavalry  stables 
and  dumped  some  distance  below  the  I'ost. 

The  Haven  is  usually  one  of  tlu*  shyest  an.,  most  suspicious  of  birds,  ono  of 
tlio  most  dittteult  to  brinjr  to  ba^',  and  here  oidy  have  I  been  able  to  approach 
them  at  all  closely;  in  other  localities  where  I  have  tibserved  them  they  remained 
very  shy  and  cautious,  as  is  their  usual  custom. 

Camj)  Harney  is  situated  on  the  southern  slope  of  the  Blu(!  Mountains  of 
Orepim,  attaininjf  here  a  heij;lit  of  between  G,0()0  and  7,000  feet,  the  foothills 
and  canyons  leadin;^  into  thiun  al)oundin<>'  in  perpendicular  cliffs  varyin<>'  from 
30  to  no  feet  in  heijjlit,  and  furnishinjjf  many  excellent  nestin<>'  sites  for  these 
birds,  at  least  si. \  pairs  breeding-  regularly  within  a  radius  of  3  miles  and  perhaps 
a  dozen  more  within  S  miles  of  the  I'ost.  Notwithstanding-  their  comparative 
abundance,  I  rarely  managed  to  obtain  more  than  three  full  sets  of  eggs  in  a 
season  during  the  four  years  I  was  stationed  thi-n^;  this  may  have  been  due  to 
their  extraordinary  cunning  and  the  irregularity  of  their  nesting,  which  undoubt- 
edly in  .some  cases  was  done  purposely.  Should  a  pair  of  th(^se  birds  n-alize 
that  tlii'ir  nest  had  been  discovered,  although  finished  and  ready  to  receive  the 
eggs,  they  will  abandon  it,  .sometimes  for  several  weeks,  and  apjjarently  leave 
the  locality,  only  to  return  and  begin  housekeeping  when  presumably  all  diance 
of  further  disturbance  has  passed.  I  have  lost  more  than  f)ne  set  of  eggs  in  this 
way.  In  one  case  a  pair  of  these  birds,  whose  nesting  site  was  in  plain  view 
from  my  window,  not  over  .'jOO  yards  distant  (the  ne.st  itself,  however,  could  not 
be  seen),  deceived  me  so  comiiletely  liiat  their  young  were  half  grown  before  1 
even  discovered  that  this  particular  site  was  again  occupied,  the  ])arent  birds 
keeping,  so  far  as  noticed,  entirely  out  of  sight  during  the  day,  i)robal)ly  feeding 
the  young  only  early  in  the  morning  and  possibly  during  the  night,  and  I  only 
discovered  them  by  accident  while  passing  along  near  the  top  of  the  cliff  very 
early  one  morning,  being  attracted  by  th(*  cawing  of  the  young. 

( )ut  of  some  twenty  n(*sts  examined  only  one  was  jjlaced  in  a  tree.  It  was  in 
a  good-sized  dead  willow,  20  fei-t  from  the  ground,  on  an  island  in  Sylvies  River, 
Oregon,  and  easily  reached;  it  contained  five  fresh  eggs  on  April  13,  187.'').  The 
other  nests  were  phused  on  cliffs,  and,  with  few  excejjtions,  in  positions  where 
tliey  were  comparatively  s(>cure.  Usually  the  nest  could  not  ])e  seen  from  above, 
and  it  generally  took  several  assistants  and  strong  ropes  to  get  near  them,  and 


TllH  AMKltU'AN  l.'AVKN. 


35>J> 


even  tlicn  it  was  fri'(|ucnt1y  inipoHHible  to  roiii-h  tho  i'^^h  without  tlio  aid  of  a 
loiij^  |)olo  with  a  dippor  attached  to  the  end.  A  favorite  site  was  a  elitt"  witli 
a  southeni  exposure,  wliere  the  newt  was  completely  covered  from  alio\(!  l)y  a 
projectiiiff  rock.  The  nests  found  hero  were  well  constnu-ted,  and  varied  consid- 
erahly  in  hulk,  an  avera<>'e  one  measurinj;'  externally  about  IS  inches  in  widtii 
by  10  inches  in  dejtth.  A  mass  of  well-interlaced  sticks,  some  of  these  very 
lar}>e,  formed  the  p'oundwork;  the  sides  were  lined  with  and  Imilt  up  of  some- 
what Hner  material,  and  the  inner  cup  of  the  nest,  resend)linj;-  in  size  and  depth 
H  lar}>o  SOU])  plate,  was  thickly  (piilt<'d  with  a  mass  of  cattle  hair  and  sometim«'S 
the  <lry,  fine  iinier  bark  of  cottonwood.  This  inner  lininj;'  was  fre(juently  an 
inch  thick,  and  made  a  warm,  cosy  hfane  for  the  younj;:.  They  looked  clean, 
but  were  offensive  in  odor,  and  when  the  nest  was  occ^upied  the  lining  was 
always  alive  with  Heas.  In  localities  where  sheep  are  abundant  the  inner  linin;jf 
of  the  nest  consists  principally  of  M'ool,  and  in  moimtainous  rej^ions  of  tree  moss. 

Niditication,  in  tho  vicinity  of  (Jamp  Harney  at  least,  usually  ])e«fins  in  the 
first  or  second  week  in  April,  sometimes,  however,  in  the  latter  ]»art  ol  ]\Iarch, 
and  ajfain  not  before  tho  middle  of  I\!ay.  I  obtained  a  perfectly  fresh  set  of 
five  egj-s  as  late  as  May  2i),  lH7(i,  from  a  locality  where  none  of  these  birds  hud 
been  disturbed  previously;  it  was  apparently  a  finst  laying. 

The  American  l{aven  l)ecomes  attached  to  a  site  when  once  chosen,  and 
uhliough  its  eggs  or  young  may  be  taken  for  successive  seasons,  it  will  return 
and  use  tho  same  nest  from  jear  to  year.  1  have  taken  three  sets  of  eggs  (evi- 
dently laid  by  the  same  bird)  from  the  same  nest  for  successive  years;  they  were 
readily  recognizable  by  their  large  size  and  .style  of  marking.**.  Oidy  one  brood 
is  rai.sed  in  a  season.  Incubation  lasts  about  tlure  weeks,  connnencing  when 
tho  set  is  completed,  and  I  believe  both  sexes  a.ssist  in  this  hdjor.  When  tho 
female  is  sitting  on  tho  nest  tlu^  male  may  frefpiently  be  seen  perched  on  some 
small  bush  or  a  dead  branch  of  a  tree  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  canyon  from 
where  the  nest  is  situated,  uttering  an  occasional  "klunk-klunk"  and  keeping  u 
.sharp  lookout.  Should  anyone  approach  in  that  direction,  though  sonu)  di.stance 
ofi',  he  will  warn  his  mate,  uttering  a  low  alarm  note  while  Hying  past  the  nest, 
when  she  will  usually  slij)  off  and  try  to  keep  out  of  sight,  while  he  endeavors 
to  (h'aw  attenti(tu  to  himself,  acting  at  the  same  time  as  utterly  unconcerned  as 
if  he  had  no  interest  whatever  in  that  particular  locality. 

The  y(»ung  are  able  to  leave  the  nest  about  a  month  after  they  are  hatched, 
and  are  cared  for  by  both  parents  for  some  time  thereafter.  They  disapi)eared 
shortly  afterwards  from  the  inunediate  vicinity  of  their  nesting  sites,  and  spent 
the  sunnner  months  about  the  sliores  of  Malheur  Lake,  in  Harney  Valley,  where 
an  abundance  of  suitable  food,  such  as  dead  iish,  could  readily  bo  procuretl. 

Tho  number  of  eggs  laid  to  a  set  varies  from  five  to  seven,  sets  of  five  being 
most  connnon  and  those  of  six  not  rare,  while  among  those  taken  by  me  were  two 
sets  of  seven  each.  These  are  de])osited  on  alternate  days,  but  sometimes,  after  u 
nest  which  contained  one  or  two  eggs  only  has  been  examined,  no  others  jnay 
be  added  for  a  week  oi-  more,  and  then  lajing  is  resumed.    The  eggs  \ar}'  in  shajie 


JliJiiL 


ii* 


400 


MKK  IIISTOKIKM  OF  NOBTH  AMKHIOAN  lUUDH. 


from  oviitc  to  cloiijratc  iiiiil  cyliiKlricnl  ovate;  the  t,nouii(l  color  in  usually  a  pale 
jM'a  ;frft'ii,  less  ol'tcu  u  tiralt  or  fircciiich  olive.  'I'liey  are  usually  profusely 
l)lot<-lie(l  an<l  s|iottetl  uitli  difl'ereut  shades  of  lirowu,  lavender,  au«l  drali.  In  a 
iiund)er  of  speeiniens  tlie  niarkinffs  are  evenly  dlstriliufed  over  the  entire  (■(,% 
in  a  few  cases  nearly  hidiu}"'  the  <iround  color;  in  others  they  predominate  at 
one  of  the  ends,  and  an  occasional  ej^jf  is  hut  slightly  marked,  showing  tho 
ffround  color  «'learly.  One  such  li^jht-colored  »■},'<;•  is  often  foiuul  in  sets  other- 
wise hea\ily  nuirkt-d.  'i'he  shell  is  stronj>'  and  <'ompact  and  shows  little  or  no 
}>loss.  The  markiu^fs  in  very  I'are  instances  ap|)roach  the  pecidiar  elonf>ated 
style  so  «'hara«'teristic  of  the  e<;'^s  of  the  White-necked  Haven. 

Tim  averaj,'!'  measurement  of  fifty-four  o^ffs  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection,  all  hut  two  taken  by  myself,  is  4\).'>'.\  liy  32.7(i  inillimetres, 
or  1.II5  by  1.2!)  inches.  The  larjiest  ej^fi;  of  the  series  measiu'es  iiOAf)  l»y  ;{7.84 
millimetres,  or  'J.iJS  l»y  1.4!)  inches;  the  smallest,  41.15  Ity  31.r»0  niillimetreH,  or 
l.d-J  by  l.-_'4  inches. 

The  type  specimens,  Nos.  'iO.H'Jl  and  "JOS'io  (IM.  4,  Kiffs.  1  i\\<[  2),  both  from 
the  Jiendire  collection,  were  taken  by  the  writer  near  Camp  Harney,  ()rej(t»n,  on 
A}>ril  22,  1S76,  and  April  2(i,  1H77,  respectively,  the  first  from  u  set  of  seven 
ejrfi's,  the  la.st  from  a  set  of  six,  and  these  represent  tho  two  principal  styles  of 
coloration. 


)•'■: 


ivy 


1*1  ■. .. '    ; 

!' .  '  '*  > 

t   '■'■■* 


Wi  : 
It"*' 


i6o.     Corvus  corax  principalis  Uidoway. 

XOinHKUN   IJAVKN. 

Cori'UM  oora-T prinoipnHK  Ridoway,  .Alaiiusil  North  .Vinericaii  Hirds,  1H87,  'M\\. 
(B  423,  part;  t)  22(i,  part;  U  2S»,  part;  (J  3.W,  part;  U  48({rt.) 

rrEooRAi'Hi(!Ai,  RANGE :  Nortlunii  NortU  America;  from  Greenland  west  to  Alaska; 
south  to  Britisli  Columbia,  uortbern  Canada,  and  Labrador. 

The  Northern  Ruven  is  admitted  to  subs])ecific  rank  in  our  avifauna  mainly 
on  the  claim  of  haviuff  a  relatively  larj^er  or  stouter  bill  and  a  .shorter  and  stouter 
tarsus  than  the  southern  bird,  with  nu»ro  of  the  upper  portions  of  the  tarsus 
concealed  by  tho  feathering  of  the  lower  pails  of  the  thi^fhs,  the  plumafco  <feu- 
erally  beinjr  less  lustrous,  liavens  are  well  known  to  attain  a  }>Teat  aj^e,  an<l 
instances  are  on  record  of  these  birds  haviuff  lived  over  a  hundred  years; 
variations  in  })lumage  may  therefore  depend  to  some  extent  on  a<^e.  These 
differences  nui}'  possibly  prove  constant  in  the  far  north,  to  which  for  tho  present 
I  prefer  to  restrict  its  ranj^e. 

Its  general  habits  and  call  notes  rosomble  those  of  the  American  Raven; 
like  it,  it  lives  to  a  great  extent  on  offal  and  refuse  of  any  kiiul,  and  is  generally 
mo.st  abundant  in  tint  immediate  vicinity  of  Indian  camps  and  settlements,  which 
are  mostly  located  on  tlu!  seashore,  or  on  the  banks  of  the  larger  rivers  in  tho 
interior,  where  these  birds  act  as  scavengers.  This  is  especially  tho  case  on 
the  Alaskan  Peninsula  and  on  tho  mainland,  where  hundreds  of  these  birds  may 


THK  NOHTIIKKN  UAVKN. 


401 


fnM|uciitly  ho  houii  in  the  vicinity  ut'  tho  Hiiliuon  f)iiiiiiM}>'  HtatioiiH,  wlutro  tliuy 
livu  alinoHt  ciitirttly  on  tlu)  ort'iil  of  tiiiM  tiHh,  Cliuns  uIho  t'orni  u  small  |)ortion 
of  tlitMi'  food;  tlutso  an*  said  to  Ixt  carried  Honu*  dintant'i!  in  tin*  air  and  (lion 
di'o|)|KMl  on  tho  rockM  to  hroak  tho  sholls.  'riioyalHo  proy  to  no  mnall  cxtont  on 
tlio  youn^r  and  tho  i'nnn  of  tlio  difi'uront  watorfowl  which  noHt  in  snitahio  localitioH 
in  thoso  northern  nt^^ionn  in  conntloss  nunihcrH.  If  \v(t  could  hcliovo  all  that 
is  told  al)out  tlios«t  birds,  thoy  cortainly  appear  to  !>«•  far  more  niischiovouH  and 
ini|)ndcnt  than  our  Ainorican  l{4ivon.  Thoy  aro  said  to  show  an  inordinato  hatred 
for  tho  Indian  dojrs,  annoyiiiff  and  toasinj^  thoin  in  variou,.  wa^s;  for  instance, 
shoidd  they  find  one  asloo)),  they  aro  said  to  dro|)  a  stick  or  stone  upon  the 
nnsuspo(^tin^  animal  out  of  ptn'o  mischief 

Mr.  li.  .1.  Hrothorton,  writing  mo  alxmt  those  birds  from  Kadiak,  Alsaka, 
.(ays:  "I  saw  a  native  dojc  one*  day  with  a  hone  which  ho  vaiidy  endeavored 
to  i^at.  While  so  onj^a^od  ho  was  ospiod  hy  a  llavtMi,  whi>  tlew  down  and  tried  to 
scare  tho  dojr  l)y  loud  cawin}^,  in  which  ho  wiw  shortly  afterwards  assisted  hy 
another,  both  birds  sidlinj,'  up  to  tho  do<;'s  head  until  they  were  barely  out  of 
his  roach,  .lust  at  this  time  a  third  Ilavtsn  appeared  on  the  seen*'  and  surveyed 
tho  situation  from  an  adjacent  fence,  but  soon  tlow  <h»wii  behind  tho  do<^  and 
advanced  until  within  roach  of  his  tail,  which  ho  seized  so  roughly  that  the  dog 
tin'nod  for  an  instant  to  snap  at  him,  and  at  tho  same  mouuuit  the  Itone  was 
snatched  away  by  one  of  tho  Itavons  at  his  head." 

Mr.  Chaso  Littlejohn  writes:  "In  Alaska  their  nests  are  usually  l)laced  on 
clitfs,  and  generally  whore  thoy  c^in  obtain  thtf  eggs  of  other  birds  with  which 
to  foinl  their  young.  Thoy  aro  very  cunning.  I  remendier  a  |»air  which  nested 
on  a  small  island,  within  a  stone's  throw  of  the  mainland,  on  which  nianv  Gulls 
also  nested.  Hy  acting  in  concert  the  latter  can  defend  most  of  their  eggs 
against  tlie.se  birds,  but  whenever  f  visited  this  island  t(»  gather  some  for  food 
the  Uaveiis  took  advantage  of  such  an  op|)ortuiiity.  Tlioy  would  jiick  tip  an 
egg,  cany  it  to  tho  mainland,  hide  it  carefully  in  tho  moss,  return  for  another, 
and  so  on  until  there  wore  no  more  eggs  or  until  I  had  left  tho  island,  when  the 
Gulls  would  jirotect  what  were  left.  While  tho  Havens  were  on  the  mainland 
the  (iidls  would  not  molest  them,  and  so  they  could  eat  their  |)liiiider  in  pi-ace. 
All  eggs  not  eaten  at  once  were  (!arefully  buried  in  the  mo.ss  for  future  use." 

While  nesting  sites  on  dirt's  aro  generally  resorted  to  along  the  seashore,  in 
the  interior  of  Alaska  on  tho  Yukon  River,  as  well  as  on  tlui  numerous  streams 
in  Mritish  North  America  flowing  into  the  Arctic  Ocean,  they  resort  to  .some 
extent  to  trees,  jirobably  on  account  of  the  absence  of  tlus  clifl's.  ^fr.  .fames 
Lockhart  found  a  nest  in  a  cleft  of  a  pophir  tree,  20  feet  from  tlit*  ground,  at 
Fort  Yukon,  Alaska,  on  May  2!),  18G2;  and  ^Ir.  R.  MacFarlane  took  a  set  of  live 
oggs  from  a  nest  jilaced  near  the  top  of  a  pine,  4.")  foot  from  the  ground,  near 
Anderson  River  Fort,  British  North  America,  on  Aiiril  30,  I8(i4. 

Their  nests  resemble  those  of  the  American  Raven  in  construction.  Near 
the  soiishore  they  are  usually  lined  with  dry  grasses,  mosses,  and  seaweed,  while 
hair  of  the  musk  ox  and  moose  is  often  used  when  procurable  in  the  interior. 

Itjsai— No.  3 26 


•3 

'   .1 


.' 


;*i 


M 


4i»'J 


LIhK  IIISTOIIIKS  OK  NOIiTII   AMKIMCAN  I»1UI»8. 


Nidilifiitiiiii  l)(';;iiis  uccasidiially  in  llii-  latter  part  of  April,  iiKiro  ;;t'ii(<nilly,  liow- 
<'\rr,  iiliuiit  till'  niiilill*'  III'  May.  ami  stiinittiiiii's  imt  until  tint  first  \vci>k  in  .hiiu*. 
i'Viini  I'iMir  til  xix  i'<H!:>*  aro  iiMiially  laiil  tu  a  ,si>t,  anil  mily  iin«  liruuil  is  raiHcil  in 
a  wiiHiin.  Tlio  ojjf^i*  iIh  nut  ililVor  niat((rially  from  tliow*  of  tlui  American  leaven, 
lint  as  a  rule  they  are  iimniler,  mure  of  a  slinrt  nvato,  ami  eiinH()(|Uontly  sumo- 
what  lar;fer. 

The  averajie  measurement  of  tliirty-uino  epjfs  in  the  llnit(«l  Htatos  National 
Miisetim  I'ollertion  is  4!».'i3  liy  .'U.'il  milliinotres,  or  l.!>r»  l»y  l.iW!  iiirhes.  The 
lariii'Ht  eff;;'  of  the  serii-s  measures  ri;{..'Jf  liy  .'i'l.rili  millimetres,  or  "2.10  by  1.40 
inihes:   the  smallest,  4I.!II  liy  l\',\.<)'2  millimetres,  or  l.(i")  liy  l..'{(t  inches. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  1H4'J'»  (1*1.  4,  Fij;.  3),  from  a  set  of  six  ejfps,  wan 
olitaiiieil  from  (ioveriior  Keiikel,  near  (loilthaali,  («reeiilanil,  in  1880,  anil  r(?|)re- 
seiits  one  of  the  lifiliter-coloretl  and  less  heavily  markeil  sp(!ciinens  of  tlu^  series; 
the  majority  resemble  tlm  typos  of  the  prt'C('ilinf>-  sjjocicB,  and  the  three  uj,'tJ» 
(ifiured  would  answer  ocpuilly  well  for  liotli  forms. 


i6i.     Corvus  cryptoleucus  Coic:u. 

WlllTK-NKCKKI)  HAVKN. 

Vorriis  I'fuiitoleticKn  Ciiuoii,  I'nirciMliiijfs  .Vciulcriiy  Natural  HcieiUM'S,  Philivilelpiiia,  .Vpril, 
IHiVi,  (id. 

(H  iL'.'i,  (!  2L'7.  I{  liHl.  O  ;i.«t,  U  487.) 

(iKoiiiiAi'iiU'AL  UANOK:  Soiitliwi'stoni  Unitod  States;  fVoiu  soutlifirn  (Jaliforiiia 
simtlioiist  tlirou};')!  Ari/.oiia,  New  Mexico,  ami  western  Texas;  soatli  into  niirtliern  Mexico; 
north  to  Olilalioina  anil  wesleni  Inilian  Territory,  ("olonulo,  and  western  KanHas. 

The  Wliito-iU'cked  Uavon,  a  snmller  and  more  ,slender-loiikinj>'  bird  than  tho 
American  Raven,  is  likewise  a  resident  and  breeds  whenever  found.  Alono-  our 
southern  iiorder  these  two  species  are  frequently  found  toj;-etlier,  and  the  marked 
ditfereuce  in  size  between  thi'iii  is  then  very  readily  oliserved.  This  bird  usu- 
ally inhabits  the  jilains  and  foothills,  and  is  rarely  found  at  a  hij^hor  altitudes 
than  r),."i(»i»  feet.  It  is  far  more  .socialile  in  its  habits  than  its  lar^'vr  relative, 
and  in  winter  fair-sized  flocks  may  b  often  seen  tojiether,  especially  in  tho 
vicinity  of  slaiijihterhouses.  On  the  wl.  le,  they  are  not  as  shy  as  tho  Ravens, 
and  are  much  more  easily  obtainuil.  Quite  a  number  of  those  birds  were  con- 
stant visitors  at  my  camji  at  Hillito  Oreek,  near  Tucson,  Arizona,  in  187'i  and 
1873,  on  the  lookout  for  scraps  of  food,  and,  as  they  wore  rarely  molested,  .some 
of  the  bolder  ones  liccame  ipiite  tame. 

I  remember  one  bird  in  particular  (easily  rooorrnizod  by  a  white  patch  on 
the  throat  caused  by  the  loss  of  some  feathers)  which  visited  my  kitchen  tent  roff- 
nlarly,  and  would  jiick  up  food  thrown  to  him,  coming'-  fre(piently  within  15  feet 
of  the  person  throwinj;'  it.  When  the  a]ipetite  of  this  bird  was  satisfied  it  woidd 
still  pick  up  any  morsel  in  sight  and  hide  it  in  tho  vicinity,  imiler  a  jiiece  of  bark 
or  any  other  suitable  object.     One  evoning  I  noticed  liuu  hard  at  work  only  a 


THK  WHITE  Ni:<'KKI)  KAVKN. 


403 


sliort  (liMtaiict)  from  my  umt,  oviilt-ntly  (liKKii'K  up  Homcthinff.  llo  pecked  away 
vifforously,  and  tlusii  ndiiovoil  tlui  IoohuiumI  dirt  l)y  HcrupiiiK  witl»  !»«  boak  from 
Hid((  to  rtidn,  t'oriiiiiij(  a  kind  ot'  troiidi.  I  watttiicd  him  tor  nomo  tiiiut  wifii  a 
field  j^Iarts,  hut  coidd  not  imajifiiio  wliat  he  was  tryiuff  to  do,  ho  I  wait»'<l  until 
ho  had  finished,  notiii},'  the  locality  earet'uily.  Me  numt  have  worked  nearly 
halt"  nn  hour  before  he  Hew  away.  Upon  ^yoinjj  to  the  place  afterwnrds,  whieli 
I  thou<rht  [  could  hteate  at  once,  I  had  eunsidcraljle  ditHculty  in  tindin;r  it;  for 
every thin^f  had  been  replaced  so  carefully  and  nntin-ally  that  it  looked  as  if  the 
jj^ronnd  had  not  been  disturlied,  excepting  that  a  fresh  chip  of  wood  was  placod  on 
the  spot,  possibly  to  mark  it.  On  investifi'atiii;^  1  found  tiiat  the  bird  had  made  a 
trench  in  the  hard  soil  fully  2^  inches  deep  and  about  twice  as  lonjf,  in  which  ho 
had  i)uried  a  «a*o(piett(f  made  of  canned  salmon  which  the  cook  had  tinown  out. 
1  removed  this,  (!arefully  replaced  the  soil  a<,'ain  as  naturally  as  possible,  and 
marked  it  with  a  chip,  in  the  hope  of  being  able  to  watch  tlie  bird  svhen  returning 
for  it  the  next  day;  but  1  failed  to  see  him,  as  he  came  too  early,  and,  finding  the 
cache  roblted,  ho  left  in  disgust.  In  its  movements  the  White-necked  Haven  is 
not  as  graceful  as  the  Uaven,  and  its  call  notes  also  vary  consi<l(!rably  from 
those  of  the  latter;  they  are  not  ho  loud  and  jMinetrating  nor  so  varied.  A  harsh 
"kwank,  kwank"  is  most  often  hoard  while  the  bird  is  on  the  wing.  Their  flight 
is  strong  and  often  quite  protracted  I  have  sonu'times  noti«'ed  them  sailing  iu 
circles  like  Eagles  or  Ilawks,  especially  in  the  early  spring. 

The  food  of  the  White-necked  Kaven  consists  j)rinciiially  of  animal  matter, 
like  that  of  its  larger  relatives,  and,  judging  from  their  numbers  in  certain 
localities,  it  seems  to  find  subsistence  reailily  enough  in  even  the  most  barren 
regions.  This  bird  is  very  conunou  in  portions  of  Houthern  Ariz<mii  and  New 
Mexico,  as  well  as  in  western  Texas,  on  the  Staked  Plains,  and  fairly  so  in  Starr 
County,  on  the  lower  Rio  (irrande.  Mr.  W.  E.  Grover,  of  fJalvestiUi,  writes  me 
that  several  were  shot  on  the  prairie,  on  tlie  west  shore  of  Galveston  Hay,  in 
May,  18!)().  Srane  twenty  of  these  birds  wore  feeding  among  a  flock  of  Red- 
winged  lilackbirds  at  the  time.  Although  no  longer  admitted  in  (!alifornia 
lists,  this  species  undoubtedly  hred  formerly  in  that  State.  A  set  of  four  eggs, 
now  in  the  United  States  National  Museum  collection,  taken  by  Mr.  Xantus  de 
Vcsey,  near  Fort  Tejon,  California,  on  May  24,  18")8,  and  entered  as  those  of 
Corras  raniimntfi,  are  unquestionably  referable  to  this  species. 

Mr.  William  G.  Smith,  formerly  of  Loveland,  C!(»lorado,  writes  that  the 
White-necked  Raven  breeds  in  the  mountains  there,  and  that  he  obtained  two 
very  young  birds  of  tliis  species,  which  he  reared.  One  of  these  remained 
about  the  liouso  for  over  a  year,  and  was  often  visited  by  a  pair  of  wild  birds, 
which  it  w(mld  accompany  sometimes,  and  stay  away  for  a  dav  *>r  two,  and 
finally  it  failed  to  return  from  one  of  these  visits. 

In  suitable  localities  these  birds  breed  in  considerable  numbers,  for  instance, 
iu  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Huachuca,  Arizona,  where  Lieut.  Harry  t!.  Jienson, 
Fourth  Cavalry,  United  States  Army,  found  over  sixty  of  their  nests  in  the 
Heosou  of  1887  and  as  many  as  thirteen  sots  of  their  eggs  in  a  single*  day. 


.1 


H 


w 


!l 


n— "•■ 

1 

i 

;.*!■! 

;  ■  if  •  ■. 

u 

«  1    ' ! 

i 

i'r'it          ; 

■•:':    -"i 


111 


404 


IJFK  IIISTOKIKS  OF  NORTH  AMKHICAN  IIIHDS. 


1  found  them  rather  rare  hruedcrs  in  the  vicinity  of  Tucson,  and  only  secured 
two  of  thi'ir  nests,  with  egj^s,  in  1872.  In  soutliern  Aiizoiia  they  breed  on  the 
dry  plains,  covered  with  a  scanty  growth  of  niesquite,  creosote  bushes,  yucca, 
and  cactus,  often  niiU's  from  any  water,  more  frequently  than  amonji^  the  oaks  of 
the  foothills,  where  I  looked  i)rincii»ally  for  their  nests.  The  favorite  nestinj;' 
sites  in  southern  Arizona  are  low,  scrubby  uiesquite  trees,  next  oak,  ash,  desert 
willow,  and  yucca,  and  in  southern  and  western  Texas  ebony  and  hackberry 
bushes  are  likewise^  not  infreciuently  used  for  this  purpose. 

The  nests  are  usually  poorly  constructed  ati'airs,  and  ai'e  a  trifle  larj^er  than 
those  of  our  conunon  Crow.  Outwardly  they  are  mainly  composed  of  thorny 
twiffs,  while  the  inner  parts  are  lined  with  cattle  hair,  rabbit  fur,  and  fretiuently 
with  pieces  of  rabbit  skin,  wool,  dry  Cottonwood  bark,  {^rass,  or  tree  moss, 
accordinji'  to  locality.  This  linin<^  is  frecpiently  well  quilted,  and  again  appar- 
ently thiown  in  loo.se.  They  are  extremely  filthy  and  smell  hoiribly.  Old 
nests  are  repairetl  from  j'ear  to  year,  some  of  them  being,  as  Lieutenant  lienson 
expresses  it,  seven  or  eight  stories  high,  showing  use  for  as  many  years.  One 
of  the  nests  found  by  me  contained  a  number  of  rags.  The  nests  are  usually 
placed  from  7  to  20' feet  from  the  ground,  rarely  higher  or  lower.  Considering 
the  warm  climate  in  wliicli  thestf  birds  are  usually  foiuid,  they.ne.st  very  late. 
Out  of  sixty-six  reccuds  the  earliest  is  May  Ct.  1  took  this  set,  containing  only 
three  o<^y;!i,  hi  the  foothills  of  the  Santa  Catalina  Mountains,  near  'J'ucson,  and 
incubation  was  about  one-third  advaiu-ed  when  the  eggs  were  found.  Only 
twelve  other  sots  wt-re  recorded  for  ^May,  and  these  usually  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  month.  All  the  remaining  s(ts 'were  taken  in  Jmie,  and  fully  half  of  these 
after  the  niiddk'  of  that  month.  Only  one  brood  is  raised  in  a  season.  Both 
sexes  assist  in  incubation,  which  lasts  about  twenty-one  days;  this  usually  begins 
only  after  the  set  is  completed;  but  young  birds  varying  in  size  are  sometimes 
found  in  tlu^  same  nest.  Tin*  number  of  eggs  to  a  set  varies  from  three  to 
eight.  In  the  .series  of  eggs  in  the  ITnited  States  National  Museum  collection 
sets  of  six  and  four  respectively  j)redominate,  iind  about  one  set  in  nine  contains 
seven  eggs.  ^Ir.  F.  II.  Fowler,  of  Koit  Mowie,  Arizona,  writes  me  that  he  has 
foimd  as  many  as  eight  eggs  in  one  of  their  nests.  I  can  only  account  for  the 
remarkal)ly  late  nesting  of  this  s[)ecies  by  the  fac't  that  insects  and  small  reptiles, 
which  pr()l)alily  furnish  tlui  larger  ])ortion  of  the  food  of  these  liirds,  are  nnu'li 
more  abundant  in  southern  Arizona  after  the  rainy  sea.son  connnences,  about 
the  last  of  May,  than  before,  and  these  birds  seemingly  understand  this  and  act 
accordingly. 

The  eggs  of  the  White-necked  Uaven  are,  in  nearly  <fv(!ry  instance,  readily 
distinguishable  from  those  of  the  other  species  of  the  Vorriiid'  found  in  North 
America,  and  this  Is  due  to  the  chiU'acteristic  style  of  their  markings.  Tlu*  grouiiil 
color  varies  fruin  pah;  green  to  grayish  green,  and  only  very  rarely  to  a  light 
bluish  green.  Two  distinct  styles  of  markings  are  found  among  these  eggs,  the 
principal  l)nt  usually  not  the  most  notable  one  consisting  of  a  mass  of  longi- 
tudinal streaks  and  blotches  of  different  shades  of  lilac,  lavender  gray,  and  drab, 
running  iVum  p(jle  to  pole  of  the  egg,  ami  the.se  are  again  more  or  less  hidden 


TlIK  WHITKNKCKEI)  RAVKN. 


405 


'^ 


and  partly  obliterated  by  heavier  and  more  rej>ularly  defined  s])ots  and  Itlotciies 
of  ditl'ereiit  .shades  of  brown.  In  not  a,  few  sets  tiiese  lijiliter  and  more  subdued 
shades  arewantiuf;,  and  are  rejdaced  l)y  a  more  conspicuous  l)rown;  i)ut  almost 
all  of  the  e}irj>s  sliow  tlie  peenliar  lon<;itu(linnl  streaks  and  hair  lines  so  promi- 
nently characteristic  of  the  e;4;«Ts  of  the  <i'enus  Mi/inrcliiis.  liesides  the  more  rej;- 
nlarly  shaped  uiarkin^js  conunon  to  the  balance*  of  the  ejrji's  of  our  ('orv'ni<i\  they 
are  on  an  avera<je  also  deciih'dly  lijihter  c(dored,  and  a  tew  e;;fis  are  almost 
nnspottt^d.  Scarcely  any  two  sets  are  exactly  alike.  The  shell  is  stronji"  and 
comj)act.  In  shape  they  are  mostly  ovate;  a  few  are  elliptical  and  elonfinte  ovate. 
Tiiey  vary  considerably  in  size,  and  for  so  lari>'e  a  bird  souie  of  the  ef>j;s  are 
rather  small. 

The  averafije  measnrompnt  of  two  hundred  and  eij^hty-ei^rht  e<i<is  in  the 
United  States  National  Museum  collection  is  44.'_*0  by  W):!'!  millimetres,  or  1.74 
l)y  1.1!)  inches.  The  lrtr>;est  eyn'  of  the  series  measures  4S.77  l)y  3.'{.7S  milli- 
metres, or  l.!C2  by  \.'6'A  inches;  the  smallest,  ;J8.G1  by  27.G8  millinu'tres,  or  1.^2 
by  !.()!>  inches. 

The  typo  specimens,  No.  231  tt4  (I'l.  4,  Fijis.  4  anil  5),  from  a  set  ()f  seven 
Ofi'fi's,  taken  dune  4;  No.  23124  (i'l.  4,  Fij^-.  6),  from  a  set  of  four  e;;<;s,  taken 
June  18;  and  No.  23094  (I'l.  4,  V\\r.  7),  also  from  a  set  of  seven  e^j;s,  taken  June 
17,  1SS7,  were  all  collected  by  First  Lieut.  Harry  C.  Benson,  Fomth  Cavalry, 
United  States  Army,  near  Fort  Huachuca,  Arizona,  and  represent  some  of  the 
dirt'erent  style    ^f  markings  found  among*  the  eggs  of  tliis  species. 


162.     Corvus  americanus  Aidibon. 


AMKKICAN   (HOW. 


■adily 
North 
■  round 

light 
;s,  tho 
longi- 

drab, 
liddeu 


Coci'i/.v  ((mr/'fCff/iKX  At'niTTioN,  Ornitliolosica!  ISioj^rapliy,  II,  IS.il.  .'ilT. 

(H  42«,  V  228,  U  2.S2,  ('  340,  I J  IHS.) 

GEooRAPniCAL  RANGK:  Contiiu'iit  ol'  Niirtli  Anieiica,  t'vccptirit;  cxtri'iiic  Arctic 
potions  iuul  Floi'jdii  ill  siiiiiiiicm';  soiitli  to  nortlicni  Mexico. 

Th((  American  or  ('ommon  Crow,  one  of  the  l)est-knowti  birds  of  our  avi- 
faiuia,  is  widely  but  somewhat  irregularly  distribnteil  over  a  large  portion  of  the 
North  American  continent.  \\'iiih'  somewhat  rare  in  tin*  more  northern  parts  of 
its  range,  and  possibly  entirely  absent  in  certain  sections,  notably  so  throughout 
the  greater  |)ortion  of  Lalirailor  and  the  regions  adjoining  Hudson  15a v,  it  is 
nevertheless  found  in  other  localities  at  nmch  liiglier  latitudes,  and  is  known  to 
breed  even  within  the  Arcti«' Circle.  Mr.  U.  MacFarlane  obtained  two  sets  of  its 
eggs  on  the  lower  Anderson  Kiver,  in  about  latitude  (!H^  ;{.")'  N.  ( >ne  set  of 
five  eggs  was  taken  on  May  A,  18()(!,  and  contained  large  cmlirovs  when  found, 
an  unusually  early  breeding  record  for  that  region. 

In  some  of  our  Wesf-.  i-n  States  and  Territories  it  is  also  rare  in  certain  sections, 
especially  so  in  southern  iVri/.oiia,  where  the  White-necked  b'aM'ii  jcplaces  this 
sp(>cies  to  a  great  extent.    Ilowexer.  what  it  lacks  in  numbers  in  some  localities  is 


; 


406 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


more  than  made  up  by  its  iilmntlaiuro  in  others,  especially  in  our  Eastern  States 
and  the  Missi.saij)pi  Valley  generally.  I  have  alwfiys  held  that  our  western  Crows 
constituted  u  fjood  subspecies  and  still  believe  so,  but  nevertheless  follow  the 
nomenclature  of  the  American  Ornithologists'  Union.  While  our  western  birds 
vary  considerably  in  size,  I  think  comparative  measunMuents  of  a  number  of 
specimens  taken  from  different  localities  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  will  show 
that  they  average  smaller,  and  I  find  the  same  to  be  the  case  with  a  large  series 
of  the  eggs.  I  am  also  of  the  o|)inion  that  tiieir  call  notes  differ  to  some  extent, 
but  may  be  mistaken  in  this.  Their  jdumage  is  more  or  less  variable,  and  is  less 
glossy  than  that  of  eastern  birds,  especially  during  the  breeding  season.  Tins 
western  Crows,  in  some  sections  at  least,  seem  also  to  be  more  sociable;  at  Fort 
Lapwai,  Idaho,  for  instance,  I  have  occasionally  found  them  breeding  in  what 
might  be  called  small  colonies,  and  this  was  not  due  to  scarcity  of  tind)er  for 
nesting  purposes ;  in  fact,  I  once  saw  here  three  occupied  nests  in  a  single  small 
birch  tree,  where  a  nund)er  of  good-sized  Cottonwood  trees  Avere  to  be  found 
close  by  and  ecjually  .suitable.  Such  a  degree  of  sociability  I  have  never 
observed  iuij'where  among  the  eastern  Crows  during  the  nesting  season;  but  it 
seems  akso  to  be  unusual  in  the  West,  as  I  noticed  it  nowhere  else. 

Some  of  these  western  birds  are  also  said  to  nest  occasionally  on  the  ground, 
a  mode  of  nidification  seemingly  entirely  at  variance  with  the  habit.s  of  the 
eastern  Crows.  Such  an  instance  is  recorded  by  Mr.  E.  H.  Eorbush  in  "Eorest 
and  Stream,"  April  4,  188!i,  in  an  article  entitled  "Five  Days  a  Savage,"  where 
he  rejwrts  finding  a  crow's  nest,  containing  three  young,  on  the  ground  on  a 
small  barren  island  in  the  Gulf  of  Georgia,  Hritish  Cohuubia,  which,  however, 
may  have  l)een  one  of  Corvm  canrUms,  the  Northwest  Crow.  Again,  among 
a  collection  of  eggs  .sent  to  the  United  States  National  Museum  by  Air.  I{.  Mac- 
F.arlane,  made  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  St.  James,  British  Colundjia,  is  a  s(^t  of 
four  unmistak.able  Crow's  eggs,  brought  in  by  an  Indian  for  those  of  Franklin's 
Grouse,  and  taken  on  May  2,  lH8i>,  from  a  ne.st  placed  on  the  grounci,  under  the 
spreading  limbs  of  a  small  spruce  bush. 

In  the  United  States  the  (!row  is  a  regular  resident  south  of  latitude  42'', 
but  not  a  few  winter  in  suital)l('  localities  at  points  considerably  farther  north, 
while  on  the  Pacific  C!oast  they  are  resident  throughout  the  year.  In  the  late 
fall  all  the  Crows  in  a  certain  section  congregate  and  .select  .some  »uital)le  piece 
of  woods,  generally  .it  mi  great  distance  from  some  good-sized  stream,  where 
they  roost  in  com[)anies,  often  many  thousands  in  iuunl)er.  From  these  roosts 
they  scatter  regularly  every  morning  over  the  surrounding  country  in  sc'arch  of 
food,  undoubtedly  coveruig  a  radius  of  many  miles  in  their  daily  flights,  and 
return  again  in  the  evening,  in  small,  scattering  Ixxlies,  to  their  regular  rendez- 
vous. They  may  l)e  seen  coming  in  from  all  points  of  tlu^  compass,  the  leturn 
flight  often  begiiming  a  couple  of  hours  before  the  last  stragglers  arrive.  These 
roosts  are  probably  formed  more  from  sociability  than  for  nuitual  protection,  as 
the  Crow  has  little  to  fear  from  other  enemies  than  man. 

Thruugliont  the  Eastern  Stiites  and  the  Mississii)pi  River  Valley  generally 
the  Crows  are  extremely  shy  and  difhcult  to  aj)proach  at  all  times,  while  in  city 


<{, 


TIIK  AMlvKlCAN  CltOVV. 


407 


parks  they  soeiii  to  know  tlifit  they  will  iiat  ))(■  shot  at,  and  here  one  finds  them 
fVe(|Uontly  not  nearly  so  cautions.  In  other  sections,  es])ecially  on  the  I'acifie 
Coast,  where  tiiey  are  not  niucli  molested,  tlmy  are  morci  familiar  and  compara- 
tively tame,  allowing  a  pei-son  to  approacdi  them  closely,  both  while  t'eedin<>'  on 
the  jfround  and  when  perched  in  trees.  'I'heir  cnnninj^'  in  evadin;^'  the  t'ai-mer's 
;ihot<>nn  is  only  too  well  known,  and  many  amusinj''  stories  are  told  about  these 
birds  in  this  connectii>n. 

UpiniouH  differ  fjreatly  as  to  the  economic  value  of  the  Crow,  and  even 
with  the  most  careful  research  it  can  not  be  accurately  determined.  While  tlun-e 
is  no  doubt  that  these  birds  do  considerable  damage  at  times  to  the  growing 
crops,  and  especially  to  Indian  com,  .and  that  they  tlestroy  the  young  and  eggs 
of  some  of  our  insect-eating  birds,  on  the  other  hand  it  is  equally  certain  that 
they  do  nuu'h  good,  and  it  is  almost  safe  to  assert  that  the  harm  done  by  them 
in  a  general  way  is  pretty  nearly,  if  not  fully,  compensated  for  by  the  good  they 
do  in  the  destruction  of  numerous  noxious  insects  of  all  kinds  and  field  mice, 
as  most  of  their  food  is  ol)tained  on  the  ground.  While  1  can  not  enter  into 
details  as  to  their  footl  as  fully  as  these  birds  perhaps  deserve,  in  justice  to  them 
I  can  say  that  from  examinations  made  by  the  United  States  I)e|)artment  of 
Agi'icnltnre  of  a  large  ninnber  of  stomachs,  and  covering  every  month  in  the 
year,  the  results  obtained  show  that  at  least  two-thirds  of  the  food  of  nestlings 
consists  of  animal  matter,  and  that  '.iiis  kind  of  food  also  exceeds  the  vegetal)le 
matter  consumed  by  adults  during  the  spring  and  sunnner  months,  while  in  the 
late  fall  and  winter  tlu^  reverse  is  the  case.  Indian  corn  seems  to  i)e  the  staphs 
vegetable  food  of  the  Crow  in  winter,  and  it  is  more  than  probal)le  that  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  this  is  of  no  especial  economic  value,  and  is  picked  up  in  tlit; 
field  after  the  crop  has  been  harvested.  Wheat,  oats,  barley,  rye,  and  buck- 
wheat are  also  eaten  by  them,  but  to  a  nuu'h  less  extent,  while  acorns,  chestnuts, 
beechnuts,  the  berries  of  the  jtoison  oak  or  ivy  [HIiks),  the  fiowering  dog\\dod 
{('(iriiiis  Jiorida),  sour  gum  (Ni/tisa),  the  (^edar.  and  a  number  of  smaller  seecls 
and  dirt'erent  kinds  of  wild  and  cultivated  fruits  also  enter  into  their  bill  of  fare. 

During  the  spring,  sunnner,  and  fall  months  insects  of  all  kinds,  the  seven- 
teen-year locust  (Ciradd),  May  beetles  (Larlnioskniti),  June  beetles  {Allorliin(i), 
and  especially  their  larva-,  the  well-known  white  grubs  so  injurious  to  all  kinds 
of  vegetation,  grasshoppers,  crickets,  cutworms,  and  angleworms,  even  carrion- 
beetles,  spiders  and  their  eggs,  iidd  mice,  snakes,  frogs,  .salamanders,  lizards, 
small  turtles,  fish,  snails,  crawfish  and  other  small  crustaceans,  carrion,  and  offal 
generally — in  fact,  anything  washed  u|)  by  the  tides  or  found  along  flie  shores 
of  our  larger  rivers — constitute  the  bulk  of  their  food.  In  the  West,  wlii-re  occa- 
sionally annies  of  the  large  wingless  cricket  (^Aiialics  .sinipli:!)  and  hosts  of  locusts 
devour  every  green  blade  on  their  liiu'  of  march,  the  Crows  destroy  enormous 
munbers  of  these  ])ests;  like  them,  they  seem  to  l)e  always  hungry  ami  able  to 
find  room  for  just  one  nioi'e,  and  although  generally  in  jHior  condition  throughout 
the  greater  part  of  the  year,  in  such  localities  they  s(Mtn  «ax  fat.  and  they  do  an 
immense  amount  of  good,  which  is  rarely  taken  into  consideraficjn,  however,  by 
the  average  farmer,  who  sees  in  the  Crow  an  enemy  at  all  times. 


(  in 


ill 


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Jii 

ill   - 


i'.  M. 


408 


LIFE  UISTOlilES  OF  NOUTU  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


Mr.  Manly  Ilaidy  writes  me:  "I  have  often  seen  Crows,  near  low  tide, 
dive  from  a  jiier,  striking  the  water  as  a  Swallow  does,  and  rise  with  somethiiij^ 
shining  in  their  bills.  I  have  seen  this  many  times  in  Maine,  and  a  friend  tells 
me  that  he  has  l)een  near  enough  to  see  that  they  had  seized  small  fish.  While 
waiting  for  a  train  I  saw  one  dive  in  this  way  and  take  nj)  some  large,  wiiite 
substance;  he  carried  it  across  the  stream  and  left  it  on  the  railroad  track;  I 
crossed  and  found  it  to  be  a  large  bunch  of  cotton  waste;  as  it  was  after  the 
time  for  nesting,  he  nuist  have  mistaken  it  for  food,  ami  finding  his  mistake 
aban(h)ned  it.  Some  seasons  they  destroy  quantities  of  seed  jwtatoes  by  tUg- 
ging  them  up  soon  after  planting;  they  als<»  take  new  potatoes  from  the  hills, 
and  1  have  seen  them  j)ick  beans  from  the  pods  at  Great  Deer  Island,  Maine. 
This  could  not  have  been  for  want  of  food,  as  an  abundance  of  shellfish  could 
be  j)rocured  in  the  vicinity.  I  have  also  known  a  Crow  to  come  into  the  limits 
of  Hangor,  Maine,  in  a  thickly  settled  neighborhood,  and  take  well-grown  robins 
out  of  a  nest  built  under  the  eaves  of  a  house;  it  would  come  early  in  the 
morning,  swooping  down  like  a  Hawk,  making  no  noise,  taking  its  victim  with- 
out alighting.  In  order  to  obtain  the  meat  of  the  great  sea  snails  and  whelks 
along  the  seashore  here,  they  carry  them  high  into  the  air  and  let  them  fall  on 
the  ledges  beneath.  While  in  (Jolonido,  in  1891,  I  saw  Crows  on  tlie  top  of 
Pike's  Peak,  on  October  H,  at  an  altitude  of  14,147  feet." 

It  is  well  known  that  Crows  are  exceedingly  intelligent,  and  quite  a  variety 
of  their  cunning  jjerformauces  have  found  their  way  into  print,  a  few  of  which 
I  mention. 

A  gentleman  from  Brighton,  New  York,  under  date  of  September  4,  1882, 
writes:  "The  droll  antics  of  a  pet  Crow,  owned  by  a  neighbor,  have  amused 
me  not  a  little,  and  the  following  exhibition  of  its  intelligence  seems  deserving 
of  record.  A  few  days  since  'Jim'  was  given  some  dry  crusts  of  bread  for  his 
breakfast.  After  making  several  unsuccessful  attempts  to  devour  them,  he  seized 
one  in  his  beak  and  hoi)ped  upon  a  chair,  then  upon  the  sink,  and,  finding  a 
basin  containing  some  water,  di[)pe(l  the  crust  into  the  water  until  softeiu^d,  then 
removing  it,  ate  it,  and  jumjied  d(»wn  and  got  the  other  piece,  and,  after  softening 
it  as  before,  finished  his  meal.'" 

Mr.  Abbott  M.  Frazar  states:  "A  tame  Crow  (CorviLs  rtitiericamis)  in  my 
possession  has  repeatedly  amused  me  by  the  novel  method  he  adopts  to  rid  him- 
self of  parasites.  For  this  purpose  he  deliberately  takes  his  .stand  upon  an  ant 
mound  and  permits  the  ants  to  crawl  over  him  and  carry  away  the  troid)li'sonie 
vermin.  The  oi)eration  seems  nuitually  agreeable  to  all  parties,  the  ants  (juickly 
seizing  uj)on  the  ijarasites  and  bearing  them  away.  1  have  also  noticed  the 
same  habit  in  another  tame  Crow  that  I  formerly  had  in  my  possession."" 

Dr.  Ralph  tells  me  that  he  knew  of  a  case  where  a  pet  C!row  was  teased  by 
letting  it  peck  at  a  pocketknife  and  then  rapidly  withdrawing  it.  The  liird 
shortly  became  tired  of  this,  and  the  next  time,  instead  of  trying  to  catch  the 


'  Forest  and  Stream,  September  7,  18H2. 

'  HiiUetiii  uf  the  Nuttnll  OtuitboloKiciil  Club,  Vol.  I,  1870,  p.  7f!. 


•5  i".);. 


K^ 


THE  AMKlilCAN  CHOW. 


409 


knif(>  jiH  hcforo,  it  bit  tlio  person's  liaiul  so  hard  that  it  caused  liiiu  to  drop 
tho  kuitr,  whicli  was  (jiiickly  pi(^ked  up  l)y  tlie  hird,  who  then  flow  away  witli  it. 
This  little  iuciduiit  plainly  shows  its  ri-asoninff  })owers. 

In  the  nnxed  woods  near  Ilcdland  Patent,  New  York,  a  species  of  Helix  is 
very  abundant,  and  one  finds  many  empty  shells  from  which  the  animal  has 
been  extracted  by  these  birds.  Api)arently  nothing-  seems  to  afi'ord  more  .satis- 
faction to  a  (!row  than  to  be  able  to  harass  every  Owl  it  may  see,  as  well  as 
the  larjrer  Hawks,  but  occasionally  it  pays  rather  dearly  for  siu-h  sjjort. 

j\Ir.  J.  W.  Preston,  of  Baxter,  Iowa  writes  mc^  about  thest*  ])irds  as  follows: 
"One  winter  morning',  whih;  on  my  way  to  a  country  school,  where  I  was  teacii- 
ing  .it  the  time,  a  Crow  was  woirying  a  lied-tailed  Hawk,  and  as  it  darted  at 
the  fleeing  bird  it  made  a  (piick  grasp,  turning  completely  over  in  mid-air,  l)iit 
succeeded  in  catching  tiie  Crow,  which  it  bon^  down  t(»  the  ground  dead. 

"T  have  seen  a  Crow  carry  a  i)ie<M'  of  meat  tjuite  a  long  distance  in  its 
claws.  The  Crow  is  terribly  destructive  to  young  birds  and  eggs  in  tln^  nest. 
It  is  painful  to  see  their  havoc  and  hear  the  pitiful  cries  of  the  parent  birds. 
One  such  occuirence  noted  was  that  of  a  ])air  of  Red-eyed  Vireos  following  close 
after  the  Crow,  scolding  and  crying  as  their  nest  and  yoiuig  l)irds  were  being- 
carried  across  the  field,  a  choice  morsel  for  young  Crows. 

"The  loss  occasioned  to  farmers  from  their  habit  of  carrying  away  eggs  is 
very  consirlerable.  1  remember  a  brood  of  fourteen  plump  young  chicks  that 
were  a'l  devoured  by  the  daring  fellows.  I  had  allowed  them  to  nest  and  rear 
their  y  .ung  in  a  grove  10  rods  from  the  (h)or,  and  thus  they  repaid  the  kindness. 
I  have  seen  them  feed  from  the  raw  back  of  a  live  hog  which  had  accidentallv 
been  left  out  of  shelter  and  had  been  somewhat  frozen. 

"In  a  woods  near  our  home  was  a  fauKuis  Crow's  roost.  During-  the  winter 
of  1H91-!I2  the  number  was  e.stinuited  at  forty  thousand  l)irds.  Aiuiut  smiset 
they  canui  in  small  flocks  an<l  straggling  companies  from  long  di.staiu-es  awav, 
gathering-  into  great  flocks  on  pastures  and  meadows,  so  thick  as  to  look  like 
plowed  land.  In  the  dusk  of  evening-  the  trees  on  a  whole  hillside  appeared 
like  a  dark  bank,  so  vast  was  the  rookery.  Wt^  visit(Ml  this  i-esort  often  after 
dark  to  hear  the  varied  .sounds  that  ever  arose  frnm  the  restless,  scolding  l)irds, 
whose  voices  were  easily  heard  a  mile  distant.  A  whistle  or  shout  was  causi'  fur 
alarm,  and  the  entiri>  flock  would  rise  up  like  a  dark  cloud,  and  the  beating  of 
wings  sounded  like  a  strong  wind.  Sometimes  they  would  fly  a  mile  oft',  and, 
returning,  circle  al)out  and  begin  settling  uuich  as  ''hiimiey  Swallows  do, 
striking  each  other  and  the  branches  with  their  wings;  the  din  of  tpiarreling  fin- 
places,  changing,  and  flying-  up  and  down  was  terrible;  some  cawccl  loudlv, 
others  nuilHed  the  tones;  some  imitated  the  cry  of  a  child,  and  some  the  sipiawk 
of  a  chicken;  i»ut  the  cond)ined  eft'ect  was  a  vast,  weird  wail  that  reverberated 
through  the  forest  and  died  away  on  the  night  winds." 

In  till'  West  I  have  never  seen  any  very  large  ( 'row  roosts  in  winter,  although 
the  birds  were  quite  counnon  at  Fort  Lapw.ai,  Idaho:  Cain])  Harney,  (h-egon, 
and  in  the  Walla  Walla  Valley,  Washington,  at  all  seasons.  In  ( 'alifornia  they  are 
also  t'<»uunon  in  the  larger  river  bottoms,  but  on  the  whole  are  rather  irregularly 


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410 


LIFE  I118TOKIES  OF  NORTH  AMF-MtlCAN  HIHDS. 


(listri})utt'(l,  \vliil«  in  Houtheni  Arizona  and  New  ^loxico  they  are  rare.  Mr.  V. 
Stephens  writes  nie  that  he  saw  ( 'rows  on  Hi}"-  Sandy  Creek,  (>0  niih's  east  of 
Fort  ]\rojave,  Arizona,  in  Febrnary,  1880,  and  that  )ie  shot  a  specimen  on  the 
Minibres  Kiver,  southern  New  Mexico,  in  April,  187(5.  I  shot  a  nude  near 
Tucson,  Arizona,  on  April  13,  1872,  but  saw  very  tew  others,  and  tailed  to  find  it 
breeding  there. 

The  longevity  of  the  Crow  has  been  generally  admitted,  and  I  had  always 
thought  theywere  e.\tremely  hardy;  but  this  seems  to  be  (juestional)le.  During 
January,  1893,  large  nund)ers  perished  in  tlu*  vicinity  of  Wa.shington,  District 
of  Columbia,  from  having  the  cornea  frozen  during  the  cold,  weather  occurring 
about  that  time,  which  resulted  in  blindness  and  starvation.  Mr.  liobert  Hidg- 
way,  of  the  Sinith.sonian  Institution,  showed  me  a  number  he  had  j)icked  up,  and 
assiu'ed  me  that  luuulreds  could  be  seen  laying  around  in  the  vicinity,  while 
many  others  were  j)artly  blind." 

Dr.  M.  G.  Ellzey,  writing  from  Cumberstone,  Maryland,  reports  the  same 
occurren(H^  in  that  vicinity,  and  believes  many  thousands  peri.shed  in  this 
manner.- 

1  have  only  once  seen  a  wild  bird  partly  blind.  This  was  in  1881,  while 
stationed  at  Fort  Walla  Walla,  Wasliington.  A  Western  Horned  Uwl  was  brouglit 
to  me  alive  by  one  of  my  men,  who,  wiiile  out  liunting,  saw  it  and  tried  to  get 
witiiin  reach  to  .shoot  it.  It  heard  him  approaching,  and  in  att(;mj»ting  to  tiy 
away  was  stunned  by  striking  a  tree.  It  fell  down,  and  l)efore  it  recovered  he 
captured  it.  One  of  its  ey.'s  was  in  the  same  condition  as  those  of  tlie  Wash- 
ington Crows,  and  the  other  was  likewise  affected,  but  it  was  still  able  to  see  a 
little  out  of  it.  The  bird  was  in  poor  condition,  but  not  near  starvation.  I  kept 
it  for  many  weeks,  and  it  soon  became  remarkably  tame  and  gentle,  a  very 
unusual  thing  for  birds  of  this  species,  and  finally  1  sent  it  alive  to  a  friend  at 
Johns  Hopkins  University,  lialtimore,  Maryland,  for  examination,  and  it  reache<l 
its  destination  safely. 

The  only  plausilde  reason  I  can  assign  for  this  affliction  of  the  Crows  found 
by  Mr.  Kidgway  is  that  while  returning  from  their  feeding  grounds  they  weri^ 
compelled  to  face  an  extremely  cold  and  penetrating  wind,  and  having  to  keep 
their  eyes  open  to  see  where  they  were  going,  they  were  frozen.  A  strange  fact 
was  <liscovered  in  this  connection.  Neither  Mr.  Hidgway  nor  his  companions 
could  discover  a  single  dead  Fish  Crow  among  the  many  .specimens  examined, 
although  they  were  well  re})resented  among  those  Hying  about. 

The  (.'row  has  a  variety  of  call  notes,  and  is  rather  noisy  at  times.  The  one 
most  frecpiently  heanl  is  a  harsh  "cawh,  cawh,"  and  again  a  "krah,  krah," 
besides  a  nund)er  of  other  nmtHed  sounds,  generally  uttered  while  at  rest  at  the 
roost.  They  are  gracc^ful  birds  on  the  wing,  especially  so  during  the  mating 
season,  when  i)airs,  while  chasing  each  other  around,  may  be  seen  performing  all 
sorts  of  aerial  evolutions,  turning  comj)lete  sunnnersaidts,  now  Hying  on  one 

'  For  a  fuller  acrontit  see  Science,  Feb.  10,  1S9H. 
'-'See  Forest  and  Stream,  March  10,  1M93. 


.if 


THE  AMKKICAN  CUOW. 


411 


si<l*',  or  tilteriuitoly  rising-  <iiu'  iihovw  tlio  (»tlu!r  and  middiMily  diirtinj,'  down  ii<>iiin 
witli  winji'H  coniplctcly  closod,  and  in  tlui  nicantinic  uttorin};'  thu  clioict'st  (row- 
talk  to  their  prospective  nuites.  On  tlio  jjround  they  do  not  appear  so  ]a'epos- 
sessinjj-;  their  walk  is  somewhat  jerky  and  niieven,  and  they  do  not  look  nearly 
as  dijiiiilied  as  tlui  Uaven.      1  believe  C'rows  remain  matcnl  thron};h  lite. 

Xest  l)iiildin;r  in  the  more  southern  States  bej^ins  sometimes  by  Keltrnary 
20,  and  correspondingly  later  northwanl.  in  the  vicinity  of  Washinjiton.  Dis- 
trict of  (Jolundna,  fresh  ej,';i:s  may  bo  oeeaslonally  iound  in  the  last  week  in  March, 
but  more  frequently  durin;''  the  first  two  weeks  in  April.  Alonj;-  our  northern 
border  they  ne.st  ficnerally  about  the  bef,nimin}f  of  May;  and  even  in  the  most 
northern  portions  of  their  ran<;e  they  have  been  known  to  breed  e(|ually  early, 
but  most  frequently  niditication  here  is  protracted  well  into  dune.  In  Idaho, 
Washiufiton,  and  Ore^i'on  it  is  at  its  hei^^^ht  between  April  If)  and  May  20.  The 
nests  are  bulky,  usually  well  constructed,  and  placed  in  the  forks  of  branches, 
f>enerally  well  uj)  and  hard  to  reach.  Occasionally  one  is  ])lac(Ml  near  the  main 
trunk,  this  beinj;'  mostly  tlii^  ca.se  where  bushy  cedars  or  juni|)ers  are  used.  Any 
sort  of  tree  may  be  chosen  for  a  nestinjp  site,  j)roviding  it  is  one  of  dense  folia}>'e, 
which  will  hide  tlie  nest  well.  In  some  localities  \}'mo  trees  seem  to  be  preferred, 
while  in  others  oaks  are  often  selected.  In  the  West  cottonwoods,  junipers,  and 
willows  are  most  frecpiently  nsed.  Nests  are  usually  placed  at  heiffhts  varyinj;- 
from  20  to  (iO  feet;  but  1  have;  found  some  barely  (!  feet  from  the  ground,  and 
in  many  h)calities  in  the  West  they  are  rarely  placed  over  20  feet  uj).  Here  also 
they  are  said  to  occasionally  nest  on  the  <>Tound,  but  I  have  never  ol)serv('d  this 
personally.  Crows  rarely  neat  in  deep  forests,  the  borders  of  woods  and  the 
river  bottoms  bein<:f  )»referred  for  su(di  purjuises.  The  nests  are  oonq)osed  out- 
wardly of  sticks,  weed  stalks,  corn  husks,  and  other  coarse  material,  and  lined 
with  ^rajjcvine  bark,  fine  roots,  dry  f^ra.ss,  leaves,  straw,  moss,  raj^s,  wool,  and 
hair,  the  liiunj^-  varyiu}''  in  diflerent  localities.  Where  cattle  are  i)lenty  the  lussts 
are  often  f(»und  lined  with  more  or  less  of  their  hair.  Tlu;se  (iner  materials  are 
well  quilted  tofrether.  The  outer  diameter  of  the  nest  is  usually  about  24  inches 
by  !>  inches  in  depth.  The  inner  cup  is  from  4  to  (!  inches  deep  and  from  12  to 
ir»  inches  in  diameter.  'I'his  prevents  the  efif^s  from  bein<>'  throwJi  out  of  the 
nest  durin<"-  hi^h  winds  when  placed  in  slench'r  branches  in  the  extreme  to|is  of 
trees. 

The  nund)er  of  ejigs  to  a  set  varies  from  four  to  eight.  Sets  of  five*  are 
most  commonly  found,  while  those  of  seven  are  rare,  and  those  of  cij>lit  (piite 
unusual,  Mr.  A.  (!.  Kenq)ton,  Wolfville,  Nova  Scotia,  writes  me  that  he  foimd 
a  s(^t  of  ten  ('ggs  in  the  s[)rin<>'  of  1890,  which  lu'  believes  were  laid  by  tin-  same 
bird.  In  the  Western  States  usually  from  three  to  five  eggs  constitute  a  set, 
and  tho.se  of  six,  according  to  my  observatif>ns,  are  much  rarer  than  in  the 
East.  Incubation  lasts  about  eighteen  days,  and  both  parents  assist  in  this  duty. 
The  young  are  born  Idind  and  naked,  and  remain  in  the  ne.st  about  three  weeks. 
While  Crows  steal  many  of  the  eggs  of  other  birds,  they  apjjarently  do  not 
molest  any  of  their  own  kind,  but  if  several  pairs  nest  close  together  they  will 


i 


tw 

•*  Ik  .i  * 

I  •«  1 12  * 


412 


LIFE  niSTORIES  OV  NOKTll  AMKKICJAN  BIKDH. 


steal  noHtitip  luatcrial  from  each  other  wlienever  an  o|»poitunity  occurH.  The 
old  iii'sts  are  resorted  to  for  several  seasons  in  succession  where  not  molested. 
Only  one  brood  is  raised  in  a  season;  if  the  first  e}f},'s  are  taken,  tlu-y  usually  lay 
a  second  set,  but  rarely  in  the  same  nest.  When  the  yoimj^'  are  nearly  fledj^ed, 
they  may  often  be  s«'en  sittiu}^  on  the  rim  of  the  nest  or  on  Itranches  close  bj-, 
watcliini;  for  tlu'  retimi  of  the  parents  with  food,  and  kee])in}f  up  an  incessant 
clamor. 

(Vows'  e<if^s  are  rather  handsome,  and  vary  {greatly  in  shape,  size,  color, 
and  markinjfs;  the  majority  may  be  called  ovate,  but  l)oth  .short  and  rounded 
ovates,  and  elliptical  and  elouf^ated  ovates  are  also  found  in  jfood  .series,  'i'he 
P'ound  color  varies  from  malachite  and  j)ale  bluish  jjreen  to  tilive  };reen,  and 
occasionally  to  an  olive  buti".  The  markin<rs  usually  consist  of  irre<fularly  shajjed 
blotches  and  spots  of  dirterent  shades.of  browns  and  {frays.  In  some  specinuais 
these  are  lar<fe,  and  irre{>ularly  distributed  over  the  e<f}j:,  usually  predominating 
about  the  larger  end,  leaving  the  ground  color  clearly  visil)le.  In  others 
again  the  markings  are  tine,  ja-ofuse,  and  evenly  distributed,  giving  the  egg  a 
uniform  dark  olive-green  color  thr<mghout.  In  an  abnormal  set  of  five  eggs, 
presented  by  Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher  to  the  Uniteil  States  National  Museum  collection, 
four  have  a  pinkish  buft"  ground  cidor,  and  are  miiuitely  s])eckled  with  tine 
(h»ts  of  ecru  drab,  resembling  somewhat  in  general  appearance  a  heavily  marked 
egg  of  the  American  (!oot  (^Fulira  anirricatia);  the  fifth  egg  has  a  creamy  white 
ground  color,  and  is  spotted  with  different  shrdes  of  light  brown,  drab,  and 
lavender.  In  another  specimen,  presented  by  Dr.  T^ouis  B.  liishoj),  the  ground 
color  is  salmon  buff,  and  this  is  blotched  with  pinkish  vinaceous.  The  entire 
set  of  si.x  eggs  was  similarly  I'olored.  Endless  varieties  may  be  found  in  a  good 
series  of  these  eggs.  The  shell  is  finely  granulated,  strong,  and  occasionally 
rather  lustrous. 

The  average  measurement  t>f  two  hundred  and  ninety-two  eggs  in  tlm 
United  States  National  Museum  collection  is  41.40  by  29.13  millimetres,  or 
about  1.(53  by  1.15  inches.  Tiie  largest  eiy;<2:  of  the  series  measures  46.74  by 
30.78  millimetres,  or  1.H4  by  1.21  inches;  the  smallest,  30.07  t)y  20.01  milli- 
metres, or  1.42  by  1.02  inches. 

Of  the  type'specimen.H,  No.  202!>7  (PI.  4,  Fig.  H),  No.  20300  (IM.  4,  Fig.  I»), 
and  No.  20303  (IM.  4.  Fig.  10),  all  from  the  Hendire  collection,  were  taken  l)y 
the  writer  near  Fort  Lapwai,  Idaho,  on  May  8,  1870,  and  April  2(),  and  May  4, 
1871;  No.  20313  (PI.  4,  Fig.  11),  also  f'ron^  the  abt)ve  collection,  wiis  taken  near 
Camp  Haniey,  Oregon,  on  May  4,  1877;  No.  24!I22  (PI.  4,  Fig.  12),  from  the 
Kal[)h  collection,  was  taken  near  Nicasio,  (California,  on  April  21, 1883;  and  No. 
2327 ">  (PI.  f),  Figs.  21  and  22),  both  from  the  saine  .set,  were  obtained  from  Dr.  A. 
K.  Fisher,  and  were  collected  near  Lake  ()re«»rge.  New  York,  on  May  14,  1883. 
The  specimens  figured  represent  the  different  styles  of  coloration  found  among 
the  eggs  of  this  species,  as  well  as  nearly  the  extremes  in  size.  Plate  4,  Figure 
10,  shows  one  of  the  commoner  types  of  markings. 


TUE  FLOKIDA  CKOW. 


413 


163.     Corvus  americanus  floridanus  Haikd. 

KI-ORIDACKOW. 

CorruH  umvrimnuH  vav,  Jloriilaiiim  Haird,  Birds  North  Aiiicru'ii,  18."»8,  508. 
(H  427,  C  liL'Sa,  11  asiia,  V  Ml,  V  iSSa.) 

Ubouuapiikiak  KANttK:  Florida. 

Tlio  Florifhi  Crow  in  (listiuffuishahlo  tVoin  its  iiortlicni  relative  l»y  itw  decid- 
edly larj;;or  i'eet  and  bill,  and  its  usually  shorter  winy  and  tail.  It  is  a  eonstart 
resident  in  Florida,  and  its  jroneral  habits  are  similar  to  those  of  the  American 
Crow.  Dr.  Ralph  reports  it  common  in  the  vicinity  of  San  Mateo,  Putnam 
County.  Florida,  and  has  sent  both  birds  and  e{ffi;s  to  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection  from  there.  Several  nests  were  found  by  him  in  tail,  slender 
pine  trees  in  low,  flat  pine  woods,  usually  borderin},''  on  swamps.  The  nests 
were  located  in  the  tops  of  trees,  on  horizontal  liml)s,  and  close  to  the  trunk, 
at  distances  varyinjr  from  4.')  to  70  feet  from  the  groimd.  I^hey  are  usually 
comjjosed  of  small  sticks,  lined  lirst  with  Spani.sh  moss  and  then  with  strips  of 
cypress  bark;  occiisionally  a  few  feathei-s  from  the  sitting  bird,  hair  from  cows' 
tsiils,  bunches  of  fine  grass,  and  grass  with  the  rootlets  attsiched  entered  into  the 
composition  of  the  linings,  and  in  one  instance  the  eggs  were  laid  on  about  half 
a  i)int  of  fine  rotten  wood.  The  nests  avenige  in  measurement  about  24  bv 
9  inches  in  outer  diameter,  the  inner  cup  being  about  16  inches  in  width  by  5 
inches  in  depth. 

Tile  eggs  vary  from  three  to  tive  in  numl)er  to  a  set;  they  are  indistin- 
guishable from  those  of  the  American  Crow,  and  are  usually  deposited  in  the 
latter  part  of  February  or  the  first  week  in  March.  In  a  set  of  five  taken  by 
Dr.  Ralph,  on  March  3,  1H!J1,  incubation  was  advanced  about  two-thirds,  while 
in  a  set  of  three  taken  March  81,  1S92,  it  had  just  connnenced. 

The  average  measurement  of  twenty  eggs  of  this  subspecies  in  the  United 
States  National  I\Iuseum  (M)llection  is  41.72  by  29.72  millimetres,  or  abt>ut  1.64 
by  1.17  inches.  The  largest  egg  measures  45.  !■!  by  2!).21  millimetres,  or  1.7!>  by 
1.15  inches;  the  smallest,  38.10  by  29.21  millimetres,  or  1.50  by  1.15  inches.  In 
a  larger  series  of  these  eggs  the  average  measurements  would  jjrobably  be 
somewhat  njduced. 

The  type  sjiecimens,  Nos.  24180  and  25590  (PI.  4,  Figs.  13  and  14),  both 
from  the  Ralph  collection,  the  first  from  a  set  of  five,  the  latter  from  one  of  three 
eggs,  were  collected  by  Dr.  William  L.  Ralj)h,  near  San  Mateo,  Floi'ida,  on  March 
3,  1S91,  and  March  8,  1892,  respectively.  They  will  answer  equally  well  for 
representations  of  some  of  tlie  smaller-sized  eggs  of  the  American  Crow. 


■ki 


n 


n-' 


mm 


4H  l»''''':  IllSTtmiES  Oi"  NOKTU  AAlEiaCAN  BIKUS. 

\  164.     Corvus  caurinus  IUiud. 

NOUTIIWKST  CHOW. 

CorniH  viiuiinHH  lUlUD,  Itirds  North  AiiU'ii(^a,  18.58,  r»(i!), 

(II  428,  C  'I'Mb,  K  1.'826,  i)  M'!,  V  48<».) 

(iKooKAi'iiicAi,  itANOK:  XorthwoMttiiii  coiiHt  (listi'ii'ts;  fi-oin  < trogoii  north  to  Houtli- 
orii  Ahiska  (Kadiak  iHhiiKl). 

I'Vom  jihout  \\w  inontli  (if  tlio  ()olninl)in  Uivcr  nortli  iiloii},^  the  const  of 
Wasliiiiiitoii  ami  British  Ooluinliiii  to  soutlinni  Alaska  a  .small,  Hliort-lt'}?<j;t'(l,  and 
rutluT  (lull-colored  Crow  is  found,  which  tln^ro  holds  about  tho  sanic  relation 
to  the  Oommon  (!row  as  docs  the  Fish  (!row  on  tho  Atlantic  coast,  both  .spe- 
cies inhabitiiiff  the  same  rej'ions,  the  Northwest  ('row  |»redoniinatin<f,  however. 
Duriny  a  visit  to  tiie  shores  of  I'ujfet  Soinid,  in  May,  1H!)4,  I  was  ai)le  to  satisfy 
myself  «tf  this  fact,  and  whilt*  the  sonu*what  lar^jer  CJrows  of  the  inttM'ior  are 
also  found  as  far  west  as  the  Sound,  F  do  not  Itelicve  that  the  trutt  Northwest 
Crow  ever  passes  inland  much  beyond  tide  water.  Althou;,di  1  observed  these 
birds  carefully,  I  could  not  detect  any  very  marked  difference  in  their  j^eneral 
hal>its  or  call  notes;  if  such  really  exist,  they  are  not  nearly  so  noticeable  as 
are  thosc^  l)etween  the  AnuM'ican  and  Fish  ('row  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  The 
statement  of  Mr.  J.  K.  Lord,  naturalist  of  the  Houndary  Siu'vey  between  the 
United  States  and  British  Columbia,  quoted  in  Volume  II,  "History  of  Nortli 
American  Birds,"  by  Baird,  Brewer,  and  Ifidjiway  (pa}>e  251),  that  "this  Crow 
retired  to  the  interior  to  breeil,  and  built  a  domed  nest,"  is  entirely  erroneous. 
1  have  traveled  a  ji'reat  deal  over  the  same  ref^ions  that  Mr.  Lord  did,  but  my 
observations  do  not  warrant  me  in  corroboratin<r  this  statement;  none  of  our 
(Jrows  build  domed  nests,  but  the  American  Mag'pie,  which  is  conunon  in  the 
interior  of  Washington,  does,  and  he  mistook  their  nests  for  those  of  the  North- 
west Crow. 

.Mr.  1\'.  11.  Lawrence  writes  me:  "The  Northwest  (yrow  is  very  common  in 
western  Washington,  and  especially  al)undant  on  the  coast  in  winter.  At  South 
Bend,  Pacific  ( bounty,  Washingt(»n,  in  February,  181)2,  great  Hocks  of  this  species 
could  1)0  heard  when  their  rendezvous  was  several  nnles  away  on  the  Willajta 
River.  'I'liese  Hocks. had  many  dis])utes  with  tins  Gulls,  large  numbers  of  which 
remained  in  and  about  town.  Often  the  greater  portion  of  both  species  seemed 
engaged  in  these  noisy  controversies.  The  (iulls  certainly  held  the  town,  though 
a  few  straggling  Crows  were  now  and  then  se(;n  in  it.  At  tlus  slaughterhouses 
on  the  prairies  below  the  town  I  saw  a  Hock  of  Crows  drive  oH'  a  nund)er  of 
(Julls,  l)Ut  probal)ly  the  latter  were  rather  listless  after  eating  heartily  of  the 
ort'al.  A  Hock  of  alxiut  one  hundred  and  twenty  were  noticed  February  7,  1S1I2; 
a  few  were  perched  apart  on  a  tree  or  snag,  uttering  strange  soimds,  lik(!  'koo- 
wow,  kow-wow,  koo-wow,'  the  last  syllable  drawled  and  accented  or  emj)hasi/,ed; 
then,  with  a  slight  spreading  of  the  shoulders  and  the  tail,  the  head  being  down 
and  the  tail  drooped,  they  produced  by  a  curious  chattering  of  the  l)ill  a  sound 
(not  made  in  the  throat,  I  judged)  which  resembled  that  of  horny  plates  struck 


Tin-:  N0BTIIVVK8T  (JUOVV. 


415 


tug(*thcr,  tiiui  caiiHiii}^  iiii  oild  Hliuddoriii^  of  tlu-  liuiul  aii<l  ovoii  of  tli<>  luiily. 
'IMiis  was  repeated  a.  few  timcM,  varieil  with  a  noisy  'caw,  eaw.'" 

Mr.  H.  ,].  Uretliortoii  writes  iiie  as  follows:  "The  Xorthwt^st  ('row  is  found 
at  Kadiak,  Alaska,  in  innnens(*  nuinhers  throughout  the  yoar,  hut  in  the  winter 
months  they  <'ongrogate  in  largo  Hocks  and  th(M'efor(>  are  more  noticeahle.  In 
general  a]i|)oaranco  and  manners  they  gre.itly  resemble  tluf  Knglish  .Fackdaw; 
they  are  easily  tamed  and  Itecome  interi^sting  jiets,  showing  great  fondness  fiir 
their  masters 

"Durinir  the  winter  months  tliev  feed  almost  entirely  on  nuissels;  in  suin- 
iner  they  resort  to  the  salmon  streams  and  live  mostly  on  fish;  they  also  eat 
berries.  Their  call  note  is  the  regular  'caw'  of  ii  Crow,  but  they  will  also  sit 
l)y  the  hoiu"  and  sing  in  a  low  minor  key,  which  is  quite  pleasant  to  hear.  They 
are  very  bold,  and  (juite  fearh;ss,  and  when  one  is  shot  the  others  will  fly  around 
tluf  gunner,  uttering  cries  of  distress  and  anger,  oftt'U  coming  within  arm's  length. 
They  are  very  troublesome  to  the  natives  when  drying  salmon  in  the  fall.  In 
April  they  gft  into  the  interior  of  tlu^  island  to  nest,  and  but  few  are  seen  until 
August.     I  ha\e  never  found  their  nests." 

^Ir.  F.  Hiachort'  foimd  the  Northwest  (!row  nesting  mar  Sitka  in  the  spring 
of  186(),  and  Mr.  William  II.  Dall  (»bserved  it  near  St.  I'aul,  Kadiak  Island, 
Ala.ska,  on  Juno  (I,  1874.  Kggs  taken  by  l)oth  of  these  gentlemen  are  now  in 
the  United  States  National  Museum  c»dlection.  Foiu'  or  five  eggs  are  usually 
laid  to  a  set,  and  neither  these  mu'  the  nests  ditfer  jnaterially  from  those  of  the 
(Jonunon  Crow;  they  average  a  trifle  smaller,  and  the  same  de.scri[)tion  will 
answer  for  both.  In  the  niore  northern  portions  of  the  range  nidification 
usually  begins  in  tiu;  latter  part  of  May  or  the  beginning  of  June. 

The  average  measurement  (»f  eight  eggs  from  St.  I'aul,  Kadiak  Island,  and 
Sitka,  Alaska,  is  ;$;t.()2  by  27.43  millimetres,  or  \M  by  l.OH  inches.  The  largest 
egg  moa.sures  41. ()6  by  27.!)4  millimetres,  or  l.(J4  l)y  l.lO  inches;  the  smallest, 
3G.()7  by  27.94  millimetres,  or  1.42  by  1.10  inches. 

The  ty[)e  specimen.  No.  12S41  (PI.  4,  Fig.  lo),  from  a  set  of  five  eggs  taken 
l»y  iMr.  F.  HischoH",  near  Sitka,  Alaska,  in  the  early  part  of  June,  IHfifi,  repre- 
sents an  average  egg  of  the  speiiies. 


165.     Corvus  ossifragus  Wilson. 

FISH  CKOW. 

CorniMonsifmiiiis  WiLSoN,  Aaiericaii  Oniitliology,  V,  1812,  27,  PI.  37,  Vig.  '2. 
(B  429,  O  220,  K  283,  ('  34;{,  V  4iM>.) 

(tEooRAi'UicAh  kanok;  Atlantic  and  Gulf  coasts  of  tlio  I'nited  Wtatcs:  from  soutlicrn 
Connecticut,  the  lower  Hud.sou  Valley,  and  Lonfj  Island,  New  York,  south  to  Florida  and 
Louisiana;  casually  to  southeastern  Massnchusotts  (I'lyuiouth  County). 

The  Fish  Crow  is  a,  smaller  bird  than  our  Connuon  Crow,  and  is  readily 
distinguished  from  the  latttn*  on  this  account,  as  well  as  by  the  differen<'e  in  its 
call  notes.     It  is  a  resident  throughout  the  year  from  the  coast  of  Virginia  and 


B:' 


<  '1,,  < 


4ir, 


i-ii'i;  iii.sTui;ii;.s  ok  n«»ktii  a.mkkkan  iiiKi>a. 


.Mai'\  liiiiil  Hmitliwiinl,  iiml  lu-cuMiiiiial  s|H-('iiii('iis  winter  Hoiiifwiiiit  riirtlici'  iimlli. 
Ill  tln^  l<»\v«'r  iliiilsiiii  Niillcy  iiiul  iiloii^f  tlio  sliorcs  uf  Ldiij;'  IslninI,  Nnw  York, 
it  Ih  not  iiiicoiiiMioii  ill  Hitniincr,  Imt  in  Hontlioistcrn  iMaHsnciinHctts  it  tun  only  Int 
coiwick'rcd  a  stnijijjlt'i'.  A  few  pniliiilily  liri'cil  in  HiiitiiliK' localiticH  in  HoiitliciiKt- 
crii  ('oiiiK'i-ticiit,  anil  it  only  i-oinnu^iiccs  to  lio  tairh'  coinnion  t'roin  Koiitlicrn  Ncw 
.Icrncy  soiitliwaiil,  in  tlic  vicinity  of  Waxiiiii^itoii,  IMstrirt  of  Colniiiitia,  it  is 
loiinil  at  all  Huasonw  of  tlit-  year.  Wlii-nt  Itotli  HjH'cicH  art'  nbiiiidaiit,  spocinu'im 
aro  soiMcliiiifs  foiiiiil  wliicli  appear  to  he  liyliriiln,  anil  it  in  not  unlikely  that  they 
iiitt'rl)ree<l  occasionally.  As  a  rule,  the  Fish  Crow  is  rarely  found  at.  any  <freat 
distance  inland  al>o\e  tide  water,  and  then  usually  only  alon^'  the  shores  of  thu 
hirjfer  streunis. 

Its  ;rcii(!i-al  haliits  are  similar  to  thos*^  of  the  Coiiinion  Crow,  and  it  is  often 
siH'ii  ill  company  with  them,  especially  in  winter.  I'hey,  however,  appear  to  he 
less  sociable,  and  on  the  wholo  aro  also  Iomh  HUHpiciouH  and  more  curious.  Their 
food  is  also  similar,  tiiou<rh  tin;  proportions  of  vegetable  and  animal  matter  seem, 
in  some  localities  at  least,  to  bo  iiiorii  ('(pially  divided  than  appears  to  he  the 
case  with  the  Common  Crow.  It  is  ;renerally  sujtposed  that  the  Fish  Crow  livo.s 
more  on  animal  food  than  its  lar<fer  r«dativo,  which  is  probably  th<i  case  in  some 
phuH's,  but  this  does  not  appear  to  hold  {food  in  tlu!  vicinity  of  \V'asliin;;ton, 
Uisfict  of  Columbia,  or  in  some  other  localities.  Mr.  \V.  K.  D.  Scott  states 
that  on  the  (lulf  coast  of  Florida  they  conjirejjate  in  laific  flocks  in  the  fall  of 
the  year,  and  that  the  berries  of  tlu;  palmetto  constitute  one  of  their  favorito 
foods. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  accordinj^-  to  Audubon,  tlioy 
feed  to  a  considerable  o.\tent  on  fruits,  and  ho  aci-uses  them  especially  of  coni- 
inittiii;r  <;reat  depredations  upon  the  ripo  (ins;  he  also  states  that  they  feed  on 
various  sorts  of  berries,  particularly  those  of  the  common  holly  (^i/cj'  ni.s.siiia), 
uud  those  of  the  tallow  tree  {StiU'uijiia  scbifcrti).^ 

Some  stomachs  sent  to  the  I'liitcMl  States  Department  of  A;^ricultur(f  from 
St.  Lucie  and  l^ako  Worth,  Florida,  contained  remnants  of  tifi's  and  dewlteiri<'s, 
as  well  as  various  seeds,  while  some  from  the  vicinity  of  Washiiijitoii,  District  of 
Colunil)ia,  contaiaed  seeils  and  lierries  of  the  cat  briar  (Smihu),  mistletoe,  wild 
rice,  hackberry,  locust,  mulberry,  etc. 

Dr.  \.  K.  Fisher  tolls  me  that  on  the  coasts  of  (Jeor}>'ia  ami  South  Carolina 
he  has  seen  iiuml)ers  of  them  sitting"  on  piles  of  old  wharves,  troin  which  tlioy 
would  flyover  the  water,  pick  up  soiuetliin<r,  and  return  to  the  piles  af^-ain  to  eat 
it  at  their  leisure.  ( )n  the  seashore  thev  probal)l\'  sul)sist  mainlv  on  small  fish, 
crabs,  and  other  crustaceans,  and  such  oflal  as  is  washed  ashore.  Tiik(!  their 
larger  relatives,  tli(>v  are  al.so  accused  of  destroyiii<;'  the  youii}^'  and  oii^s  of 
smaller  i)irds,  and,  accordini>'  to  Audiilxai,  in  Florida  they  even  plunder  the 
nests  of  the  C!ormorants  and  White  Ibis,  in  the  Smitlisouian  {^rounds,  Wash- 
iufiton,  District  of  Columbia,  they  have  been  noticed  rej)oatodly  carrying-  otf 
and  eating  the  young  of  the  English  Sparrow.s,  and  Dr.  Fi^lior  saw  ono  chasing 

'  History  <>!'  North  American  HinlH,  Vo],  11,  p.  251, 


TIIIO  FlSIl  C1!()W. 


417 


11  Willct,  near  Siiiff  Siii^r.  Xi'W  York,  in  llic  spriii^i'  '<f  IHSa.  Wliilf  llii'  V\s\\ 
('row  iui<loiilitt'(lly  (Iocs  ilcsti'iiv  tlic  \oiiii;>'  nml  cj^'^is  <it' soiiif  liinl.s  in  ccrtitin 
lnciilitit',s,  it  iliK's  nut  (|i)  so  liiiliitniiily.  .Mr.  W'illiinii  I'iilnicr,  of  Wasliiii;{l(in. 
|)i.Htrirt  (if  ("uliiniltiii,  tells  nic  llitit  In-  toiind  tonr  Kisli  CntWM'  iiuntx,  witli  cyjix, 
dmin;,'  tlic  (iist  ten  ilays  in  .May,  Ism,  on  u  liill  near  Fdin-Milo  Wiin,  in 
iMcxandria  ( 'oiMity,  \'ir;>'inia,  anil  al.sii  tonr  ncst.H  of  tliciirccn  Heron,  tontainin;^ 
viXiX!*,  one  of  tiiest^  nests  l)ein^'  only  4(t  ftM't  from  one  of  tlie  Fisli  ('I'ows'  nests. 
Notwitlistaiulin^  tliat  none  of  the  Herons  were  seen  close  to  tlieir  nests,  wliile 
tile  l''isli  Crows  were  at  home  and  constantly  flyin^i'  alxtnl,  .so  tliat  \\\v\-  could 
not  lielp  seein;;'  tlie  Herons' ey;^s,  none  Were  ti'onliled  and  all  contained  full  .sets. 
Three  of  the  Kixli  (-'rows'  nests  were  pbiced  in  pines,  and  one  in  a  wild  tdierry 
tree,  aixiut  Mt  leet  from  the  ;;roinid.  Fish  ("rows  can  often  he  seen  llvin;;'  up 
and  down  the  Potomac  U'ivcr,  just  o\<'r  the  water,  lookin;^'  for  tood,  and  when 
they  find  anythin^i'  they  llutter  over  it  like  a  Tern.  'I'hey  may  often  he  seen 
rt'stiii},'  on  the  stakes  left  in  thi'  ri\ci'  l»y  lishermen. 

Their  call  notes  appear  to  lie  less  harsh  and  are  uttered  in  a  more  draw  lin;,"' 
manner  than  those  ot'  the  ( 'ommoii  ( 'ro«  ;  they  are  also  more  \arialile.  They 
consist  of  a  (dear  "cah"  or  "cahk,"  I'epeated  at  intervals  of  aliout  thirty  seconds, 
and  ai'e  usually  ntlereil  whih'  the  Itird  is  perched  on  the  e.vtreme  lop  of  a  ti'ee. 
They 'also  utter  a  (juerulous  "niaah,  maah"'or  "whaw,  whaw,"  varied  occasionally 
to  "aack,  aack,"  or  "waak,  waak."  It  is  almost  imjiossilile  ti>  reproduce  such 
sounds  accurately  on  paper,  and  not\\o  persons  would  render  them  alike.  Theii' 
tli^i'ht  is  stated  to  lie  more  yi'aceful  than  that  of  the  Common  ( 'ro\\  ;  they  are 
also  said  to  soai'  and  to  ele\ate  their  win^-  morci  while  circlin;;-  aiiont,  especially 
durin;i'  the  matinj;'  season:  hut  I  must  coi  -  that  I  en  not  see  much  dilVei'ence, 
and  I  lia\e  watcheil  Imtli  species  ciuselv. 

In  the  nei^hlicirhood  of  Washington,  District  of  ( 'ohunliia,  they  nest  fully 
a  month  later  than  the  (!onnnon  Crow,  nidilication  raiM-ly  lie;iinninf;-  hefore  May 
.""i,  while  .\udnlion  rejiorts  them  as  lireedinu'  in  Feiiruary  in  southern  Florida, 
and  corn^spondinyly  later  northward.  'I"hi'  oidy  other  Florida  reconls  I  have 
ai'e  likewise  in  .May,  one  from  the  Kissinmiee  IJixcr,  on  .May  2,  IHTii,  and  the 
other  from  near  San  .Mateo,  I'utnam  ( 'ounty,  .May  l.'i,  ISICJ,  the  latter  date  lieinj;- 
<i'i\t'n  li\'  I  )r.  Ixalpli.  Tiiese  e^ijrs  were  ipiite  fresh,  and  the  set  was  prolialilx' not 
«'ompleted  when  taken.  .Mi\  Theodore  W  .  U'ichards  slates  that  on  the  coast  of 
\'ir;iinia,  where  this  species  is  much  more  connnon  than  the  .\nierican  Crow,  the 
hreedinjn'  season  is  at  its  heifiht  durinj^'  the  first  three  weeks  in  May;  and  in  my 
opinion  the  majorit\'  of  these  liirds  seem  to  nest  in  this  month  throui;liout  the 
fi'reater  part  of  their  range. 

The  nest  itself  re.semhles  that  of  the  (.Jonunon  ('row,  lint  is,  as  a  rule,  some- 
what snialhsr,  ami  like*  that  of  the  formcM'  varies  in  composition  aecordiufi'  to 
locality.  A  r.est  taken  liy  Dr.  Ualph  mr.w  San  Mateo,  l-'loi-ida,  wa:  composed  ^.',' 
sticks  with  a  little  Sjianish  moss  attached  to  them,  and  was  lined  with  ]iine  needles, 
strips  <if  cypress  hark,  and  old  Spanish  moss.  It  was  placed  in  the  top  of  a 
slender  i)ine  tree,  in  low,  Hat  pine  woods,  Si  feet  aliove  tlu;  j^ronnil.     Some  nests 

ItiSUti— No.  a 1'7 


■ 


! 


\\ 


0^ 


418 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


ivro  lined  with  dry  cow  and  horse  dun<f,  cattle  or  horse  hair,  diy  leaves,  eel- 
grass,  and  shreds  of  cedar  bark,  while  pine  needles  seem  to  be  present  to  some 
extent  in  most  of  them.  They  are  mostly  i)laced  in  evergreens,  such  as  pines 
and  cedars,  and  generally  in  the  toj)s,  either  in  natural  forks  or  on  horizontal 
limbs,  close  to  the  trunk,  usually  20  to  50  feet  from  the  ground,  rhey  irefer 
to  nest  near  water,  but  occasionally  ii  pair  will  lie  found  making  an  excep- 
tion to  this  rule,  and  nests  have  been  tound  fully  2  miles  away  from  the  nearest 
stream  or  swamp.  Hotli  sexes  assist  in  incubation,  which  lasts  froHi  sixteen  to 
eighteen  days,  while  the  young  remain  in  the  nest  about  three  weeks.  Only 
one  brood  is  raised  in  a  season,  liut  if  tius  tirst  set  of  eggs  is  takeutthey  will 
lay  another,  and  not  iafrecpiently  In  the  same  nest.  The  eggs  nund)er  four  or 
live  to  a  set,  very  rarely  moi-e.  These  are  miniature  counterparts  of  those  of 
the  Conniion  Crow,  showing  tlie  same  range  of  variation  in  shape  and  markings, 
and  one  descri|)tion  will  answer  tor  both  species,  excejiting  only  the  pinkish- 
colored  i.'g'^>  jf  the«former.  I  have  not  seen  this  peculiar  tint  among  the  eggs 
of  this  specie. , 

The  average  uieasuremeiit  of  forty-six  eggs  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  37.17  by  2(5. !I7  millimetres,  (U-  alnrnt  1.4(i  by  LOG  inches. 
The  largest  egg  of  the  series  measures  41. GG  by  2r).40  millimetres,  or  1.G4  by 
1  inches;  the  smallest,  iio.Oo  by  2;'). Go  millimetres,  or  l.JJ.S  by  1.01  indies.' 

The  tyjie  specimen,  No.  2;J74r)  (1*1.  4,  Fig.  IG),  from  a  .set  of  four  eggs,  was 
taken  near  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  on  May  9,  1HS7,  while  No.  25271 
(I'l.  4,  Fig.  17),  from  a  set  of  five,  was  taken  in  Nortliiiuipton  (younry,  Virginia, 
on  ^lay  25,  18!>1.  Both  were  coUetited  by  Mr.  'I'heo.  W.  Richards,  and  represent 
the  light  and  dark  colored  types  found  among  the  eggs  of  this  species. 


i66.     Nucifraga  columbiana  (Wilson). 

CLAUKKS  MTCKACKEK. 

Con'm^'ohtmbiniiuii  'iViLSoN,  .Vmi'riciiii  ()riiitli()lo}.'y,  III,  IHII,  l'!»,  I'l.  L'(»,  Vig. .'!. 
NuciJ'nujd  iJuinbiami  Auui'ltoN,  ()rnitli()ln;;iiMil  Hiograpliy,  IV,  l.S;{8,  459,  I'l.  3(iU. 

(B  J30,  0  I'ao,  R  284,  G  344,  U  491,) 

C,v.o(i:iA.vniCMj  BANiii; :  ]\[ount!iinous  portions  of  western  North  .Vniericn;  from 
Arizona  iind  New  Mexieo  nortli  to  northern  Alaska  (Ivowak  or  l'utn,<ni  River);  ea.st  to 
and  alon^  the  eastern  slopes  of  tlie  Rocky'Mountains  to  the  Bluek  llills,  South  Dakota; 
casual  iu  southeastern  Dakota,  Kansas,  Nebraska,  Missouri,  and  Arkansas. 

Clarke's  Nutcracker,  niore  generally  known  as  "Clarke's  Crow,"  and  in 
some  localities  as  "Meat  Hird,"  "Moose  Hird,"  and  "Camp  Holiber,"  ranges 
throughout  the  mountain  regions  of  western  Norih  America,  reaching  tlie  south- 
ern limits  of  its  habitat  in  about  the  northern  iialf  of  New  Mexico  and  Arizona; 
to  the  eastward  it  reaches  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the 
outlying  spurs  of  this  range,  as  tiie  Mlack  Hills  in  western  South  Dakota,  while 
to  the  north  ii  has  been  met  with  by  Lieut.  George  M.  Stoney,  United  States 


CLARKE'S  NUTCIJ ACKER. 


419 


.•s,  was 


r  and  in 
ran<;t's 
lie  south- 
lAri/.ona; 
and  the 
Ita,  while 
Id  States 


Navy,  in  the  valley  of  the*  Kow;ik  or  I'utnaP'  liiver,  in  northern  Alaska,  and 
within  the  Art-tie  (!irele.  Mr.  V.  Stephens  states:  "In  sonthern  'Jalif'ornia  it  is 
never  seen  far  from  the  pinon  belt  which  ext  jnds  ii-  a  series  of  small  forests  along 
the  desert  face  of  the  hi<rher  mountains,  at  alt!tu(\'s  of  from  3,000  to  6,()()()  feet. 
It  is  greffarious  in  its  habits  and  wanders  about  a  great  deal,  but  can  scarcely  be 
called  a  migrant  here.  It  breeds  in  the  higher  jiine'forests  in  the  San  Hernardino 
Mountains,  not  far  from  the  desert  side." 

^Ir.  William  (J.  Smith  sent  me  the  following  notes  about  this  species  from 
C/olorado:  "CtMumon  at  high  altitudes  during  the  fall  and  winter.  T  have  never 
taken  a  nest,  l)Ut  have  seen  young  Ijirds  in  May.  Ihey  are  very  tame  where 
not  much  molested;  one  entered  my  tout  while  eam})ed  in  Estes  Park.  By 
manyitcrsons  this  bird  is  called  'Cam})  Jobber,' owing  to  its  daring  and  thieving 
propensities  around  cam|>  fires.  When  the  young  arrive  here,  their  throats  and 
breasis  are  fre(pUMitly  nuicli  staineil  with  red  frt)m  the  juice  of  some  berry  they 
have  been  feeding  on  elsewhere;  while  here  they  fed  mostly  on  the  seeds  of  the 
pine,  occasionally  alighting  on  tlie  ground  after  grasshojjpers  and  other  insects.'' 

Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam  met  with  it  on  the  San  Francisco  Mountain,  in  Arizona, 
and  says:  "Hreeds  commonly  in  the  spruce  belt,  occasionally  descending  to  the 
pines  in  sunnner.  In  September,  when  the  pinou  nuts  wnvo,  ripening,  it  came 
down  the  mountain  in  Hocks,  and  was  often  seen  in  the  pifion  belt  with  the  I'inon 
and  Woodhonsc's  Jays.  At  the  sanu;  time  it  was  common  at  the  uppermost 
limit  of  the  dwarf  spruce  of  the  subalpine  zont^."' 

He  also  met  with  it  in  tlie  spruce  belt  on  all  t-lit^  mountains  \isited  l)y  his 
])arty  in  iSiK)  in  soutii  central  Idaho;  se\i'ral  specimens  were  caught  in  marten 
traps  baited  with  meat." 

This  interesting  sj)ecies  is  quite  cnmnion  in  suitable  localities  throughout 
its  I'ange,  and  excepting  perhaps  in  the  more  northern  parts  it  is  an  irregidar 
resident  wherexcr  found.  Tliere  is  no  (piestion  that  they  are  great  wanderers 
at  times,  lint  this  |)ropensity  is  more  likely  tlie  ri'sult  of  necessity  than  choice, 
and  depends  mainly  on  the  food  supply.  In  their  geniM'al  habits  they  resemble 
certain  Woodpeckers  as  much  as  they  ilo  tlie  Corriiue,  ami  have  many  traits  in 
common  with  these  birds.  1  well  remember  how  elated  I  was  over  my  first 
specimen,  which  I  olitaini'd  after  a  long  chase  through  soft,  slushy  snow,  think- 
ing T  had  secured  a  new  Woodpecker,  its  undulating  ilight  resi'inbling  that  of 
one  of  these  birds  \-ei'y  closeI\-. 

H.xcepting  the  breeding  season,  ( 'larke's  Nutcrackers  are  sociable,  in([uisitive, 
and  exceedingly  noisy  birds,  and  iire  readily  detected  on  this  account  when 
moving  about  in  flocks  of  a  hundred  or  more  in  search  of  good  feeding  grounds; 
thi'y  are  (piite  omnivorous,  and  nothing  edibk'  is  rejected  by  them.  In  the 
winter  their  food  consists  princi]»ally  of  the  seeds  of  ditVeront  species  of  coniftsr- 
oiis  trees,  while  at  other  times  it  is  <piit(!  varied,  including  berries  of  various 
kinils,  beetles,  and  other  insects  and  their  larva",  including  liiitferflies  (which  I 
havt^  seen  them  catch  on  the  wing  like  a  true  Flycatcher)  and  grasshoppers. 

'  Niiitli  Aiiicrii'.'in  I':!iiiiii.  No.  I!.  V.  S.  Dcpurliiiuiit  of  Agriculture,  IS!K),  p.  ill. 
'.North  Aiiicriciiu  I'auiia,  No.  .">,  I'.  S.  Dcpartiui'iit  of  Agricultiiro,  IS'.ll,  p.  KXI. 


;  1 ' 


420 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  IJIIihS. 


Tliey  also  cat  the  lai'ge,  wingless  black  i-rickets  (An(dt>(.s  simplex),  wliicli  are 
exceudiu^^ly  abiiii(laiit  and  dcstrnctive  wherever  found,  overrunninj^-  i,n'tre  "l*  lions 
of  country  and  devouring-  everything-  green  and  edible  in  their  way.  I  liave  seen 
flocks  of  these  birds  scattered  over  the  sagebrush-covered  mesas  (tal)le-lands) 
forming  the  southern  foothills  of  tlie  lilue  Mountains,  in  Oregon,  industriously 
engaged  in  catching  tliese  repulsive-looking  insects  and  apparently  eating-  them 
with  a  relish.  They  seemed  to  be  especially  noisy  at  such  times,  calling  each 
other  constantly  and  having  a  jolly  good  time  generally.  While  usually  rattier 
shy  and  not  readily  approachable  witiiin  gunshot,  I  iiave  occasionally  seen  a  few 
much  bolder  and  more  inquisitive  than  the  rest,  alighting  among  my  chickens  in 
the  back  yard,  and  feeding  with  them.  'I'liey  spend  considerable  time  on  tlui 
gnumd  in  search  of  food,  hopping  about  from  place  to  place  like  Jays,  looking 
here  and  there  for  a  choice  morsel.  I'hey  will  hang  to  the  bark  of  a  tree  pre- 
cisely like  a  Woodpecker  in  search  of  gi-ubs,  and  again  to  the  under  side  of  a 
piie  cone,  like  a  Crossbill,  and  apparently  extract  the  seeds  witli  e(pial  dexterity. 
Their  call  notes  are  harsh  and  far-reaching,  and  consist  mainly  of  a  loud,  ras])ing 
"chaar,  chaar,"  which  can  be  heard  for  a  long  distance,  and  when  a  iuMnl)er  are 
together  the  noise  made  l)y  them  becomes  ratlii-r  disagreealde.  Ihey  do  not 
ajii)ear  to  destroy  the  eggs  or  young  of  smaller  l)inls,  but  do  far  more  good  than 
harm,  and  on  this  account  deserve  jtrotection. 

The  breeding  season,  considering  tlie  character  of  the  country  frerpiented 
by  these  bn-ds,  commences  ver\'  early,  ami  this  accounts  for  tlu;  few  nests  which 
have  as  yet  found  tlieir  way  into  our  oiilogical  collections.  Mr.  Denis  (jale 
found  a  nest  of  this  species,  containing-  three  fresli  eggs,  in  Moulder  ("ountv, 
('(dorado,  March  A,  18SS,  at  an  altitude  of  al)out  S,r)(l()  feet,  when  the  mountain 
sides  were  still  covered  with  (h^ep  snow.  A  se<-ond  nest,  also  containing-  tin-ee 
fre.sh  eggs,  was  found  l»y  him  on  Ajiril  Ki,  ISS!),  and  in  this  case  he  had  noticed 
the  Itirds  l)uilding-  fully  a  month  previous.' 

('apt.  15.  V.  (Joss  also  fouml  (JIarke's  Xiitcracker  breeding  in  the  vicinitv 
of  Fort  (Jarland,  Colorado,  where  he  obtained  a  nest  with  young  birds  on  May 
21,  1S79. 

1  am  nof  aware  of  any  nests  and  eggs  of  this  interesting-  species  ha\ing  l)een 
taken,  excepting-  the  two  found  by  .Mr.  dale  and  those  .secured  by  myself  near 
Camp  Harney,  Oegon,  April,  187(i  and  !S7S.  1  obtained  tlie  first  evideiict^ 
of  their  breeding  in  that  vicinity  on  Mayf),  iSTo,  when  1  found  se\fi-al  \'oung 
liirds,  but  a  few  days  out  of  the  nest  and  not  yet  al)le  to  Hy  well;  tlii'V  were  sit- 
ting on  the  In-anches  of  a  large  juniper  tree  in  Kattlesnako  Creek  Canyon,  about 
3  miles  north  of  the  Post.  As  this  tree  happened  to  contain  a  cavity  which 
evidently  had  been  useil  by  some  bird  as  a  nesting-  site  in  previous  yeai-s,  I 
came  to  tln^  erroneous  conclusion  that  Clarke's  Nutcracker  nested  in  holes, 
which  caused  me  to  examine  many  of  them  without  residts.  In  JMarcli,  ISTd, 
I  recommenced  what   looked    like  an  almost  fruitless  search,  in  which    I    had 

'  I'or  more  detailml  ikcroniits  of  tlii'Ho  two  ncHts  kco  iiiv  .irtic  Ii«  in  The  Aiik  (Vol.  VI,  IKHII.  pp.  L'L'fi-lMli, 
ami  Vol.  VII,  18!t0,  p.  01'). 


J-kt}-^'. 


<JhAI{lvK'S  NIITCUACKER. 


421 


iriost  of  tluf  time  to  tramp  throuj;li  .siiow  Iroiii  2  to  4  foet  fleep;  after  having 
cxaiiiined  a  p^roat  many  cavities,  mostly  in  junipers,  I  was  almost  ready  to  give 
ii|i  tlic  task,  when  I  finally  examined  the  pines  more  closely,  and  noticed  now 
and  then  an  apparently  round  hall  on  the  horizontal  lind)s  of  some  of  these 
trees,  which  1  took  to  he  nests  of  Fremont's  (Jhickarec*,  Sriiinis  hudsonirits 
frfiiioiifi,  which  is  very  common  in  this  locality,  'i'he  majority  of  these  sup- 
posed scpiirrels'  nests  were  hy  no  means  easily  reached,  and  aft^r  trying  to 
dislodge  their  occupants  with  sticks,  stones,  or  occasionally  with  a  load  of  shot, 
and  invarialdy  failing  to  hring  anything  to  light,  I  ceased  to  trouhle  myself 
further  al)out  them,  liiiing  more  ])uzzled  than  mcr,  I  was  about  to  giv«*  up  the 
search  for  their  nests,  when,  on  April  2'2,  after  having  made  more  than  a  (hizeu 
fruitless  trips,  I  saw  a  (Marke's  Nutcracker  flying  quietly  and  silently  out  of  a 
large  pine  al)out  ;")(•  yards  ahead  of  me.  This  tree  had  a  rather  l)ush\-  top  and 
was  full  of  limhs  almost  from  the  base  and  was  easy  to  climb.  As  I  coidd  not 
see  readily  into  the  top  from  below,  I  clindx'd  the  tree.  Failing  to  see  any 
sign  'f  a  nest  therein,  and  biMug  completel}'  disgusted,  I  was  preparing  to 
des  end  when,  on  looking  aroiuid,  I  noticed  one  of  these  supi^iscd  scpiirrels' 
ne.-.ts  placed  near  the  extremity  of  one  of  the  li.rger  liml)s,  near  the  middle  of 
t'i '  tree,  and  2'»  feet  from  the  ground;  it  was  well  hidden  from  below,  and 
sitting  tiierein,  in  plain  view  from  alxtve,  1  saw  not  a  scpiirrel,  but  a  veritable 
Clarke's  Nutcracker.  I  had  found  a  nest  at  last,  (piite  miexiiectedly,  and  not 
a  day  too  soon.  As  it  was  1  was  almost  too  late,  for  the  nest  contained  a  young 
bird  just  hatched,  and  two  eggs  with  the  shells  already  chipped  iind  on  the 
point  of  hatching.  However,  as  even  damaged  speciuK'us,  particularh'  rare 
'/Ues  like  these,  were  better  than  none,  1  took  them,  but  left  the  yoiuig  bird  in 
the  nest.  Tlie  parent,  trembling  with  fear,  allowed  me  to  almo.st  lay  my  hand 
on  her  before  she  fluttered  off,  and  I  was  scarcely  2  feet  away  from  tlu^  nest 
before  she  was  on  it  again.  During  the  whole  time  she  remained  perfectly 
silent.  Not  half  an  hour  later  I  found  a  second  nest,  containing  three  young, 
])erhaps  a  week  old.  Metween  Aja-il  24  and  iJO  I  found  at  least  a  dozen  more 
nests;  these,  howe\-er,  all  contained  yoimg  in  different  stages  of  growth,  some 
nearly  large  enough  to  leave  th-'  nest,  and  none  contained  more  than  three  young. 

In  the  spring  of  1S77  1  conunenced  my  search  for  nests  on  March  15,  but 
failed  to  sec^  a  single  l)ird  whci'e  I  had  foiuid  them  com})aratively  common  during 
the  ])revious  si-asnu.  Their  absence  was  due  in  this  case  to  th<>  lack  of  suitable 
food.  Xo  I'ipc  pine  cones  were  to  l)e  f'oimd,  on  the  hulled  seeds  of  which  the 
young  are  at  first  exclusively  fed. 

huring  the    winter  of  1S77-'7H  a   few  of  tlie.se  birds  occupied  their  old 

haunts  again,  and  I  liegan  my  search  as  usual  in  the  latter  part  of  March.  On 
April  4,  1.S7S,  I  found  tlo-  first  nest.  It  was  placed  near  tlu'  extremity  of  a 
small  limb  of  a  jiine,  aiiout  4l)  feet  from  the  ground,  and  was  very  hard  to  get  at. 
In  trying  to  pull  the  limit  down  with  a  rope,  so  that  it  could  be  reached  from  a 
stronger  one  below,  it  snapped  and  the  eggs  were  thrown  out  of  the  nest.  This 
set  also  I'oniained  three  eggs,  and   inciiliatioii  was  well  ad\anced.     <  )n  A|)ril  H 


■Hi': 


^■P| 


m 


m^i^ 


422 


LIFK  UlSTOUIUS  OF  NOKTH  AMEUICAN  IJIBD8. 


I  found  luiotlier  nest  containing  two  ogga  with  largo  embryos.  Tliis  one  was  also 
in  ai  pine  tree  n(!ar  the  extremity  of  one  of  the  limbs,  about  1(1  feet  from  tlio 
ground.  The  only  way  this  eould  be  reached  was  by  leaning  a  jxilc  against 
the  liinl)s  of  the  tnre  and  climbing  to  tiie  ne.st,  in  which  1  succee(le(l  dl'tcr  a 
good  deal  of  labor  and  trouble.  All  of  the  nests  found  were  placed  in  nearly 
similar  situations,  on  horizontal  limbs  of  pines,  J'iinis  poiidcrosa,  from  l."")  to  4ft 
feet  from  the  ground,  in  rather  open  situations  at  tiu!  outskirts  of  the  heavier 
forests,  and  xisually  on  si<le  hills  with  a  southeasterl}'  exposure,  at  an  altitude 
(estimat(Ml)  of  from  5,000  to  r>,r)00  feet. 

Hoth  of  Mr.  Gale's  nests  went  placed  in  low,  scrnbby  pines,  J'iviis  pnvdcrosn, 
the  fir.st  in  one  about  20  feet  higli,  which  branched  out  fi'oni  the  ground,  with  a 
probable  sju'ead  of  If)  feet.  TIk*  nest  was  situated  about  IM  inches  from  the 
main  stem,  near  a  l)uncli  of  scrub,  and  firndy  saddled  on  a  three-prongiul  fork  of 
a  stout  lind)  3  inches  in  dianu-ter,  with  smaller  ones  growing  around  it,  so  that 
nothing  save  the  overthrow  of  the  tree  itself  could  i)o.ssibl)'  dislodge  it.  This 
ne.st  was  place<l  about  8  feet  from  the  groimd,  and  is  now,  with  th«^  eggs  it  con- 
tiiined,  in  the  United  States  National  ]\[useum  collection,  having  been  kindly 
])resented  by  Mr.  Gale.  Ilis  secoufl  nest  with  eggs,  taken  April  Ifi,  ISSII,  was 
also  found  in  a  small,  scruliby  pines  only  I'J  feet  high  and  (I  inches  in  iliaineter; 
it  was  ])laced  about  l)  feet  from  the  ground,  and  resenddes  iho  first  in  every 
particular,  b(!ing  a  little  bulkier  perhaps. 

He  found  five  other  nests  of  this  species,  none  of  tliem  containing  eggs, 
however;  four  of  these  were  phu-ed  in  spruce  trees,  none  ovi-r  2.")  feet  from  the 
ground  and  two  oidy  S  feet  ujt.  A[r.  (Jale's  nest,  now  in  the  United  States 
National  Musinun,  was  tlus  only  one  found  by  him  sadtlled  on  n,  branch  away 
from  the  stem.  The  majority  of  sites  chosen  offered  little  conceahnent,  l)ut  in 
every  ease  especial  care  was  <ibs(!rvcd  in  selecting  oiu^  affording  thorough  pro- 
tection from  the  assaults  of  the  fierce  March  wimls  «]iich  jjrevail  in  tliis  moun- 
tain region.  The  nests  examined  by  me  near  Camp  Harney,  Oregon,  were  all 
found  in  sheltered  situations  on  side  hills  where  they  wen^  well  protected  from 
heavy  winds,  and  tlui  horizontal  limbs  selected  for  building  sites  were  usually 
strong  and  bushy,  with  numr-rous  small  twigs  among  which  the  nests  <'ould  be 
securely  built.  All  of  the  nests  observed  were  saddled  on  such  limbs,  sometimes 
fully  15  feet  from  the  trunk. 

An  average  nest  of  Clarke's  Nutcracker  may  be  described  as  follows:  't'he 
nest  j)ro])er  is  placed  on  a  platform  of  dry  twigs,  mo.stly  those  of  the  western  juni- 
per, ifmiipffHS  orrhlctiiulis,  and  of  tlui  white  sage,  averaging  about  three-sixteenths 
of  an  inch  in  thickness,  and  varying  from  M  inches  to  a  foot  ui  length.  The.so 
twigs,  which  also  help  to  form  the  sides  of  the  ne.st,  ant  deftly  mattecl  together 
and  to  the  smaller  twigs  of  the  liml)  on  which  the  nest  is  saddled;  they  arcs 
further  held  together  and  l)onnd  by  coars(i  strips  of  tlas  inner  bark  of  the  juniper 
tree;  these  strips  are  mixed  among  the  twigs  and  ar<s  very  suitalilis  for  this  pur- 
pose. The  inner  nest  is  a  mass  of  these  sauK*  bark  strijts,  only  nnich  finer, 
having  been  well  picked  into  fine   fdu'r;   it  is  tjuilted  together  with  decayed 


CLARKK'S  NUTCRACKElt. 


423 


grasses  .and  pine  straw,  forniing  a  snug  and  conifortablo  stnicture.  No  hair  or 
feathers  entored  into  tlic  coinitoHition  of  any  of  tlioso  nests.  The  outer  diameter 
measures  from  11  to  12  inclies  l)y  al)Out  7  inelios  in  dej)tli;  tlie  vn\i  is  from  4  to 
f)  inelies  wide  and  A  inclies  deep.  Tlie  (piilted  inner  walls  are  fidly  1  .\  inches 
thick;  it  is  (piito  deep  for  its  size,  and  the  female  while  incubating  is  well  hidden. 
Nest  laiilding  must  occasionally  begin  in  the  latter  pai-t  of  February,  but  more 
frequently  in  March,  and  it  ai)pears  to  take  these  birds  some  time  to  complete 
one  of  these  structures,  lioth  parents  assist  in  this,  as  well  as  in  iucul)ation,  and 
the  male  is  ajijiarently  equally  as  attentive  and  helpful  as  the  female.  While 
they  are  noisy,  ndlickiug  birds  at  all  otluM'  times,  during  the  season  of  repro- 
duction they  are  remarkably  silent  and  secretive,  and  are  randy  seen.  The 
eggs,  usually  threes  in  iiundter  l)ut  orcasioiuilly  only  two,  are  dtiposited  during 
March  and  April,  according  to  locality,  when  the  mountains  are  still  covered 
with  considerable  snow;  incul)ation  lasts,  as  nearly  as  1  can  judge,  about 
sixt(^on  or  seventeen  days.  'I'lie  young  are  fed  e.xcdusiveh'  on  ludle*!  pine 
seeds,  and  grow  very  rapidly,  being  abhi  to  leaver  the  nest  in  about  eighteen 
days.  Their  plumage  generally  is  much  darker  then  than  that  of  the  adults, 
and  they  are  readily  di.stinguishable.  They  follow  the  parents  al)out  for  some 
time,  and  when  able  to  provide  for  themselves  all  these  birds  suddenly  disappear 
from  the  vicinity  of  thiur  breeding  groimds.  This  ha])j)ens  al)out  the  latter  part 
of  May  or  early  in  .June,  and  they  are  not  seen  again  until  fall,  prol)al)ly  return- 
ing to  th(*  higher  mountains  about  this  time.  Only  a  suigle  Imtod  seems  to  l)e 
raised  in  a  sea.son. 

The  eggs  of  ( 'larke's  Nutcracker  are  ovate  and  elongate  ()vate  in  shape. 
The  groiuul  color  is  usually  i)ale  gray  green,  occasionally  a  clearer  pale  green. 
They  are  r.ather  sparingly  tiecked,  spotted,  and  blotched  with  minute  markings 
of  different  shades  f)f  brown,  gray,  and  pale  lavender,  usually  heaviest  about 
the  larger  end  of  t!io  egg,  and  these  form  sometimes  a  fairly  (h^fined  wreath. 
In  others  they  are  more  evenly  distributed  over  thci  entire  egg,  but  never  thick 
enough  to  hide  the  ground  (iolor.  In  some  the  lower  half  of  the  L'<r'^  is  almost 
unspotted.  The  shell  of  these  eggs  is  close  grained,  smooth,  rather  thin, 
considering  their  size,  and  slightly  glossy. 

The  average  measiu'ement  of  nine  eggs,  six  of  these  only  in  the  United 
States  National  Museum  c(dlection,  is  3,'}.S(;  by  23.31  millimetre.-*,  or  al)out  1.33 
l)y  ().!I2  inches.  The  largest  egg  measures  34. 8(^  by  22. S(!  millimetres,  or  1..37  by 
(>.{)()  inches;  the  smallest,  33.7.S  l)y  22.()l  millimetres,  or  1.33  by  (»..S:i  inches. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  20384  (I'l.  3,  Fig.  22).  from  a  set  of  two  l)adly 
inctdiated  eggs,  Hendire  collection,  was  taken  by  the  writer  near  r'amp  Harney, 
Oregon,  on  April  H,  1H7K;  No.  23<;83  (I'l.  3,  Fig.  23),  is  from  a  .set  of  three  eggs 
collected  near  (Jold  llill,  Colorado,  on  March  f),  1888,  by  Mr.  Denis  Gale. 


tir%] 


m 


ten 

m 


I''  ■;  ■ 


424  LIFE  IIISTOUIES  OF  NOUTU  AMEKIUAN  BIRDS. 


167.     Cyanocephalus  cyanocephalus  (VVikh). 

I'lNON    JAY. 

OymmtrhUim  ciiani>cq)hiihiH  Wikd,  Keise  in  das  iimero  NonI  Aiiicriku,  II,  1841,  31, 
Cyiiiiovcjihalns  cijimocipliiihix  S'i'i;,iNK<iKi{,  Auk,  I,  l.S,S4,  2.'{0. 

(U  Wl,  O  -SM,  11  2S5,  C  ;!4r.,  I!  W>.) 

(rKDiiUArmcAr,  liANciE:  'I'lic  |iliilcini  iT;>i(>iis  of  western  N<trtli  Anicrikii;  from  tlie 
HiH'ky  Mountains  west,  to  tlio  I'acilic  <'oast  ran;;'t's;  nortii  to  southern  Hritisli  (Joluniliia; 
soutli  to  nortliweslein  Texas,  Lower  Calitbrnia,  and  northern  Mexieo;  casually  to  Kansas 
und  Neliruska. 

Tlio  IMuoii  Jiiy,  locjilly  kn(>\vii  also  as  "Nntcriickcf,"  "^raximiliiin's  .Tay," 
"lilno  Crow,"  iiiid  as  "  I'ifKUiarin"  Ity  tlu'  iMcxicaiis,  is  I'atlicr  a,  ctmiinoii  resident 
ill  .siiital)l(^  localities  tIiroii<;hoiit  tlie  southern  jiortions  of  its  raii^ic,  wliile  in  tlio 
nortlicM'ii  parts  it  is  only  a  snnimer  \isitor,  nii^ratinii;'  reiiularly.  It  is  most, 
aliniidantly  t'oui.  1  tliroiijilioiit  the  pifion  and  cedar-eoN-ered  foothills  ahoiiiuliiif; 
between  the  western  slopes  of  the  Uocky  .Mountains  and  the  eastern  liases  of 
the  Sierra.  Nevada  and  Cascadis  ranges  in  California,  Nevada,  and  Orejjon. 

It  is  an  einiiuMitly  socialile  species  at  all  times,  even  diirini;'  the  breedinj^ 
season,  and  is  usually  seen  in  larji'e,  compact  flocks,  moving-  about  from  place  to 
place  in  search  of  feedin<;'  ;i-roinids,  bein<i- on  vlie  whole  rather  restless  and  erratic 
in  its  movements;  you  may  meet  with  thousands  in  a  jilace  to-day  und  perhaps 
to-morrow  you  will  fail  to  si-e  a  sinjile  one.  It  is  rarely  met  with  at  altitudes 
of  over  9, (too  i'eet  in  summer,  and  scarcely  ever  in  the  hij^her  coniferous  forests; 
its  favorite  haunts  are  the  pinon-covered  iiR)thills  of  the  minor  mountain 
reji'ioiis,  the  sweet  and  very  jialatable  seeds  of  these  trees  furnishinj;'  its  favor- 
ite food  duriny  a  considerable  portion  of  the  year.  In  the  summer  they  feed 
lar<iely  oii  insects  of  all  kinds,  especially  <irasshojipers,  und  are  quite  expert  in 
catdiin^'  these  on  the  win^';  cedar  and  juniper  berries,  small  seeds  of  various 
kinds,  and  dillereut  species  of  wild  berries  also  enter  largely  into  their  bill  of 
fare.  A  ;ireat  deal  of  time  is  spent  on  the  j^round,  where  they  move  alonji-  in 
compact  bodies  while  feeilin<;-,  much  in  the  maimer  of  Hlackbirds,  the  rearmost 
birds  risiiifj,'  from  time  to  time,  Hyin<i'  over  the  flock  and  aliffhtinj;'  a<;'ain  in  front 
of  the  main  body;  they  arc;  rather  shy  and  alert  when  eiijra^cd  in  feediiij;'.  I 
followi'd  a  Hock  ntiinberiiiji'  several  thousands  which  was  feedin<>'  in  the  open 
jiine  forest  borderinji'  the  Klamath  Valley,  Orejiiin,  for  inori^  than  half  a  mile, 
tryiiij^  to  f>'et  a  shot  at  some  of  them,  but  in  this  I  was  unsuccessful.  They  would 
not  allow  ine  to  ;^'et  within  raiiji'e,  and  finally  they  became  alarmed,  took  win^', 
and  flew  out  of  .sij^lit  down  the  valley.  On  die  next  day,  September  IX,  IKS-J, 
I  saw  ii  still  larji'er  Hock,  which  revealed  its  presenct^  by  the  noise  made;  these 
1  headed  off,  and  awaited  their  ap])roacli  in  a  dense  clum]i  of  small  pines  in 
which  I  had  hidden;  I  had  not  loiii;-  to  wait,  and  easily  seciireil  sev(>ral  speci- 
nieus.     (.)n  April  -J,  i<SS;},  i  saw  anotiier  lari^c  Hock  fecdino-  in  the  open  woods, 


TUH  IMJfON  JAY. 


425 


evi(l(fntly  on  tlicir  rtiturn  tit  tli((ir  l)r('i'(Iiii<r  f>;n»un<lH  lartlun-  luirtli,  mid  l)v  iifftiin 
g«*ttiii<i^  ill  i'niiit.  (if  tlicni  I  sfciirod  sevovfil  inw  males  wlioso  testes  wen*  Imt 
slij;litly  eiilari^cfl.  'I'liese  liirds  are  said  ti»  laced  in  lar;>'e  iiimiliers  in  tlui 
juniper  jrruves  near  the  eastern  slopes  of  tlm  Cascade  iMoiiiitaiiis,  on  tlie  head 
waters  of  tin*  Des  Chutes  Kiver,  ( )re<>'oii.  1  liavci  also  seen  them  in  the  Yakima 
Valley,  near  old  Fort  Sinieoe,  in  central  Washinjiton,  in  June,  ISSI,  in  an  oak 
fipenin;^',  when!  they  were  (piite  nnineroiis.  'I'lii'ii'  center  of  alinndance,  liow- 
mer,  is  in  the  pifion  or  nut-pine  lielt,  which  does  not  extend  north  of  latitude 
40",  if  so  far,  and  wherever  these  trees  aro  foniid  in  lari^c  nnmhers  tlm  I'inon 
Jay  can  likewise  ])v  looked  for  with  confidence. 

Mr.  V.  Stephtfiis  writes  iik;  that  he  saw  a  mixed  Hock  of  this  speci»^s  and 
Clarke's  Nutcrackers  within  20  miles  of  the  line  of  iiower  ( hdifornia. 

Afr.  \j.  |{eldi'i<4-  found  them  almndaiit  in  the  ])irions  lietweeii  Camjio  and 


II 

tl 


ins( 


n's,  Lower  California,  in  Mav,   11S.H4;    while  .Mr.  A.  W.  Antli 


•ny  rejiorts 


leiu 


Imndant  on    the  Han    Pedro   Martir  .Mountains,   in  tin*  same   State,  at 


altitudes  of  from  7,000  to  11, 000  feet. 


On  the  eastei 


■n  slopes  ( 


>f  th 


tl 


{ocky  Mountains  tins  species  is  much  rarer 


than  on  the  western  liorder,  hut  it  has  lieeu  found  in  northwestern  .Montana,  on 
]\!arias  River,  and  has  even  lieeii  recorded  from  t'astern  Kansas  and  Nebraska, 


where,  however,  it  can  on 


Iv  I 


>e  consK 


lered 


1  straii'iilei 


near 


The  first  nests  and  eg;i's  of  this  species  were  found  hy  Mr.  Charles  iv  .Vikeii 
Ccdorado  Sprinj^s,  ('oloradn,  on  ^ia'S'  1,'},  1874,  where  he  noticed  four  otliei 


lies 


ts  at  the   same   til 


in  ai 


found  l)\'  him  contained  iiv( 


it   these  the   ^oiium'  Iuk 


i's,  111  which  incubation  was  W( 


1   just  hatched.      The  set 


11  ad> 


<1;   t 


wo 


.f  tl 


lese  eji'^is  lie 


kind! 


y  jiiive  me,  am 


Itl 


ie\are  now  in 


the  Cuited  States  National 


jMusoHin  collection.  The  first  naturalist,  however,  who  obser\-ed  the  nests  and 
youiijf  of  this  spi'cies  was  ^Ir.  Kobert  Kidjiway,  wlii>  found  a  colony  nesting-  in 
a  low  raii<ie  of  piuon-covc^red  hills  in  the  vicinity  of  (!arsou  ("ity,  Nevada,  on 
April  -Jl,  lS(iS. 


Mr.  11.  C.  Parker,  of  C 


iirson 


ni 


lie  sai 


City,  took   two    sets   of  ej;j;'s   of  this  sjiecies 
lie  locality,  on  .Vpril  o,  I.S7S,  wlien^  Mr.  l\*id;jway  oliserved  tlieiu  ten 


}■ 


ears  iirevioush-    and  one 


.f   tl 


lese   IS    now 


in    the    I'liiteil    States    National 


Aliisetim  collection.      Siibseipieiitl v  he   found  another  colon\-  of  these   birds 


mother  portion  i 


bv  tl 


if  ti 


le  same   raiii^e  i 


,f  hill 


s,  where  he  states  tliev  wt 


■re  breetlii 


lousaiuls 


The  late  ('apt.  li.  K.  ( 


I  OSS  a 


Iso  t 


oiniil 


th 


^P 


lis  species  Itreediu';'  m  the  viciiii 


th 


itv  of 


Fort  (birland,  Colorado,  at  an  altitude  of  about  S,500  feet,  durin<^-  the  first  two 
weeks  in  Ma>',  IH7It,  and   took   nine   sets  of  thiMr   ejij;s,   one  of  which  is   now 


before   iiu'. 
same  time. 


iieir  eusis  were 


Iso  taken  in  northern 


sew 


.M 


exico  at  aiiou 


t  th 


Tl 


leir  call   notes  are  oiiite  \anal)le;   soiiu 


.f  tl 


leii, 


almost  as  liarsli  as 


the   "cliaar"   of  the    Clarke's    Nutcracker,   otli>M\s   p;irtake   much    of  the   i;abbl( 


of  the  Ml 


;ple,  and  still  others  reseui 


bh 


th 


the 


.\ 


shrill,  (|uerii 


'  I'meewUligH  nil  iililiiiiiiii  Aiadi'iiiy  nl'  ScimuT.s,  Vnl.  II,  ISSU,  pp.  L'HII.LMU. 


Vj'C      iS     . 


m 


mm 

••  ,1*  I    I 
is  \i 

ill' 


426 


LIFK  lUSTOUIES  OF  NOUTII  AMKUIOAN  BIUDS. 


louH  "peoli,  ])(H'li,"  or  "wlieo,  wlioe,"  is  tlicir  coinmoii  cull  note*.  Wliilo  fcodiiipf 
oil  the  {fniimd  tlicy  keep  up  a  constant  cliattcrin;,',  wliicli  ciui  bo  licard  for  (piito 
a  distance,  and  in  tliis  way  often  Ix'tray  their  wluTcabouts. 

Tlie  nests  arc*  deep,  l)ulky,  anil  compactly  built  structures,  inoasiu'in<r 
about  10  inches  in  outer  diameter  by  7  inches  in  hci^^ht;  tlio  cup  of  the  nest  is 
about  4  inches  in  diameter  l»y  .'i  inches  in  depth.  Kxteriorly  tlu^  nests  are  con- 
structed of  pifion,  satrebrush,  or  juniju'r  t\vi;,fs,  and  sin.  ds  of  bark  from  tlio 
same,  while  the  inner  lininjf  consists  of  finer  shreds  of  sin.ilar  materials,  jthint 
fil)ers,  (iiio  rootlets,  luid  dry  i^rass,  all  well  woven  toj^ether,  the  component  piirts 
of  the  nest  varvini^-  somewliiit  in  difPerent  hu-.alities.  The  nests  are  usually 
placed  in  forks  or  on  horizontal  limbs  of  j)inon  or  jiini|)er  trees,  generally  from 
a  to  12  feet  from  the  frronnd.  They  are  randy  well  hidden  from  view  and 
ordinariU'  can  bt*  seen  for  some  distance. 

In  th»^  middle  j)ortions  of  their  range  nidilicatiou  begins  early  in  Ajiril  and 
jtossibly  still  earlier  farther  soutli,  whili^  to  the  northward  and  at  higher  altitudes 
it  is  protracted  until  the  first  week  in  May.  From  three  to  live  eggs  an*  laid  to 
a  set,  those  numl)cring  four  being  most  often  found.  Incubation  lasts  about 
sixteen  days.  The  I'ifion  Jiiys  are  close  sitters  and,  lik(»  Olarko's  Nutcrac^ker, 
are  devoti'd  parents.  Tiie  young  are  able  to  leave  the  nest  in  alioiit  three 
weeks,  and  may  easily  be  distinguisiied  l»y  their  somewhat  duller  plumbeous 
bluecidor.  They  at  once  form  in  Hocks  and  rove  abmit  from  place  to  place  in 
scan  h  of  f(»od. 

The  eggs  of  the  I'ifion  Jay  are  cpiite  variable  in  shape,  ranging  from  ovate 
and  short  ovate  to  elli[)tical  ovate.  The  ground  color  is  bluisli-whitc!,  this  lu-ing 
covered  all  ovci'  with  minute  specks  of  different  shades  of  brown,  in  sonu*  cases, 
and  larger  spots  and  Idotclies  in  others,  tlie.se  bt>ing  generally  heaviest  aiioiit  the 
larger  end.  An  occasional  ,set  is  blotched  heavily  enough  to  nearly  lii(l(3 
the  ground  color,  but  this  appears  to  bo  rarely  the  case.  The  sludl  of  these 
eggs  is  close  grained,  finely  granulated,  slightly  glossy,  and  mui'li  stronger  than 
that  of  the  preceding  species. 

The  average  meiisuremeiit  of  twenty-five  eggs  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  30.11  by  22.18  millimetves,  or  about  1.19  by  0.87  inches. 
The  larg(ist  v^^^i  measures  31.75  by  23. 37  millimetres,  or  1.2;")  by  0.!)2  inches; 
the  smallest,  2(;.!»2  hy  22.10  millimetres,  or  1.06  by  0.87  inches. 

The  tyi)e  specimens,  Nos.  24712  and  2r)3ir)  (I'l.  3,  Fig.s.  24  and  25),  both 
from  sets  of  four  eggs,  from  the  Halpli  collection,  were  taken  near  J^irt  Garland 
and  Canon  City,  (!olonido,  on  ^^ay  10,  1879,  and  May  Ki,  1890,  and  represent 
the  lighter  and  darker  colored  phases  found  among  the  eggs  of  this  species. 


TIIK  8TAUIilN(K 


427 


Funiilv  STUK'NID/K.     SrAKUNds. 


i68.     Sturnus  vulgaris  Linn 


KlIS. 


STAKMNO. 

Stiii'HUH  vuljiariM  I.INN/KUs,  Systciiui  Natui'ir,  oil.  10,  1,  IT.'iS,  l<i7. 

(H  — .  < '  — ,  U  L'7!l,  < •  .'t(i;i,  V  [VX\\.) 

(iKnouArmcAi.  uanok:  lOuroiut  iiiicl  iiorthiM'ii  Asisi;  iMM'.i<l(Mital  in  (Irf>(>ii1aiii1.    Intro- 
dlUUMl  ill  tile  I'liiterl  Stales. 


Tho  Stjirlii 


I"',  ii  conniKni 


iiiroitfiiii  si)('ci 


IlilS  li 


ics,  is  ii(1mitt(Ml  to  mir  t'iuiiifi.  tVdin 

Iv  1. 


11  taken  in  (ircinilaiid,  whore  it  can  only  Wo  con 


tlio  fact  tliat  a  .six'cimcn 
sidcrcd  a  straj^j^lcr. 

iMr.  Henry  Se('l)ohiu  says:  "Tlie  Starliiiji'  breeds  tln'oiiji-lioiit  Eiiro]i(>  north 
of  hititiuh^  44'',  and  is  a  resi(U'nt  in  the  Azores.  In  Scamiinavia.  it  Is  fonml  as 
far  north  as  latitiuh'  (>1>'^,  in  Sweden  and  Fiidand  np  to  hititmh'  C")"",  and  in  tlu* 
Urals  only  np  to  latitude  57'^,  which  appears  to  he  its  noi-thern  limit  in  Asia.. 


inropean  m 


Is  that  are  inim-atorv  winter  in  the  south  of  France 


th 


Dan- 


ish I'eninsula,  Italy,  Greece,  North  Africa,  and  Palestine.  In  Asia  it  l)reeds  ii 
Soutii  Siberia,  Persia,  and  Turkistan,  raii;;inf>'  as  far  east  as  the  soin-ces  of  tiu 
Anioor,  passinji'  throiij;li  iMonj^olia,  on  ini;;i'ation,  and  winterinji'  in  India. 


"The  Starliii"-  is  ahni>st  as  closeh'  associated  with  man 


IS  tla^  Sparrow 


but,  unliko  that  bird,  it  seems  to  have  a  ])eculiar  way  of  accommodatin;;-  itself 
to  its  surrounding's  witli  the  ijreatest  ease.  Thus  wo  sei^  it  almost  everywliere 
anil  in  every  variety  <if  scenery.  It  will  sliare  tlit!  eaves  and  the  dovecot  witli 
the  Sparrows  and  Pii^cons.  It  will  nesth^  in  the  iiollow  trees,  far  away  from 
lioiises,  or  make  its  honu*  just  as  easily  in  the  sides  of  tiie  stU|iendons  oce 


■litl 


s  ni  comiiain'  wi 


ith  tl 


'^y 


K*  noisy  crowi 


sea 


birds 


farther   inland.      After  tlie  bree(lin' 


1  of 
ason    the    Starliii"'  bei 


an 


s,  or  on  tile  limestone  ivicks 


(imes  even  moi'c 


widely  distributed,  and  from  Aiijiust  until  tlu*  followinji-  sprin}>'  haunts  fields  and 
MIS,  jiardens,  and  the  low-lyiiif;'  shores,  as  its  food  supply  may  \h'. 


marslies,  comiiK 


most  alaindant.     The  Starling  is  a  gregarious  l)ird  at  all  sc^asoiis  of  thci  year; 


but  tl 


lis  lia 


l)it 


is  most  inarkod  after  the  nesting  season,  for  in  tlii^  stiriii 


th 


.scarcity  of  suitable  lireeding  places  u> 


iially  dis] 


tl 


lem. 


"l"'iari\'  in  tlie  vear,  sometimes  as  soon  as  the  middle  of  Januarv,  the  Star- 
ling returns  almost  daily  to  its  old  nesting  place,  and  iu  a  week  or  so  tlu^  mah^ 
begins  his  unpretentious  song.      Ih*  nsu; 


illy  sings  when  per( 


hed 


?\i 


on  a  clumiKn' 


or  on  the  ea\'es  near  his  nesting  iiole,  or  on  tli(f  trec^  tops  near  at  hand,  ami  his 
song  is  warbleil  forth  as  \\v  riiflies  the  feathers  of  his  head  and  throat  and  shak(;s 


aiK 


Idr 


roops  Ins  winji's,  as 


thoiiii'h  full  of  nervous  exi'itemeiit.     Altiiou"h  inaiu'  of 


tho  Starling's  notes  are  harsh,  still  some  of  tlieiii  are  very  full  and  pleasing,  and 
heard  as  they  are,  at  a  season  when  every  sign  of  returning  spring  is  eagerly 
looked  for  and  welcoineil,  are  certainlv  one  of  the  most  cheerful  sounds  that 


>'roet  tho  ear.      Mach 


lote  is  uttered  in  seeming  caprice 


th 


arsu  (Mies  are 


ipi 


42K 


1I11I1<'1»!(I    \VI 


LII'M-;  IIIHTOIMKS  OI-'  NOKTII  AMKIMCAN  HIIIDH. 

til  tli<(  sweet  (Hies  with  no  ii|)|ir(tacli  to  order.      It  is  imleeil 


II  striinifc 


soil";',  iillil  r;lll  Mot  lie  inistukeii  tor  tllJit  of  iiliy  otiier  hi'itisli  l)ii'(l,  tile  liose-colored 
Stiirliiiji'  e\ce|»te(|.  Tile  Starliiiji's  jiliinii  notes  iire  very  liiirsli  anil  ra|(i(lly 
repeateil,  reseiiililiiij^  soiiiewliat  those  of  the  Missel  Thnish.  Its  call  note  is  a 
elear,  lonfjf-(h'iiwn,  pipiiif;"  '"'T- 

"Karly  in  April,  sonietiiiu^s  not  until  the  he^^innin;^  of  May,  the  Starling's 


have  niosilv  mated  and  "one  to  the 


■dinji'  holes.      l're\ioiis  to  this,  how- 


ever, inneh  (|iian'elinji'  •••(m^s  on  foi"  the  ehoiee  of  snitalile  sites.  The  stroiijr  j^'iiin 
the  best-located  holes,  while  the  W(Mik  seek  ipiarters  elsewhere.  The  Starlin}'- 
will  laiild  its  nest  almost  an\-wliere,  and   it  needs  hiil   slight  encoiiraii-ement  to 


takt*  ii|i  Its  (|iiartei's  in  aii\'  sintalile  iioh*  or  liox  placed  tor  its  recept 
lislodyt!  liirjiH!  tilos  and  lairrow  coiisidtM'alilo  distances  under  th 


tioii. 


it  wil 


e\-en  ( 


e  (Mves,  ana 


its  liiilky  nest  often  stops  up  some  spoilt,  to  the  dismay  of  the  lionseholdiT.     X 
hole  in  the  ji'ahle  or  insitle  the  (lovecot  are  also  favorite  places,  while  its  jiai'tiality 


for  holes  in  trees  i.s  noiio  the  less.      It  also  commonlv  breeds  in  nii 


ie.s. 


111) 


I  oM 


niasonrv  ot  every  ilescri 


di 


ipti 


on. 


In  th 


i(^  wilder  |)ortions  o 


.f  tl 


e  conn 


•hurcl 
tr\-  tl 


le 


Starlin;;-  selects  a  hole  either  in  a  tree  or  a,  rock  for  its  purpose,  and  it  will  often 


ireeil  in  ^reat  numbers  in  caves  or  in  crevices  ol  tlie  ocean  clitls 


fth 


itis 


Tl 


le  nest  is  sometimes  but  a  tew  inches  from  the  entrance  to  tlu?  hole,  at 


o 


tilers  it  is  several  teet,  and  in  many  cases,  especially  in  trees  and  rocks,  is  aiiso- 


iiitelv  inaccessible 


U  the  outer 


■biidi 


es,  where  trees  ar(^  absent,  the  Starlin 


breeds,  accordiiij;'  to  Mr.  Gray,  luider  the  stones  on  the  beach,  in  disused  rat 
holes,  in  turf  dikes,  and  in  holes  in  walls.  Saxliy  states  that  in  Shetland  it 
breeds  in  peat  stacks  and  rabbit  Iniles.  It  has  also  been  known,  in  one  or  two 
instances,  to  build  an  ojn-ii  and  exposed  nest  in  trees,  to  I'oar  its  yoiiii^'  in  a  hole 
in  the  "•roiincl,  and  to  share  the  same  nest  with  a  Maypie. 

"Tlio  Starlin<;''s  nest  is  a  somewhat  sloveiiK'  structure,  made  of  straw,  dead 
f^rass,  and  rdotlets,  sometimes  a  twi^'  or  two,  and  is  lined  with  a  lew  fealliers,  a 
little  wool,  or  even  a  sera])  or  two  of  moss,  paper,  ra;;-,  or  twine.  In  many  cases 
the  birds  do  not  troiiblo  about  a  lining'  at  all,  and  the  cup  of  the  nest  is  entirely 
c(im])osed  of  straws,  arran^t;d  very  (iveiily  and  smoothly,   liiit  with  a,  lot  of 


straj-f-lino 


bents 


arouiK 


I  it. 


"The  ii(;st  is  in  some  cases  miicli  more  elaborately  made  than  in  others, 
and  in  .some  holes  the;  dry  and  powdered  wood  at  the  bottom  almost  does  sole 
•  liity  for  a  bed.  With  <;Teat  perseverance  the  Starling'  will  continue  to  Itiiild  in 
the  same  hole,  althoujih  its  ne.st  is  repeatedly  removed,  and  each  year  the  birds 
will  return  to  their  old  (piarters. 

"The  food  of  the  Starling;-  is  for  the  greater  ])art  of  the  year  coiniiosecl  of 
and  beetles;   but  in  winter  tliev  are  often  seen  to  feed  on  iirain 


worms,  .slugs. 


ind  seo( 


Is.     I 


n  autumn 


til 


ev  are 


\r.v\  fond  of  fruit  and  berries.     KhU'rberries 


are  part  of  their  favorite  food,  and  .soon  the  trees,  which  had  previously  bent 
under  the  weif^ht  of  their  clustering  branches  of  black  fruit,  will  be  totally 
denuded.  In  severe  \veath<'r  they  will  sometimes  feed  on  liijis  and  haws,  and 
are  often  seen  on  coasts  searcliiim'  ibr  sand  worms  and  various  small  moUusks."" 


'  lli.slci 


lllilisli  jiilil.s,  Scilii.l ISSl,  Vol.  11,  |.p.  VJUi 


! 


m 


TIIK  STAULINd. 


439 


Stn-cral  Htt('iii|»ts  have  l)i'cn  iiiaiU'  ti)  introduoo  tliis  s]H'cic.s  into  the  I'liiti'd 
States,  Init  until  rucciitly  iioiio  havo  boon  jieniiaiu'iitly  siicccsMt'iiI. 

Mr.  Frank  M.  ('Iiapniiin,  of  tlic  Aiiicricaii  .Muscinii  of  Natural  History  in 
Cc'iiti'al  I'ark,  New  York  City,  writes  me  as  t'ollows  on  tins  siibji'ct: 

"'riic  last  introtliiction  ot"  tla-  Starlin;;'  l)y  Mr.  Kiificnc  Scliii'HIin  lias  a])|)ar- 
ciitly  lu'cn  sucfcsst'ul.  Tlic  iiinls  were  lilu'ratcil  in  (Vntral  i'ark,  liut  tlic  majority 
have  left  tliis  and  spread  over  tlic  more  nortlicrn  jiart  of  tlic  city.  One  pair 
Itrcd  under  tlie  ea\'es  of  this  niuseinn  in  tlie  snniiiicr  of  ISItJi,  and  this  year  two 
pairs  arcs  hroedin;^'  here,  while  .still  another  has  estalilislied  itself  in  the  roof  of 
an  apartment  house  close?  l)y.  Mr.  (".  I>.  Ishain,  an  assistant  in  the  ornitlioloj^ical 
department,  tells  me  that  no  less  than  t<'n  pairs  are  passinj;'  the  suniiner  at 
Kinjisliriilj^t',  near  Spuytcn  Duyvel,  and  that  he  knew  where  live  pairs  nested 
there  last  }car.  They  apparently  riiise  two  iiroods  in  a  season  and  have  become 
pretty  well  established  here.  They  are  resident,  or  nearly  so,  and  as  they  lia\e 
already  experienced  one  of  the  most  severe  winter:;  of  recent  years,  ir  will  not. 
be  the  fault  of  the  climate  if  they  do  not  .^readily  increase  in  numbers." 

An  attempt  to  introduce  this  species  near  Portland,  Ore;;-oii,  has  apparently 
failed,  the  birds  liberateii  there  havinji'  disappeared. 

I'Vom  four  to  seven  c^i'^i's  are  laid  to  a  set.  'The  ejif^s  vary  in  shajie  from 
ovate  to  elonj;ate  ovate;  the  shell  is  rather  coarsely ji'ranulated  and  \aries  con- 
siderably in  color,  raiiiiin^i  from  a  jiale  <ireenisli-iiliie  to  pale  bluish-white. 

The  axcrayc  measiu'emeiit  of  forty  specimens  in  the  l.'iiited  States  National 
Mu.seum  collection  i^  "Jfl.  1(1  by  '2\.',\[  millimetre.s,  or  1.1  f!  by  ().S4  inches; 
the  largest  ejiji'  measures  .'>1.7.")  by  •_*'J,IO  millimetres,  or  l.'io  ))y  (t.S7  inches;  the 
smallest,  '_'(!. (!7  by  lll.."50  millimetres,  or  1.0,')  by  0.7(1  inches.  None  of  these 
egys  are  liyured. 


Family   l( 'TKKI  D.K,     Hi.ACKiuHits,  Okioi.ks,  etc 
169.     Dolichonyx  oryzivorus  (Linn.kis). 

UOIiOI.INK, 

FriiifliUn  ori/zii'oni  laNN.loes,  Sy,stcma  Natani',  od.  10,  I,  I'ri.s,  17!>. 
I>otirltony,foryzii'i>ni,i  Swainson,  >Cool(ij,'iciil  •Iniiriiiil,  III,  1827,  .'i.">l. 

(B  3t)!t,  (J  210,  U  257,  (J  .■il2.  C  1!M.) 

OKOORAPnu'AL  RANOE:  Xorlli  Anierii'ii;  iioitli  in  tlic  Diunininn  of  Oaiiii<l:i  iiciU'  tlic 
AtliUitic  coast  to  alioiit  latitude  17^.  in  tlic  provinces  of  (Quebec  and  Ontario  to  nlioiit 
latitude,  -I'P,  in  .Manitoba  and  A.ssinilioia  to  iilioiit  latitude  02^  N..  and  tlicncc  wcstwjid 
to  southern  llritish  (Joliinitiiii.  In  the  United  States  west  to  Utah  and  eastern  XeMida. 
South  ill  winter  to  the  West  India  Islands  and  South  America. 

The  breedinji-  ranji'e  of  the  Hoboliiik,  known  also  as  "  Skunk  Mlackbird"  in 
the  Northern  States,  as  "  (  h-tolan"  and  •'  b'eedbird"  on  the  Atlantic  coast  in  the  fall, 
as  "Meadow-wink"  in  some  of  our  Middle  States,  as  "b'icebird"  and  ".\laybird" 
in  South  Cai'olina,  Cleoroia,  and   [joiiisiana,  and  as  '•liuttorbird"  in  .lamaica, 


480 


\AVK  IIISTOKIKS  OF  NOIITII  AMKKKJAN  IIIKDS. 


\m 


(*.\tonils  tVoiii  iiliiMit  liititu<l(>  W,  aixl  ofcaHioiiiilly,  tlu)ii^>'li  riircly,  tVoni  ii  little 
siMitli  lit'  liititiiil*)  .'t'.i  ,  iKirtliW'tinl  tliruii<^'li  tlic  siMitlicni  nortioiiH  dI'  the  Dniniiiioii 
lit'  ('uiiiiilii,  ti.H  alrfiiily  ili-liiicil.  I'Voni  ri'ri-iit  iitrni'iiiiitiiiii  iilitiiiiiril  li\'  iiir,  it  iilsn 
Itruods,  in  hiiiiiII  iiiiinlu-rH  iit  lotiHt,  mi  llu'  (iiilf  ciitiHt  of  Luiiisiaiiii,  timl  |iriil))il)ly 
iiIho  ill  iiiiitlicni  Fliiriilii.  It  iiilialiits  niicii  prairiu  (■(iiiiitry,  cU'iirt'il  ami  ciilti- 
vati'il  ilistrirts,  Imt  is  ucmt  t'iiiiii(i  in  luri'sts. 

'I'ho  IJiilidliiik  is  a  wcll-kiiuwii  anil  |ininc  t"avorif(»  with  fvcryoiic  tlirou^rlioiit 
Ni'W  Englaml  ami  tlic  utlu-r  Xortlicni  States,  anil  tew  of  mir  sninmer  visitors 
arcs  mure  piipnlar.  It  usually  ari'ives  mi  its  nmre  smitlieni  lireeilinj,''  jiriinmls 
aliiint  the  miilille  nt'  May,  anil  rm'i-es|Mi!iiliii^>'ly  Inter  imrthwaril.  It  is  tar  inure 
abiinilant  oast  than  west  ut'tlie  liuelvy  .Miiuntains,  but  iiiHtiitablo  liawilitios  in  tlio 
(Jreat  Salt  Lake  ami  Ttah  liake  valleys  it  is  nut  iiiiemninmi,  anil  Mr.  II.  W. 
Ileiisliaw  t'miml  it  rather  niininmi  in  tlio  lielils  abmit  I'nivo,  Ttah,  wiiere  tho 
parent  liinls  were  nutieeil  t'eeiliii}'-  theii'  yininyJiily  2"),  1H72. 

Mr.  Kiiliert  l{iil;,'way  says:  "Tho  Hiii)uliiik  soeiiis  tu  be  spreailiiij;;  uver  all 
the  ilistriets  ul'  the  far  West  wherever  the  eiiltivatimi  oi'  cereals  has  extemleil. 
We  t'miml  it  emiiniiin  in  Aiij^ust  in  tho  wheat  tielils  at  thoUvorlan<l  Uaiu-h,  in 
1,'uby  Valley,  Novaila." ' 

This  last  reeiiril  reinaineil  the  must  western  uiie  fur  a  niimlier  of  years,  but 
recently  the  I'niteil  States  Natiunal  Museum  ciillectimi  receiveil  a  skin  taken 
by  Mr.  A.  (!.  IJruuk,  July  •_>;{,  18!)(),  near  ("liilliwack,  Mriti.sh  Culiiml)ia,  which 
oxtoiuls  its  raii^j'e  aimss  the  cuiitineiit.  It  is  pu.ssible,  as  stated  above,  that  this 
species  is  f;railiially  extemlin;^-  its  ran;;e  westward,  anil  the  settling;'  up  uf  the 
cuuntry  may  have  somethiii<i'  tu  ilu  with  this;  but  it  is  eipiall}'  certain  that  it  is 
rapidly  docreasin;;'  in  numliers  in  many  lucalities  in  mir  Kastern  States  where  it 
was  an  abundant  summer  resident  less  than  twenty  years  a<fii.  'i'liis  ma\'  bo 
due  tu  Slime  extent  tu  a  ji'radual  chan^'e  uf  its  ranji'e;  but  the  emirmmis  slaufi'h- 
ter  rlie  Ueedbird,  ur  "Ortulaii,"  as  it  is  there  called,  is  subjected  tu  in  the  late 
siiiiiiner,  while  lin^iorinj;-  in  the  marshes  biirderiii}^  tho  ('hcsapoako  Hay  and 
similai'  lucalities  mi  the  .\tlaiitic  cuast,  mi  their  miji'ratimi  tu  the  smith,  is  ipiite 
a  factur  in  this  matter,  as  many  tlimisamls  are  whipped  at  this  sea.sun  uf  the  ycsir 
tu  the  markets  tA'  mir  larj^tM'  cities,  and  Heedbirds  ur  Ortulans  iiii  tuast  may  be 
fmiml  1111  the  menu  uf  every  tirst-class  restaurant.  In  the  marshes  hen^  'hey  feed 
nil  the  still  suft  seeds  uf  the  Indian  rice  ur  water  uat  (/i'diiid  (ii/inifiru),  which 
imparts  a  deliciuiis  tla\ur  tu  their  tiesli;  they  soon  itecuiiie  excessively  fat,  anrl  the 
demand  fur  Ueedliirds  is  tar  fiTeater  than  the  supply;  but  furtiinately  the  Knjilisli 
SpaiTuw  is  nuwadays  extensively  substituted  fur  the  jroiiuino  Ortolan,  ainl  vvil' 
jirutract  its  jiradual  exterminatiun  for  some  time. 

Another  cause  uf  its  decrease'  is  due  to  the  enurmmis  damajre  it  il  ilie 

rict!  plantatimis  uf  .smiie  uf  uiir  Suutliuni  States,  where  they  are  ver>'  tin  ume 
but  rejj'ular  visitiirs  butli  in  tho  spriiij"'  and  early  fall,  and  whei'e  many  thmi.sands 
are  killed  vearlv. 


'  Kxiilorutioim  of  tUu  4()th  I'arullel,  Vol.  IV,  1877,  pp.  500, 501. 


TIIK  nonoLiNK. 


4.'n 


•  l;it(- 

;  iiinl 

<|iiit(! 

year 

lay  he, 

.ytVcil 

wliifli 

111(1  tlic 

will 


Dr.  ('.  Hurt  Mcmimi,  cliicf  of  flic  DiviMion  ((t'Ornitlinlojry  hikI  Miuiiiiialoffy, 
Uiiitt'd  States  I  ►('|iaitiii('iit  i>t'  .\;;ririilfiin',  iiiakcM  flic  tulluwiiijf  utati'inciit,  rcs|i(!ct- 
iii^'  tli'iH  species  ill  liis  aiiiiiiai  repmt  t'nr  flic  year  lHH(i : 

"()iit'  ot'  tlie  iiiitst  iiiipnrtaiit  industries  ot"  the  Simtlierii  States,  tiie  eiiltiva- 
tioiiot'  lice,  is  rrip|»le(l  mid  made  precarious  hy  the  Heiiiiaiiiiiiul  attacks  of  liinls. 
Many  kinds  of  liirds  teed  upon  rice,  itut  the  liird  that  does  more  injury  than  all 
tlie  rest  coiiibineil  is  tiie  Moholiiik  of  tlie  North  (l)oliclii)iii/.r  <ir!f.:inini.s),  called 
'liet'dliird '  nloiijf  tlio  Chosapeakc  and  'Iticeliinl'  in  the  South." 

The  t'oliowin^'  extracts  from  a  letter  from  C-apt.  William  Mih's  ilazzard,  of 
Aiiniiiidale,  South  CaroHim,  one  of  the  larfi(!St  rice  <fro\vers  in  t\n\  State,  l)earinj{' 
on  this  Huliject,  is  selecttMl  out  of  several  in  the  ahove  report: 

"The  Uoliolinks  mako  their  ap]K  arance  here  durinjf  tlui  latter  part  of  .\pril. 
At  that  season  their  pluma;i'e  is  white  and  hlack,  and  they  sin;;'  merrily  when  at 
rest.  Their  tli^lit  is  always  at  ni^lit.  hi  the  evening'  there  are  none.  In  the 
nioniiu}^  tlioir  app(;aniii<'o  Ih  lu'riildeij  by  the  poppinjf  of  whips  and  liriii^'  of 
musketry  Ity  the  lard  minders  in  their  etl'orts  to  keej)  the  liirds  from  ]mlliii<f  up 
tlut  youii;{'  rice.  This  warfare  is  kept  up  incessantly  until  aliout  the  "J.'ith  of 
May,  when  they  suddenly  disajipear  at  iiij;lit.  Their  next  appearance  is  in 
a  dark  yellow  plumaj^e,  as  the  liiceltird.  'inhere  is  no  son;>-  at  this  time,  Itut 
instead  a  chirp  which  means  ruin  to  any  ric(t  found  in  the  milk.  My  |)laiitation 
record  will  show  that  for  the  |)ast  ten  years,  e.xcejtt  when  pn^veiited  hy  stormy 
Boutli  or  8«»utliwost  winds,  the  Hicehirds  havo  como  punctually  on  the  nijfht  of 
tho  -1st  of  .\u;;Mist,  a|)purently  coiiiiiij;'  from  seaward.  All  iiijiht  their  chii'ii  can 
Ixi  heard  passing" over  our  summer  homes  on  South  Islaml,  which  is  situated  (! 
miles  to  the  east  of  our  rice  plantations,  in  full  view  of  the  ocean.  Curious  to 
Hay,  we  have  never  .seen  this  ili;>lit  during'  the  day.  1  )uriii^''  thu  ui^dits  of  Aii<iust 
21,  22,  23,  and  '24,  millions  of  these  liirds  make  their  appearance  and  settle  in 
tho  rice  fields.  Kniiii  the  21.stof  AiijiUst  to  the  2.")tli  of  Seiitemlier  our  every 
t'tt'ort  is  to  savii  the  crop.  Men,  lioys,  and  women,  with  fiuiis  and  ammunition, 
iiro  posted  on  every  4  or  .'")  acres,  and  slaiot  daily  an  avera'jfe  of  aliout  1 
(piart  of  powiler  to  the  ;;un.  This  firiii<>;  commences  at  first  dawn  of  day  and 
is  ke[it  ui»  until  xiinset.  .\ft(^r  all  this  I'Xpeiise  and  troiilile  our  loss  of  rice  per 
ncro  Heldom  falls  under  f)  bushels,  and  if  from  any  cause  there  is  h  check  to  the 
crop  fluriii}"'  its  <;rowtli  which  prevents  the  ;^rahi  from  lieinj;'  hard,  hut  in  milky 
condition,  the  destruction  of  such  fields  is  complete,  it  not  payinj,'  to  cut  and 
lirinjitlu!  rico  out  of  the  field.  We  have  tried  every  jilan  to  keep  these  jxests  off 
our  crops  at  less  expense  and  manual  labor  than  we  now  incur,  but  liav(*  been 
unsuccessful. 


pre 


{pel 


as  ( 


lestructive  to 


isfactory  ;  yet  it  is  the  be.st  we  can  (h>.     I   consider  these  birds 

rice  as  the  caterpillar  is  to  cotton,  with  this  difference,  that  these  Hicebirds  never 


fail  t( 


)  come. 


From  this  it  can  readily  be  seen  that  our  Southern  planters  have  excellent 

'^asons  for  (lestroyiii<i'  i\w  Bobolink  by  all  the  available  means  in  their  ])ower. 

he  persistent  warfare  carried  on  at-ainst  it  must  undoubtedlv  linallv  diminish 

s  iiuinbers  very  materially,  and   the   }iresent   rarity  of  this  .species  in  many 


' 


h  . 


jpH 


"  ■*:! 


432 


MKK  IIISTt)Hli;S  OF  NOKTU  AMKHIC'AN  H1KD8. 


localities  in  N"\v  Kiifilimd  and  otlicr  Nurtlicrn  States  is,  in  my  (ipinion,  tar  nioni 
attriliiital)le  to  wiiolesale  (lestruetit)n  than  to  elianj^c  of  lu'eeiiin^-  ran<;e. 

Mr.  I'i.  A.  Mclllienny,  of  New  llieria,  I.onisiana,  ttdls  nio  tliiit  it  is  a  well- 
known  fact  anion;;- the  rice  planters  of  his  State  that  tht^  Moi)olink,  when  feeding- on 
the  rice  whiht  still  in  the  milky  state,  re(|uires  to  wash  its  hill  frecpiently  to  free 
It  from  tlu^  ^lunmy  matter  accnmnlatin^  on  it  from  tlu»  rice  milk.  Knowing'  this, 
many  planters,  insttsid  of  keeping'  the  rici'  fields  flooded,  as  formerly,  now  draw 
olVall  tlu^  water  ahout  this  time,  making-  it  necessary  for  the  Itirds  to  p>  .som(< 
distance  to  procure  it,  thereby  lessenin^j  the  destruction  to  some  i'.\ti'nt,  while  this 
treatment  does  not  appear  to  injure  the  crop  in  tluf  least. 

.\fter  the  Mnlxilink  I'eturns  to  his  chosen  sununer  home  he  is  safe  enon^'h,  at 
least  from  his  most  merciless  enemy,  man,  as  tlu^re  no  omt  looks  on  him  as  a 
nnisanc((.  The  males  usually  precede^  the  females  a  few  days,  and  generally 
return  to  the  same  localities  from  yeai'  to  year.  In  its  handsome  spiin^'  dress 
of  l)lack  and  white  the  male  forms  one  of  tht>  conspicuous  features  of  a  rural 
landscape,  while  its  liuhiilin^-,  metallic  son^-,  almost  constantly  uttered  during'  tluf 
mating'  season,  either  while  Ihitterin^'  or  hoxcrini;'  alt(tve  the  female  in  the  air,  or 
when  perched  on  a  fence,  a  shade  trt'c  liy  the  roadside, or  a  weed  stalk  in  a  meadow 
or  clo\(!'  lield,  is  certain  to  attract  attention  to  th"  happy  and  joyous  performer. 
No  other  Itird  .seems  to  lie  in  such  exuberant,  rollicking'  spirits  at  this  time  of 
the  N'ear  as  our  male  Muiiolink.  'i'iie  females,  however,  arc  much  less  in  e\i- 
deucc  at  all  times,  and  are  rarely  seen  unless  especialK'  looked  lor,  keeping'  in 
the  meadows,  where  the  \'ouni;'  yrass  hides  them  (piite  eliectualK  from  \  iew.  I 
have  several  times  attempte(l  to  imitate  their  notes  on  paper,  itut  ha\'e  failed 
Durin;;'  the  lirsl  tew  weeks  after  its  arrival  the  male  is  full  ol"  soii^' ;  one  of  its 
call  notes  sounds  like  "  liiii'k,  triick,"  another  like  "tchiie-tchiie,"  and  another 
like  "  killiidv,  kiliink."  My  the  middle  of  .July  they  are  almost  silent  a,;ain,  and 
in  some  sections  seem  to  disappear  altogether.  'The  Uol)olink  is  still  fairly 
conunon  in  all  the  dair\  regions  nl'  <'eutral  New  \'ork,  and  while  at  Ihdiand 
I'ateut,  in  dune  and  duly,  lS!i;{.  I  saw  liiit  few  ol'  these  birds  after  duly  la, 
although  (piit"  a  mnnl)"r  of  pairs  lireed  there  regularly,  they  had  ail  apparently 
disappeared. 

Their  food  cwiisists  m.-Inly  of  seeils  and  ;;rains  of  dilVerent  kinds,  and 
during'  the  summer  months  also  of  insects,  including'  i^rasshoppers,  small  cater- 
pillars, etc.,  and  on  their  JM'eedin^-  grounds  they  certaiidy  do  little  or  no  damage. 

In  the  more  southern  |iortions  ot'  its  Itreedinti-  raii^c  niditication  IteM-ins 
nsnalh'  alioul  the  last  week  in  .Ma\'  or  the  lirst  week  in  .lune,  and  the  voun^' 
ha\-e  mostl\-  left  the  nest  by  the  tin;.'  haying'  ln'^ius.  In  lal<'  seasons  muloubt- 
edl\  many  nests  are  uncovercfl  and  destroyed  liy  mowinii'  machines,  which  are 
the  principal  factors  of  desM'm-tion  ot    these  birds  in  the  north. 

Th(^  nest  is  usu;dl\  jilaced  in  -i  meadow  or  clover  lield,  and  sometimes  sev- 
eral pairs  nest  close  together.  It  is  a  ;;re;:arious  and  social  bird,  even  duriiiL;-  the 
season  of  reproiluction,  and  loves  company  at  all  times.  It  is  eijually  at  home 
on  the  u|ilands  as  in  tlie  lower  riv  c  liottoms,  as  lon^'  as  these  are  sown  to  ^niss. 
As  a  rule  the  nest  is  hard  to  liiici;  the  female  will  rarely  liy  directly  frou)  il,  l)iit 


1    MiMiiiSu 


'-I 


TIIK  liOltOI.INK. 


433 


s,  iiiul 

CiltlT- 

niiia^-c. 
iidoiilit- 

ICS   St'V- 

iii;:'  tlir 
It  liDinc 
III  oniss. 
il,  lull 


runs  for  some  ilistMiicc  tliniu;;li  tlic  ji'i'iiss  Ix'turc  slic  tiikcs  lli^lit,  tiiul  !i|(|in)iicli('s 
it  in  the  s.'iiMt'  \Vii\.  It  is  ii  tr.iil  strnclnrc,  outwiii'illy  ctiniiiosiMl  nl'  drv  weed 
stems  iinii  ;^r:isscs,  liiii'd  wilii  liner  niiiterials  ul'  tlie  same  ixind,  and  is  nsnalK' 
|)lat'ed  in  a  sli^lil  natnral  depressidn  of  tiie  ^ronnd  and  W(dl  concealed  liy  a 
Inxnrions  MTowtli  ot'  ^rass  or  dover.  An  axeraji'e  nest  measnres  alxmt  I  inclies 
in  onler  iliameter  l)y  2  inches  in  depth;  the  inner  cnp  is  ahont  '2\  inches  in  diam- 
eter 1)\'  1  \  inches  deep.  Sometimes  a  nest  may  he  attached  to  several  weed 
stems  a  little  distance  iVom  the  ;ir()nnd.  'i\vo  snch  iii.'ances  ar(*  recorded  hv 
Mr.  Klisha  Slate,  of  Somerset .  .Ma.ssachnsetts,  in  the  "  IJnlletin  of  the  Xnltall 
Ornithological  Clnlt"  (N'ol.  \'l,  ISSl,  |ip.  117,  lis).  Want  of  space  prevents  me 
from  (piotinu'  these  here. 

Mr.  K.  A.  .Mcllheimy,  of  N\'\v  llieria,  Louisiana,  tells  na-  that  this  s|)ecies 
breeds  in  small  nnmliers  on  I'etite  Anse  Island,  on  the  (inll'coast  of  liOiiisiana; 
and  that  he  has  taken  two  nests  with  ey.us  (one  on  .V|iril  IS,  ISIII,  und  another 
on  April  It,  ISlfJ).  To  set  all  donhtsat  rest,  he  kindly  sent  me  the  last-iueiitioned 
set,  which  contained  lixc  heavily  incidiated  eL;j.;s,  one  of  which  was  broken  in 
Idowin;;',  and  one  of  these  is  tiynred.  lie  wrote  at  the  same  time:  "I  lieliexc 
man\'  of  the  Moholinks  hreed  here  liefore  the\  n'o  north;  the  \iMniy  birds  are 
lieri^  nil  snnnner,  but  an  old  liiid  is  ne\cr  seen  iifter  the  last  of  .Vpril,  or  after  the 
tiats  m'e  harxested.  'They  nest  in  these  lields.  We  shoot  the  \omij:'  birds  here 
in  Mav,  and  ,i;jain  in  Seiitendier,  in  w  liicli  months  tlie\  are  m'vv  fat  an  1  are 
considered  vcrx'  ;jood  e.atinji-." 

(hi  mentionin<;-  this  to  my  friend,  l>r,  li.ilph,  who  visits  l''lorida  e\fr\  winter, 
lio  told  me  that  he  had  noticed  two  jiairs  ot'  Mobolinks  almost  dail\ ,  ne;ir  San 
Miiteo,  I'lorida,  I'rom  abont  the  middle  ol'  Mav  until  the  dav  ot'  his  departure,  on 
Jnne  I,  1S1I2.  These  birds  wel'e  most  I'reiplelltl',  seen  ne.ll'  llu'  bjniks  of  the  St. 
.lolm's  b'ivcr,  dose  to  an  oat  field,  and  prob.dilv  \\('re  breeilinii'  there. 

l'"rom  live  to  seven  eiiii's  (iisnallv  live  nv  si\);n'e  laid  to  a  sei.  and  oidv  one 
brood  is  raised  in  a  season.  In  the  uiort>  southern  parts  ol'  iheii'  beecdinL;'  ran^ic 
the  \dunj;are  generally  kar^^-e  enon;.;li  to  lly  iiy  ,Inly  1.  They  ^■.ithcr  then  in  little 
llocks  with  the  parents  (the  male*  assnmini;'  the  yarb  ol'  ihe  female  abdiit  this 
time)  and  are  soon  there.iiler  le(l  bv  them  to  the  marshes,  near  the  seashore,  in 
(piest  of  their  lavdi'ite  food,  which  at  tiiis  time  of  the  vcaris  Indian  rice;  and  bv 
Auiiiist  l."i  thev  be;jin  to  .'issendile  ill  the  rici'  lields  of  the  South.  remainiiiL;'  there 
inilii  near  the  end  of  September  iiei'ore  mov  iii^'  on  to  their  ,\  inter  homes  in  Suiitli 
.America.  Their  travcliny-  is  mosllv  done  at  nij^lil.  The  majoritv  |)iiss  throiiiih 
Moriila  and  the  N.'est  India  Islands  lai  their  way  south,  and  not  throiiLili  .Mexico 
via  Texas 

The  e^i^s  are  ov.ite  or  slaa'l  ov.ite  in  sli.ipe.  The  shell  is  clcpse  i^raiiH'd 
and  somewhat  j;lossv.  The  ;iromid  color  varies  from  pearl  ;^rav  or  |ia!e  ecru 
dr.ib  to  a  pale  reddish  brown  or  jiale  ciiiiiamoii  rufous.  Thev  are  irre^nlarl v 
blcitched  and  spottt'il  w  itii  dillcreiil  shades  of  claret  brown,  chocolate,  heliotrope 
piiriile,  and  lavender  n.arkinjis,  intermiiij:led  with  each  other,  and  v.arv  in;;'  ^feallv 
in  si/.e  and  intcnsitv.  Almost  everv  set  is  dilfereiitlv  m.arked.  and  it  isextremelv 
dilHcult  to  ji'ive  a  fair  avera;i<' description.  In  some  specimens  the  ;^round  cohir 
tiis!ui    S".  :i — :'s 


/.I 


;-  it 


434 


LIFK  lIiaTORIKS  OF  NOUTU  AMKRICAN  BIRDS. 


ri;,.A   ••; 


is  aliiKist  hiddoii,  the  marking's  boiiifj^  ueiirly  evenly  distributed  in  tiie  shape  of 
lar<ye  blotclius  over  the  entire  surface  of  the  o<i;<i;.  In  the  majority,  however, 
tlie  (hu'ker  niarkin<fs  are  mainly  confined  to  the  larjfer  end  of  the  *'j;<f,  while  the 
l)aler  ones  are  more  noticeable  in  the  middle  and  about  the  smaller  end. 

The  average  measurement  of  seventy-.seven  specimens  in  the  United  States 
National  Museum  vollection  is  21.08  by  15.71  millimetres,  or  0.H3  by  0.()2  inch. 
Tlu!  lar^'est  e<jr<i' in  this  series  mea.sures  22.3.')  by  1G.2()  millimetres,  or  0.H8  by 
().(;4  inch;  the  smallest,  17.53  by  15.24  millimetre.s,  or  O.GiJ  by  O.fiU  hich. 

'I'lie  ty|)e  si)ecimen,  No.  25338  (1*1.  (!,  Fi}^.  1),  from  a  set  of  five  ejff^s, 
Ralph  collection,  was  taken  on  Shelter  Island,  New  York,  June  8,  1882,  and 
I'eprcscnts  one  of  the  heaviest  marked  e<r<^s  of  the  series;  and  No.  25740  (PI.  (!, 
Fif;".  2),  from  a  set  of  five  ef^ifs,  taken  by  Mr.  E.  A.  Mcllhenny,  on  I'etite  Anse 
Lsland,  Louisiana,  on  April  !l,  1892,  represents  one  of  the  paler-colored  speci- 
mens in  the  series. 


170.     Molothrus  ater  (lionDAEur) 

COWUIKO. 

(h-ioUin  iilcr  HoDDAEUT,  Table  ties  planches  unliiiniiiees  d'histoire  iiiiturelle,  178.3,  37. 
Mulotlintx  (iter  tiiiAY,  Hand  List  of  Hilda,  II,  ISTd, .{«. 

(I!  400,  C  UIl,  \l  L'.-)8,  C  313,  U  405.) 

(iKOiiBAPiiicAi.  BANGK:  United  States  and  tlie  soatliern  parts  of  tlio  Dominion  of 
Caniidii.  in  tlie  eastern  ]i(ii'tioiis  to  about  latitude  40°  N.;  in  the  interior  to  Little  Slave 
Lake,  soiitlu'i'ii  Atliabasca,  latitude  'h>°  30',  and  probably  still  farther  north;  west  to  British 
(Joluiiibia,  eastern  Washiiifjton,  ea.stern  Orefjoii,  Nevada,  and  soiitheasteru  California;  south 
in  winter  to  southern  Me.vieo. 

'Pile  lireodin*;-  ran<2-e  of  the  Cowbird,  also  known  as  "Cow  Buntiiifr,"  "Cow 
Blackbird,"  "Shinyeye,"  "  Hlackl)ird,"  "Lazy  Bird,"  "Clodhopper,"  anil  in  former 
years  on  the  plains  as  "  IhiHalo  Bird,"  extends  from  our  Southern  States,  exceptin}^ 
Florida,  southern  and  western  'i'exas,  north  into  the  southern  parts  of  the  Domin- 
ion of  (Canada.  Westward  its  ljrei'(lin<>'  ran>;-e  extends  to  ea.stern  British  Coliun- 
iiia,  eastiirn  Washinjiton,  eastern  ()re<j;on,  Nevada,  and  probably  southeastern 
California,  where  Ur.  A.  K.  Fisher  shot  an  adult  male  at  Furnace  Creek,  in 
Dcatli  Valley,  June  20,  18!ll.  Fast  of  the  Hocky  Mountains  the  Cowliird  is 
pretty  <i(Uierally  distrilmtcd  tiver  the  (>reater  jiart  of  its  ranj;e,  excejitin;;'  the 
extensive  forest  re<>'ions  and  some  of  the  morti  southern  States,  where  it  appears 
to  occur  only  sparinj^ly.  Its  center  of  abundance  is  found  in  the  States  bor- 
derii)}^'  tlie  I'pper  Mississi|)pi  Uixer  and  its  innnerous  tributaries.  West  of  the 
one  Inuidreil  and  thirteenth  meridian  ((Jreenwich),  in  the  United  States  at  least, 
it  must  be  ccmsidered  as.  a  rare  summer  visitor,  and,  as  far  as  I  have  been  able 
to  ascertain,  it  has  not  yet  lieen  found  anywhere  on  the  Pacific  Coast  west  of 
the  Cascaih'  and  tlie  Sierra  Xi'vada  moinitains  except  as  a  .strai^'jifler.  In  the 
s(mt'iierii  portions  of  the  i'mviiices  of  .Mbcrta  and  .Vssiniboia,  Dominion  of  Can- 
ada, as  far  west  as  (!alyary,  1  found  this  species  remarkably  abundant  in  the 


Till-;  <;()\vi5ii!i). 


4:!5 


]iitt(ir  ])firt  of  ^[ily,  \H\)i,  iil(»iifi'  tlic  line  of  tli(?  Caiiadiiiii  I'licific  Uiiil^ay,  snuiU 
piirtics  ot"  t'roin  six  to  twclvo  boiiij^'  aliiiost  coiistautly  in  siglit,  (ividciitly  oii  tlicir 
way  ttt  their  ItrcH'dinj^'  jiToiiiul.s. 

'The  most  iKtrtliorii  point  avIictc  its  oji'ji's  liaA'<>  Ixmmi  taken  a])|)ears  to  be  in 
the  vicinity  ot"  Little  Slave  Lake,  iu  soiitluM-n  Atliahasca,  in  latitnde  ")")'^  IV)'  \. 
Mr.  S.  Jones,  of  tlus  Hudson  liav  (Jonipanv,  fo!\varde(l  sj)(M'iin(Uis  from  tliere  to 
the  Smithsonian  Institution  in  1<S(!H,  but  it  is  (juito  ])rol)able  that  tliis  species 
ran<xes  farther  north. 

Althouj;h  1  have  traveled  extensively  ovi^r  our  \vestorinnost  States  and  Ter- 
ritories, I  notice<l  the  Cowbird  on  but  very  few  occasions,  and  only  found  its  eii'^s 
there  twice;  onct*  on  .Funt*  '21,  1S7L  near  Fort  Lajjwai,  Idaho,  in  the  not  of  the 
Long-tailed  Ohat,  Jclcria  rirciis  loiii/icditdd,  and  ajiaiu  near  I'alouse  Falls,  in 
southeastern  \Vashinj>ton,  on  dune  IS,  1S7H,  in  a  nest  of  tlu>  Slate-colored  Spar- 
row, I'dsscrcHa  iliam  .schtstacca.  'Phis  I  btdieve  is  the  most  western  bi'ei'ding 
ri'cord  known. 

Hoth  of  these!  specimens  ai'c*  now  in  tlui  United  States  National  .Mnsenm 
<!ollection. 

The  most  southern  breedinj;'  records  I  have  knowledj^-e  of  are  from  AVayno 
and  Jlclntosh  counties,  (Jeori^ia;  i'etite  Anso  Island,  l.,ouisiana,  and  Harris 
Comity,  Texas.  It  does  not  appeal*  to  breed  anywliere  in  the  innnediate  vicinity 
of  the  (jiulf  coast  in  Texas,  where  it  is  replaced  by  its  smaller  relative,  the  Dwarf 
Cowbird.  \Mnle  the  majority  of  these  liirds  j)ass  beyond  our  borders  in  the  late 
fall  and  winter,  mainly  to  soutliern  .Mexico,  still  a  liood  many  remain  in  our 
Southern  States,  and  a  few  even  winter  occasionally  as  lar  north  as  New  Fn.n'- 
land,  ]\[ichij;an,  etc. 

Dr.  (i.  Hrown  (ioode  tells  me  that  while  on  the  Oerman  Lloyd  steamer 
Nt'chn;  in  .\pril,  ISSI),  a  Cowltird  Hew  on  board,  fully  1,0()()  miles  east  of  Xew- 
founilland,  and  was  captiu'ed. 

The  ("ow  l)ird  oi'dinarily  arrives  in  f^dod-sized  ilocks  in  th<>  Middle  States, 
from  its  winter  home  in  tlu^  South,  during  tlu^  last  half  of  ^larch;  in  flie  more 
northern  States,  rarely  Ix't'ort^  the  lirst  week  in  iVpril,  and  more  tVecpiently  after 
the  midille  of  this  montli,  the  males  pre(lominating  in  lumdiers  o\cr  the  more 
plaiid\'  colored  females,  and  generally  pr-'cede  them  several  days.  Soon  after, 
these  tlocks  comnu'iu'e  to  break  up  and  scatter  in  small  companies  of  from  six  to 
tw(dve  individuals  and  disperses  gt'iu'rally  over  tin;  country,  it  |)refers  more  or 
less  culti\ated  districts,  river  valleys,  etc.,  where  othei'  birds  are  al)undant,  and 
rarelv  penetrates  far  into  iieavily  tind)ere(l  sections  or  mountainous  regions, 
excepting  in  ('olorado,  where  it  has  been  met  with  at  altitudes  up  to  S,()0()  feet. 

The  food  of  the  Cowltird  consists  principally  of  vegetable  matter,  smdi  as 
seeds  of  dilferent  kinds  of  noxious  weeils,  like  ragweed,  smartwee<|,  t'oxtail  or 
pigeon  grass,  wihl  rice  and  the  smaller  species  of  grains,  berries  of  dilferent 
kinds,  as  well  as  of  grasshoppers,  beetles,  ticks,  tlii's,  and  other  insects,  worms,  etc. 
Taking  its  food  alone  into  consideration  it  does  perhaps  more  good  than  harm. 

While  the  Cowbird  is  fairly  conunon  in  most  of  the  States  east  of  the 
Mississippi    Kivcr,  it  is  far  more  noticeable  in  the  regions  west  of  this  stream. 


m 


/ill 


t,i 


•.\.\\ 


J! 


.Pi"* 


43() 


LIFE  IIISTOIMICS  OF  NORTH  AMKRICAX  ItlRDS. 


althoii^'-h  ]iorliai)s  not  inucli  more  abundant.  In  t\w  prairio  StatcH  this  is  espe- 
riiilK'  tile  case,  and  ono  will  raivly  sco  a  hnuch  nt"  cattle  tlicru  without  an 
attiMidini;-  Hock  of  ('owhirds,  who  perch  on  their  h.icks,  searchini;'  tor  j)arasire8, 
or  follow  them  alon;^-  on  tlut  j^'round,  hunting;'  for  suitahle  food  aniouj;'  their 
<lroppin<fs.  Tiioy  generally  act  in  concert;  when  one  settles  on  the  ground  the 
others  follow  shortly  afterwards,  and  if  one  starts  to  fly,  the  remainder  take 
wing  also.  Their  flight  lesembles  that  of  the  Red-winged  Klackhird.  When 
the  nesting  season  approaches,  tlu*  males  Itecomt*  very  demonstrative  in  their 
actions  toward  tins  females,  but  do  not  ai)|)ear  to  mind  the  attentions  paid  by 
other  males  to  the  same  female,  as  other  birds  tisually  do,  and  rarely  fight  for 
her  j)ossession.      Fri'e  lovers  as  they  are,  they  do  not  object  to  such  trifles. 

At  tliis  time  of  the  year  several  males  may  freipiently  be  seen  perched  on 
some  fence  riiil  or  the  lind>  of  ;\  tree,  with  the  feathei-s  of  tluMr  throats  raised, 
tails  spread,  and  wings  trailing,  each  endea\'oring  to  j)our  out  his  clioicest  song  to 
one  of  his  prospective  mates.  'Phis  consists  of  \arious  unre|>roducible  guttural 
.sounds,  utti-red  while  all  the  feathers  an^  ])utfed  out,  the  hoiid  lowered,  and  i'\  i- 
dently  produced  only  by  considerable  etlbi't  on  the  piu-t  of  the  perforn'  r.  One 
of  their  call  notes  scuuids  somewliat  like  "spn-ele,"  others  resend)le  the  various 
S!|U(!aks  of  the  Ued-\\inged  lilackliinl,  and  all  are  dilficult  to  reproduce  on  paper. 

It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  tlu*  Cowbird  is  a  parasite,  building  no  nest,  but 
in'licting  its  eggs  usually  on  smaller  l)irds,  leaving  to  them  the  labor  and  can;  of 
reiring  its  young.  It  appears  to  be  entirely  devoid  of  conjugal  affection  and 
practice.^  polyandry,  the  small  Hocks  in  which  it  is  found  during  the  season  of 
reproductiiui  generally  containing  si^veral  more  males  than  females. 

It  is  ,it  all  times  more  or  less  gregarious,  especially  so  in  the  fall  and  winter, 
when  it  often  forms  large  flocks,  and  associates  then  with  the  other  l$lackl)irds, 
like  Brewer's  iuid  the  Ked-winged. 

'ria^aying  s(>ason  rarely  begins  befori'  M.iy  lo,  nnd  continues  for  ii bout  two 
months.  During  this  time  ])robal)ly  from  eight  to  twcdxi-  eggs  are  l;iid  by  I'ach 
female,  or  the  e([uivident  of  two  l)roods,  iuid  I  believe  that  several  days  elaj),se 
between  the  laying  of  the  eggs.  It  is  not  likely  (and  this  is  very  fortunate 
indeed)  that  more  than  half  of  these  eggs  nre  hatched,  lis  some  arc^  occasionally 
dropped  in  olil  and  a!)andnned  nests,  iw,  when  tlui  female  is  li;n-d  pressed,  e\en 
on  tile  ground;  others  in  just  completcil  nests  in  which  tla^  rightfid  owner  hud 
not  yet  laid,  who,  seeing  tlu^  parasitic  {•<<:'^  in  its  nest,  either  alxnidons  it  entirelv 
orcoustriu-ts  another  over  the  first,  burying  the  stranger  i'lX'r!:  among  the  building 
materials. 

When  the  Cowbird  is  rea<ly  to  de|ios  ,  ler  <'ggs,  slu^  quietly  leaves  her  asso- 
ciates and  begins  her  search  for  a  suital)le  nest,  usuallv  selecting  one  of  a  species 
smalhir  than  herself;  but  if  such  i-  not  readily  fomid,  a  nest  of  a  larger  bird  will 
answer  (Mjually  wtdl,  especially  if  the  full  complement  of  eggs  has  not  been 
de})Osited  in  it.  Slui  does  not  forcibly  drive!  the  owner  from  hei'  nest,  but  watches 
her  opportunity  to  drop  her  egg  in  it  when  it  is  unguarded.  In  rare  instances  only 
will  a  fresh  ("owbinl's  i"^,^  1),.  fonml  among  incid)att'd  ones  of  the  rightful  owner. 
I  have  observe  1  this  oidy  on  a  single  occasion.       I'rom  one  to  seven  of  these 


.*jt>fl%: 


rf-^',i'*i\  ■ 


4t# 


THE  COWlilRn. 


437 


parasitic  o<r<fn  have  boon  found  in  a  nest,  tlie  liirpfor  nuinbors  usually  in  tlioso  nt' 
}i!T(iun(l-l)uil(lin<>'  spooics,  cspocially  in  tliat  of  the  Ovtiubinl,  whcro  from  throo  to 
five,  witli  perliaps  two  or  tln-co  cgfjs  of  tlu^  owner,  an*  not  especially  unconnnon. 
I  know  of  one  instance  where  not  less  than  seven  Cowbird's  eggs  were  found  in 
a  nest  of  this  species  with  a  single  one  of  its  own.  Not  infrequently  two  or 
more  eggs  (in  all  j)robal)ility  laid  by  the  same  bird)  will  bo  found  in  one  nest. 
There  is  so  much  A-ariation  in  their  eggs,  both  in  size  and  markings,  that  the 
close  resemblance  of  any  tw(»  eggs  at  once  atti'acts  attention.  It  is  not  imusual 
to  find  .some  of  the  eggs  of  the  rightful  owner  thrown  out  of  the  nest  to  make 
room  for  those  of  the  parasite,  or  to  tiiid  minute  jtunctnres  in  the  shells  of  some 
of  the  remaining  eggs.  This  is  possil)ly  done  jiurposely  by  tlie  Cowbiivl  with 
her  beak  or  with  her  sharp  claws  whihf  sitting  on  the  nest  and  depositing  her 
own  egg,  to  keej)  the  eggs  from  hatching.  I  am  inclintwl  to  attril)ute  this 
]tuncturing  to  tlu^  latter  cause,  but  then*  is  no  doul)t  that  tht*  Cowbird  sometimes 
tlu'ows  the  eggs  of  th(»  rightful  owner  out  of  the  nest  puri)f)S(>ly  to  enhance*  the 
chances  of  its  oH'spring  coming  to  maturity.  I  ha\-e  yet  to  see  a  punctured  Cow- 
bird's  egg.  It  is  astonishing  how  many  different  s]iecies  are  thus  imposeil  upon 
bv  the  Cowbird.  One  would  naturally  suppose  tliat  l»irds  breeiling  in  holes  in 
trees  or  luider  rocks  would  be  exempt  from  this  infliction,  but  this  is  not  the  case. 
Perhaps  among  the  strangest  and  most  unlikely  of  foster  parents  selecited  are  the 
Hed-headed  Woodpecker  and  tlie  Hock  Wren. 

Mr.  William  (1.  Smitli,  fornu'rly  of  lioveland,  (Colorado,  writes  nu>  tliat  he 
found  a  (!owbird's  i"^'^  in  a  Rock  Wren's  nest,  iindi'r  a  ledge  of  ivick,  fully  2 
feet  from  the  entrance,  which  was  barely  large  enough  for  tlu*  Wren  to  s(|ueeze 
through.  It  seems  almost  impossible  that  a  bird  of  this  siz(*  would  be  al)h!  to 
enter  the  small,  jjeuflent  nest  of  the  I'arula  Warbler  and  deposit  its  v<<:'^  therein 
in  tin*  usual  wav.  However,  as  this  species  is  occasionalh'  imposi'd  on,  it  is 
possible  that  the  i'<;:'^  is  dropped  in  tlu*  nest  with  the  beak. 

Tilt*  following  is  a  list  of  species  in  whose  nests  ("j:)X^  of  the  Cowbird  liav(* 
been  found,  and  undoiibtedl\-  a  number  of  others  xct  remain  to  be  added  to  it: 


Zoiii  ill  lira  miicroiifd,  Moiiniiiiir  I'ovc. 

Goccyziis  timrrioitiiis,  Yellowbilli'd  Cuckoo. 

McUiufrpvK  frythroccphiiliix,  Red  -  lieailcil 
Woodpecker. 

Ti/idinnis  ti/rdnniis.  Kiiifjliird. 

Stijioniis  phdiiv,  I'hd'lx'. 

Coiitopiis  rirois.  Wood  I'cwoc. 

Kmpidonnx  naiiliciiK,  Arciiiliau  Fly<'iiti'lit*r. 

l-hiipiiloiifi.r  jiKnillii.t,  Ijittic  Klycatclicr. 

Hiiiiiiiloiiax  pusilliiK  trdillii,  Tradl's  fly- 
catcher. 

Hiiipidona.r  minimus.  Least  Flycattdicr. 

Otiifdtiii  alpcstris  pniticolii,  I'rairie  Horned 
Lark. 

Itiilivlionifr  oriiiii'orus,  Ttobolink. 

XinilliitfrplKlliiH  .idtltlioci-phnlils,  Y  (' 1  low- 
lu-iidcd  lilackbird. 


Aifcliiiiin  plifiiiiirii.1,  licd-wiiificd  l!1a('kl>ir<L 

Shinifllii  miifiiKi,  Meadow  Lark. 

Sliinit'lla   miijiiiit  iiiyli-cta,  VVestern   Meadow 
Lark. 

Icfenis  Kpuriux,  Orchard  Oriole. 

Tvtenis  (inllnilit,  llaltiiiiore  Oriole. 

h'lcni.1  Inilliicki.  linlloek's  Oriole. 

ScDlccDpliayiin  cj/iiiioc-plialiiK,  lirewei's  lllaek 
bird. 

C(trpo(hicuB  purpiiirim,  Piirpl'    I'i'ich. 

S/niiHs  tristis,  Aiiierieaii  (ioldliiieh. 

Cdlrdrilis   ontdlitx,   (Jhestlillteollareci    Loll};'- 
spur. 

Klli/iirlioplidtim    mccoirnii,    McCowii's     Long- 
spur. 

Pooavtes  !irdiiiiii<ii.i,  X'e.spev  Sparrow. 


w 

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li 

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•'■■  -  -  :?■;.■•;■  ■,  ■  • 


4:38 


LIKIO  IIISTOUIKS  OV  NORTH  AMKUICAX  BIHDS. 


I'lHtctvtis  iiriuiiiiiniH  coji/i/m'/i.  Wt'Ntcrii  N't'spcr 
Spui'l'ow. 

Choiiihtitcs  (iriimmacim,  l,iii'k  Spin  row. 

Cliondnslrs  jirdiiiiiidviis  .slriiiiilim.  WesttTii 
fjiirk  Spiirniw. 

Zoiiotriiliiti  hiicoiiliri/s,  White  cnnviicd  Spar- 
low. 

Spizillii  HDciiilis.  ('Iii))pin;;  Hpiiriow. 

Spizi'lla puxilla,  Field  Spiiriow. 

>S7>'-''""  i>nlliila,  < 'liiy-coloicd  Sparrow. 

•Iiini'o  hiirmnViH,  Sliito-colorcd  .luiico. 

Miliixjiizii j'liKciditi,  Soiifj  Spiirrow. 

Miloxjii:!!  ftiHviaiit  m  on  I  una,  Mountain  Soiif^ 
Sparrow. 

Mcliisplzii  nt'orj/iiiiiii,  Swaiii))  Spai  row. 

I'lissrrilld  illaca  .irliistiirvii,  Slate  ■colored 
Sparrow. 

Pipihi  trjithritiihthahiiuH,  Towliet*. 

CiirdinnliH  c<ir<liiiiili.s,  Cardinal. 

llnhiii  liuloriciand,  IJose-lireasted  Ciroshcak, 

Guinicd  f arnica,  IJIiie  (Jrosbeak. 

J'assfrina  ci/dnca.  Indifio  liuntin<;. 

I'assiriiia  mniind,  La/idi  liniitinfj. 

I'ds.srriiid  firis,  I'ainted  IJiintin};. 

Si)!:a  dmrrirana,  DieUeissel. 

<'(il(tmii!<iii:a  mcldniiroii/s,  Lurk  ISuntiu;,'. 

I'irniiifi  cnjihroiiulan.  Scarlet  Tana^er. 

I'iraiiiia  nilira.  Siunnier  'I'anauci'. 

I'i'triiflirliiloii  lidii/'miis,  Cliir  Swallow. 

AiiijiiVis  rtihonnii,  (.'edar  Waxwiiig. 

\'lri'i>  oliracinx,  Kedejcd  Virijo. 

Viici)  flilruK,  Warblinjf  Vireo. 

Vinii JlarifninK.  Yellow  (hroatecl  Vireo. 

Virci)  xiililariH.1,  IJluc  headed  \'ircii. 

Vina  iiiinhiiracfiixi.s.  White-eyed  A'irco. 

]'irii)  lii'lli,  Hell's  Vireo. 

MiiiotiUa  raiia,  iilack  and  White  Waihlcr. 

I'riilono'dria  citrcn,  I'rothonotary  Warhlei'. 

Ill Imitlnriis  nrmironm,  Wornieatiiijj  War 
bier. 


llchninthojthild  piiiuH,  1{| lie- winged  Warbler. 

llflminlhiiphUa    rlinisiiplira,  ( lolden-winge*! 
Warbler. 

Jlvliiiinthapliila   nijlcapilla,    Na.Hlivill(!    War- 
bler. 

GompHitthhiim  dnicrifana,  I'arnla.  Wiirbler. 

Ih-ndroiva  (inlira.  Yellow  Warbler. 

Itrndraira  ca-niliHcrnK,   JUack-throated    lililo 
Warbler. 
I  TUiidroicn  cnrulen,  Cerulean  Warbler. 

Dnitlrnicd   hlaH-hufiiia;  ISIaekbnrnian   War- 
bler. 
,  Ihnib-oird  riirim.  lilaek-tliroatcd  (Ireen  War- 
bler. 

I>i  inhoicd  ilisrolor,  I'lairie  Warbler. 

SiluniH  diirocaiiilliin,  Ovenbird. 

Nfiiinis  nonhordmmix,  Water  Thrush. 

Neiiinis  molarilla,  Louisiana  Wnter  Thrush, 
I  Gcothhiphformimt,  Kentucky  Warbler. 

(tiollih/iiis  irichax,  JLiryland  Yellowthroat. 

OvothUipix  trichdx  occidenlalh.  Western   Yel- 
lowthroat. 

Tvtcrid  riri'iix.  Yellow-breasted  Chat. 

Ictcrla  virtus  loiif/icaiida.  Long-tailed  Chat. 

Sj/lrania  niilratd,  Hoodeil  Warbler. 
I  Setophaija  riiticilln,  Anu-rican  Itedstart. 
I  OalcDsroplex  faroliiuiixis, ('nthivi]. 
j  Ilariiotlijinrhiis  rii/iis.  I'.rown  ThrashtM'. 

Salitiiifirs  iilixolrliis,  Itock  V»'ren. 

TroijUidijIix  ailiDi,  House  Wren. 

Varus  hicolor,  Tutted  Titmouse. 

I'oUoptila  cirriilea,  lUue-gray  (inatcateher. 

Turdiix  iiiKxtclhius,  Wood  Thrush. 

TiirdKs  fi(.iccsii'i>s.  Wilson's  Thrush. 

Tiirditx    u.stuldtii'!    sicdiitsoiiii,    Olive-backed 
Thrush. 

Tiir<lii.i  aoiialasriihir  diidiihoni,   A  iid  \i  l)on's 
llernnl  Thrush. 

Mrriild  m'Kjrtitiiria,  American  Uohin. 

Sidlia  xidlix,  IJIuebird. 


Aiikihl;'  tlic  l)ii'(ls  iiiciitioncil  ii))(i\('  the  iiosts  of  tlic  I'lui-ho,  Soni^-  SpiiiTow, 
'rowlu'c,  IikIImii  l5iiiitiiio-,  ()\ciil)ir<l,  nud  Vcll(i\v-l)r('!ist('(l  Clint  scoiii  i.i  lie  iinist 
trci|ii('iitly  scliM'tcd  liy  tlir  Cnwhird,  jiiid  these  usiiully  coiitaiii  also  more  ot"  tlic 
l»iiriisitic  e^-Hs  tli.'iu  tlie  iiiiijority  ot"  tlie  others. 

'Pile  ('l;;;'  ot'  tluf  ('owliird  usiialK'  hatches  in  Iroiii  ten  to  eleven  davs,  <ron- 
erally  in  adxance  of  those  of  the  foster  jiareiit,  and  tiu^  growth  of  the  younj.^ 
intt'r]o|iei'  Is  rajiid.  .Mr.  .M.  A.  White,  of  ,Matlu;\vs,  \'ir;;iiiia,  w  liosc^  observations 
eorres|ioiid  i'airly  well  with  my  own,  writes  on  this  snhject  as  follows: 

"  It  was  on  the  iltii  of  dmie,  Isilj,  tiiat  1  placed  a  fresh  eji"-  of  the  ( 'owbird 
in  tile  nest  of  a  ( 'liijipiii;;'  Sparrow  eontainiiiu'  two  of  her  own  that  had  an 
advance  of  one  and  a  half  da\s'  incnhatioii.     1  watched  results.     About  the  llUli 


iMMiH 


THE  COWHIKI). 


439 


,1  jW 
1  tl 


]\rr.  Oowhinl  omorfyod  from  liis  prison  walls,  liir<ro  iind  vifjoroiis.  A  day  Inter  a 
little  sparrow  caiim  forth  from  his  delicato  shell,  l)iit  much  smalhir,  and  cxhiljitiiii^' 
less  strenfjth  than  his  foster  brother.     The  other  ej^fj^  failed  to  hatch. 

"The  daily  in(!rease  in  size  of  the  Cowbird  was  somethinj^'  immense,  whihf 
his  younf:fer  eom])anion  seemed  to  diminish  ratlu*r  than  (tnlarji'c,  until  finally,  at 
the  end  of  three  days,  he  died,  evidently  for  want  of  food,  as  the  (!owl»ird,  btunj;' 
lar^^er,  gretidily  devoured  everything  that  came  in  contact  with  his  ca))acions 
mouth.  The  untimely  end  of  the  rightful  heir  was  but  gain  to  this  usurper,  as 
he  now  received  the  whohf  attention  of  the  parent  birds.  Nature  having  now, 
at  the  early  age  of  seven  days,  provided  him  with  a  respectable  dress,  he  was 
no  longer  continited  to  remain  within  tlu^  small  compass  of  t.h(«  nest,  and  lu;  took 
to  the  branches  of  the  tree  in  which  the  nest  had  lieen  placed,  liiit  soon  this 
area  became  too  limited  for  his  ainl)itious  spirit,  for  at  the  end  of  his  second 
week  he  was  flitting  from  bu.sh  to  bush,  e.\i)loring  the  fields  and  hedges,  his 
foster  parents  ])roviding  foi-  him  all  the  while.  Tw<»  wcH'ks  more  and  he  was  a 
full-fledged  bird.     Al)out  July  20  I  saw  him  for  the  last  time.'" 

Such  seems  to  be  the  fate  of  nearlv  all  the  young  which  have  the  misfor- 
tune to  be  hatched  with  a  Cowbird  for  a  (iompanion.  I  have  yet  to  s(h'  a  lu'st 
containing  young  birds  of  l)oth  species  more  than  a  few  days  old;  by  that  time 
the  rightful  offspring  are  either  smothered  or  crowded  out  of  the  nest  by  their 
stronger  foster  brother,  or  they  are  starved,  and  he  then  absorbs  the  entire*  atten- 
tion of  the  j)arents.  Only  in  cases  where  the  true  offspring  is  as  large  or  larger 
than  the  imposter  is  there  any  likelihood  of  ((xcej)tion  to  this  rule.  It  can  readily 
be  seen  what  an  innnense  anu)unt  of  harm  a  Cowbird  causes  in  the  economy  of 
nature,  granting  that  only  a  single  one  of  its  eggs  is  hatched  in  a  seasDU.  A 
brood  of  insectivorous  and  useful  birds  is  almost  invariably  sacrifice*!  for  every 
Cowbird  raised,  and  they  are  certainly  not  diminishing  in  numl)ers. 

While  a  few  of  the  .selected  foster  parents  resent  the  a(hlition  of  a  jjarasitic 
G'^g  in  their  nest,  either  by  abandoning  it  entirely  or  bj-  building  a  new  one  over 
it,  and  occasionally  even  a  third  one,  the  majority  do  not  a,[)i)ear  to  l)e  nmch 
disturbed  by  such  an  event,  and  after  a  short  time  go  on  as  if  nothing  had 
hajjpened.  A  few  species,  like  the  Indigo  Hunting  tor  instance,  will  sometimes 
abandon  their  own  eggs  should  the  .stranger  egg  be  removed,  but  apparently  do 
not  mind  the  h)ss  of  one  or  tw(j  of  their  own,  and  continue  incubating  just  the 
same. 

.Almost  invariably  the  ne.st  in  which  one  or  more  of  these  ])arnsitic  eggs 
have  IxMMi  de])osited  contains  an  incomplete  set  of  the  eggs  of  its  rightful  owners. 
Where  the  Cowbird  drops  an  egg  in  the  nest  of  a  .species  consideral)ly  smaller 
than  itself,  as  the  Gnatcatcher,  etc.,  its  much  larger  size  seems  to  be  a  positivts 
advantage  to  the  more  rapid  develoi)ment  of  the  embryo,  as  the  egg  nnist 
necessarily  receive  more  animal  heat  than  the  smaller  ones,  which  can  scarcely 
come  nmch  in  (contact  with  the  body  of  the-sitting  bird,  and  the  development  of 
the  endiryos  in  these  mu.st  be  more  or  less  retarded  thereby. 


I-     '• 

mi  ' 


'Tbo  Odlogist,  Vii!.  X,  AilR.,  1S!I;!,  pp.  lililJ,  SM. 


rl-v 


440  l-ll"K  IIISTOItlKS  OF  NOllTII  A.MICKICAN  JtlHDS. 

It  is  luilicroiis  to  sec  s\  tut,  t'lillx'  llcil^'cd  vdiiii;;'  ('owltinl  tollowiiijj'  n  |>uir  of 
Clii])])iiiy  S|iarfo\vs,  or  soiiic  sniiill  \V'iirl»K'r,  claiiioriii^'  iMccssiiiitK'  tor  t'ooil,  iiiul 
littering''  its  Ik'j,^;^^!!!,''  t'lill  of  "  siM-iT-stii^rr"  most  |)nrsist(Mitly,  tmly  keeping;'  (|iiict 
wiiilc  its  "iiniiii''  l)i'ak  is  lillcil  with  sonii'  siiitahlc  morsel,  iiiid  sti'miti-ci'  still  to  iiotn 


how  (h'votcil  the  iliiniiiiiti\('  luirscs   are  to  tluMr  fostur  cliild.     One 


would 


tliink 


that  they  mi;i'lit  see  thi'oii^'li  tht»  frfiiid,  at  hjast  iiftcr  tliu  yoiiiiff  iiitcrh)|tcr  h^a\'ps 
the  nest,  if  not  l)ofort',  and  al)an(h)ii  him  to  liis  fates  hut  the  ^^rcatost  attachment 
seems  to  exist  between  them  mitil  the  (!owl>ird  is  al)h^  to  shift  for  liimself,  when 


hel 


eaves  and  joins  his  own  kii 


d. 


It  has  I 


x'cn 


isserted  that  ( 'owhirds  occasionallv  l)nihl  nests  and  rear  tli(>ir 


own    \din 


m-    in    the   West,   hut    this    is    nn(lonl)tedl\'   incorrect,   and 


on    nroixM' 


prop 


investi<iation  it  will    ])rol)al>ly  he  fonnd  that   tia*   sujiposud  (!owl)ird  is  really 
Ikower's  |{lackl)ird. 


W 


UMl 


til 


axinj;'  season   is  o\-er  tnev  co 


th 


)lloct 


ajram  ni  larij(M'  H()cl<s  am 


fl( 


freipient  the  marshes,  in  company  with  the  Mlackhirds,  where  at  that  time  of  the 
an  ahnndance  of  food,  and  the  reiurn  migration  to  their  winter 


v<'ar  thev  find 


h 


lomes  l)e"nis  nsi 


lallv  in  the  latter  half  of  ()ctoi)er. 


The  shell  of  the  (*owhird's  eirj;'  is  compact,  ^•rantdated,  moderatelv  pflossy. 


and  relatively  nnich  stronjier  than  that  of  its  near  al 


the  lilcr'iihc.    The  jiTound 


color  varies  from  an  almost  pure  white  to  j^rayish  white,  and  less  often  to  ])al(* 


l)luish  or  milk\"  wiiite,  and  the  entire  surf; 


ic(^  IS  usuallv  co\-ereii  with  specks  aiw 


th 


d 


l.lotd 
rufoiii^ 

coloi- 

visihh 


les  \ar\inL;'  in  coloi-  from  chocolate  to  claret  hrown.  tawnv,  and  cinnamon 


II  an  occasional  specimen 


almost  entireU'  liiddeii 


til 


c  iiiai' 


kinL:> 


arc 


continent  and  tl 


le  "rouiK 


hvth 


leiii:   in  the  ma|orit\',  liowe\'er,  it  is 


(list 


nici 


liese  markinn'.- 


re  usuallv  iieaxiest  al)oiit  the  laru(  r  eml  of  the  e; 


and   in   rare   instances  the\-  form  an   irreiiular  wreath. 


Tl 


ic  e'li's  \ar\'  "reii 


tl> 


in  shape,   ranji'iny   from  ovate  to  short,   rouiide(l,  and  elon^i'ate  ovate,  the  first 
jiredomiiiatiuii'. 


lie  a\craii'( 


measurement  of  one  hundred  and  twent\"-seven  si)ecimens  in 


the  I'iiitei!   .States  National 
O.sl   hy  i>.(i."i  inch:   th 
l)v  ii.iil)  inch:   the  sma 
Tile  t\pe  speciiiK 


M 


iiseiim  collection  1> 


iM.iri  hy  l(i.4-_'  millimetr 
2.'). 40  h\-  Ki.TIi  millimetres 


es,  or 


•   larji'cst  eii'^i'   measure 

lest,  IS.d.'i  l)y  i:).4'.l  millimetres,  or 

n.  No.  2()1,")7  (I'l.  G,  Fi<>-.  .'V),  r<'pre.sents  one  of  the  li,i;hter- 


0.71  hv  0.<!1  inch 


marked  lyjH's,  and  was  taken  hy  the  wi-iter  near  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  on  .liine  24, 
iST.'i.  t'roiii  a  nest  of  the  ^'ellow-l)reasted  ('hat:  this  containe(l  three  other  eji'nfS, 
one  of  which  was  depositeil  liv  the  ('owliird  and  two  lt\'  the  other  species. 
No.   "JOlfiO  (I'l.   (1,    l''i;^'.  4),   also   t'roin    the    Heiidire  collection,  repi-esents  one  of 


the  more  linei\ 


^P 


ttted 


•f  this  species.      It  was  taken   from  a   nest  of  t!i( 


.Mountain  Son;;-  Sparrow,  in  Kl    I'aso  County,  Colorado,  hd  ,liily  2,  1H74;   this 
also  contained  another  ( 'owhird's  ei;^'  and    tliree  e"i;s   of    the   rightful   owner. 


Hoth   of  these  are   lar^^-e  specini 


Xo.  -.'.f)!!;;;  (I'l.  c,  I- 


avera'!'e-si/,i'(i  ami  a  liea\  il\'  iiiarke(i  siiecimeii  m  w 


I  Inch  tl 


le  Ll'rolllK 


■))  re|)resents  an 
1  col( 


ir  IS  prett\' 


wel 


liiilileii,   and  was 


taken   h\'  Dr.  A.  I\.  l-'isher,  near  Sinii'  Sin^',  New  ^' 


ork 


from   a   nest   of  the  Hed-cNcd  N'ireo,  coiitainiiii;'  two  e;^;"s  of  its  own  in  addition 
to  that  of  th(!   i>arasite,  on  ,lune  (I,  ISSO;  and  No.  •jr)?^!    (I'l.  (I,  Fi-r.  C),  in   the 


TriK  cownmD. 


441 


Knipli  rollcction,  roprpsonta  .mo  of  the  siiiallor-Hizc^l  spi-ciiiu'iis,  witli  li^-'litcr- 
coloifd  iiiiirkiiiffs,  imd  wiis  takon  ucfir  llollfinil  I'iitcut,  New  York,  on  May  iU, 
18S4,  from  a  nest  of  a  I'Iki'Ik'  containiiij,''  four  of  its  own  i'<r<,rs  and  two  of  tliose 
of  tlif  Cowbird.     Tlio  two  last  luuued  vvoru  evidently  both  laid  by  the  same  bird. 


I  •■'.' 


m 


171.     Molothrus  ater  obscurus  ((  Jmklin). 

OWAKl"  COWltllM). 

Stiiniiis  oJis('in-iiiii)'s\KL\y,  Systcma  NaturtB,  I,  ii,  1788,  804. 
M[ol(itlintK\  iilirv.w.  (ihnciinin  UoUK.><,  ISirds  of  tlui  Noi'tlnvest,  1871,  ISO,  in  text. 
(15  — ,  V  lillrt,  li  :.'.J8o,  (J  314,  U  4!»."m.) 

rrKO(iHAlMll('Ai,  ifAMiio:  Mcxico  iiiid  ailjoiiiiiiiT  ])oi'ti<)ii.s  of  tlio  i'nited  States  from 
Huathei'u  IVxas  to  south wt'Stuni  Arizona  and  Lower  Oalifornia. 

The  breeding;'  ranj^H*  of  tlie  Dwarf  (Cowbird  in  the  United  States  is  coincident 
with  its  fieoj^rajjliical  distribution.  It  can  only  be  consitlered  a  summer  resi- 
dent in  scmthern  Arizona,  althou<jh  a  fi-w  appear  to  winter  tliere,  as  1  shot  an 
adult  male  on  Killito  Creek,  near  'i'ucson,  on  .b-nuary  '-U,  IS?;}.  It  usually 
amves  from  its  winter  home  in  southern  Mexico  about  the  middle  of  March, 
and  is  then  found  associatinjj'  with  diti'erent  s])ecies  of  Ulackl)irds,  es])ecially 
Ih'ewer's  Ulackbinl,  l're(|uentinii'  the  vicinity  of  cattle  ranches,  roads,  and  cid- 
tivated  fields,  liy  A)iril  lo  the  flocks  have  scattered,  and  small  parties  i}(  from 
five  to  t^\(■lvc  may  now  be  seen  in  suital)le  localities,  sucli  as  the  ^in-nl)l)(  i-y 
alonji'  water  coiu'scs,  sprinjis,  etc.,  where  other  small  birds  are  ai)undant.  'i'lii' 
character  of  its  food,  and  its  o'eneral  habits  as  well,  .ire  similar  to  those  of  the 
common  Cowbii'd,  which  it  closely  resembli'S,  beinji'  oidy  a  trifle  smaller.  In 
middle  'I'exas  the  two  races  interoTade  t()  some  extent,  and  it  is  claimed  iiotli 
breed  there.  In  the  lower  I\io  (irande  Valliry,  'I'exas,  the  tyjjical  Dwarf  ('mw- 
l)ird  is  connnon,  and  I  found  it  eipially  so  in  the  vicinity  of  Tucson,  Arizona, 
where!  1  have  taken  (|uite  a  mnnber  of  its  ejij^-s. 

Mr.  I"'.  Stephens  writes  me  that  it  is  a  counnon  sinnmer  resident  as  far  west 
as  the  (Colorado  Kiver,  beyond  the  inunediate  vicinity  of  which  he  has  ne\er  sei'U 
it.  Mr.  L.  Beldiuii'  found  it  counnon  in  the  streets  of  San  Josc^  del  (Jarbo,  Lower 
California,  associatinj^'  with  iirewer's  Blackbirds,  during-  April.  l)ut  he  rarely  saw 
it  later.      It  is  ipiestioualile  if  it  breeds  there. 

Like  its  , 'astern  i'elati\'e,  the  Dwarf  Cowl)ird  drops  its  eo-ns  in  the  nests  of 
other  birds,  princijially  in  those  of  species  which  are  smaller  than  itself  Tiie 
followin;!;-  is  a  list  of  tiiose  in  which  they  have  thus  far  been  found: 

Cinilopiis  rirl((ii(Jsoiii,  Wcstciii  Wood  I'cwi'c.     Irlrnix  spioiiis,  Orcliant  Oriole. 


I'lltiivephaluit  rvhiiicKn  iiivjiciiinin    v'i>iniilion 

Fiycatclier. 
Anchiiiia  plKiiiiiriin,  Red  winged  Hlacivbird. 
Iclcni.i  enciillalKK,  Hooded  Oiiolc. 
IcteniH  cuvultatKa  nchoni,  Arizona  Hooded 

Oriole. 


Iftcrux  hiitlocki,  l>allo(  k's  Oriole. 

Clioniloileit  iiraiiinxicux  .stri<j(ttiis,  Wcsieiii 
Lark  Sparrow. 

Anijtliisjn'd  biliiiialii.  I'>l;i(k  tliroaled  Spar- 
row. 

V't'Mcrt'tt  carpuiiH,  liufoiiswinged  Sparrow. 


liSi?^^ 


\:\  '••: 


1"'i 


iii^i 


ilwl, 


442 


LII'K  HISTOUIKH  OF  NOUTFI  AMKUICAN  IUUI>S. 


Mclonpiza /(iHcidIa  fulloj;,  Desert  Song  Spar-  '  Ui'\m\iithn})hUa  liiria;  Ijiicy's  VViirblfr. 


row. 
Hmhmiaora  ruflnrijala,  Texas  Simrrow. 
I'ir(iii;i(i  nihni  coopiri,  ("oopci's  Taiia>;er. 
CufdiiKiVm  rariliHiilix  ('rt«i('((»(/((x, (iray-liiili'tl 

Cardinal. 
l!lpi)roi>hilii  mitrelUli  nh(irpii,  Hliarpc's  Sot'd 

eater. 
Virfo  norfhoravcnsh,  VVliileeyd  V'irco. 
Vino  belli',  HcH's  N'ireo. 
Vino  livllii  puMilliix,  Least  Vireo. 


Jfniilroim  witUrn  noiionnid,  Soiiora  Yellow 
Warbler. 

Diudntivii  rliri/Koiiiiriii,  (ioldeii  rlieekcd 
Warl.ler. 

(I ciitli I i/pin  I i-ivhaM ovvidviilnliMfV)  vHU'.rn  Mary- 
land Yellowtliiiiat. 

Tctn-iii  riniiH  loiijiicaiifia,  Loii(>  tailed  ('hat. 

MiiiiUM  poh/iiloltHs,  Mockinf^bird. 

I'oUoptiUt  pliimhiii,  I'liinibeons  <  liiatcateliur. 

Sialiti  wcn'crtwrt,  Western  IJluebird. 


Doubtless  a  niiiiilMT  of  other  names  still  i-eiiiain  to  lie  added. 

Aceordiiifi'  to  my  oi)servatioiis,  the  I^c^ast  Vireo  seems  to  he  ot'teiier  imposed 
upon,  in  soiitlieni  .Arizona  at  least,  than  any  other  hird,  the  Desert  Son;;- 
Sparrow,  Mlaek-throated  Sparrow,  and  V(;rinilion  Flycatcher  tbUowin^i'  in  tho 
order  named. 

The  earliest  dato  known  by  me  on  which  an  e;;';^'  of  this  sul)s|iecies  was 
found  is  .\pril  18,  tho  latest  Au^^ust  2,  showing;-  that  th<i  layin;;'  season  lasts 
apparently  considerably  lon^fcr  than  with  Molotlina  (iter,  and  it  appears  to  be  at 
its  liei^i'lit  (lurin^f  the  month  of  Juno. 

I  found  it  iihnost  impossible  to  obtain  a  full  set  of  the  i'<x<};!*  of  the  Lonst 
Viroo,  Hourly  overyxi08t  containing'-  one  or  two  e;i-;,'-s  of  this  parasite,  and  usually 
only  on((  or  two  of  its  own,  and  the  latter  were  frequently  punctured,  in  fai-t,  this 
was  so  often  the  case  t'lat  1  am  incliniMl  to  beli(!\-e  that  it  is  done  purposely  and 
not  by  accidcMit;  but  wdiether  made  by  the  beak  or  the  claws  of  the  i)ir<l  I  will  not 
ventin-e  to  say;  l)eli(n-e,  however,  it  is  done  i)y  tlie  latter.  In  many  nests  1  found 
one  or  two  of  the  owners'  e;;-;;-s  thrown  out  and  i)roken,  and  occasionally  every  one, 
the  foster  parent  sitting;-  on  the  parasite's  e^j-ys  alone.  iVnxtnjr  otlu'r  instances  I 
found  this  to  bo  the  case  in  a  nest  of  tlu!  IMundx'ous  Gnatcatcher,  which  was 
placed  in  a  thick  mistletoe  bu'ich  y-rowin;^-  from  a  limit  of  a  mesipiite  tree,  about 
1.5  feet  from  the  ;rround  and  well  hidden.  I  first  (.>i)served  tho  nest  on  .luno  10, 
1H72,  when  it  contained  a  sin^jle  e;;-;^-:  on  visiting-  it  again  on  the  ITtli  the  female 
was  sitting  on  a  couple  of  Dwarf  ('owliird's  eggs  alone,  and  on  looking-  on  tho 
g^round  1  found  the  renmants  of  three  eggs,  which  evidently  had  lieen  thrown 
out.  Bullo(-k's  Orioh?  may  occasionally  riil  herscdf  of  the  parasitic  <''^ix'-  "t  nny 
rate  I  noticed  tlu*  remains  of  one  lying  under  a  nest  of  this  sjtecies,  with  portions 
of  one  of  her  own.  This  nest  containeil  onU-  three  eggs  of  the  rightful  owner, 
and  the  bird  was  sitting-  on  those.  The  largest  nnmlaM-  of  Dwarf  Cowbird's  eggs 
f;)und  by  me  in  one  nest  was  throe,  that  of  a  Desert  Song  Sparrow,  and  all  of  its 
own  e"-"-s  were  missiu"-.  I  several  times  found  nests  containing-  single  eggs  of 
this  parasite  abandoniHl,  and  also  picked  up  two  uninjurcMl  from  tlu^  ground, 
where  they  evidently  had  becm  dropped  by  th(^  bird,  not  finding-  a  suitable  nest 
in  time  to  deposit  them.  None*  of  the  young  of  the  foster  |)arents  seem  to  survive 
tli(!  advent  of  a  \'oung-  (!owbird  in  their  nest  longer  than  two  or  thrcic  days, 
as  they  are  soon  starved  by  tlum-  more  vigorous  and  voracious  foster  brother. 
After  tho  youny-  Dwarf  Cowbird  is  old  enough  to  care  for  itself  it  abauihtus  its 


.in^i^Sm 


-'--'■  -^  -  *"'^ 


TIIK  DVVAIIF  COVVHlUn. 


443 


f()st(>r  parents  iiiul  seeks  the  t'(unpaiiy  of  its  dwii  kind,  wliicli  ^idtlier  in  sniiill 
btiuds  and  rove  tVotn  place  to  plaee.  Later  in  tlxt  Heasou,  aliont  tlie  latter  part 
of  Oetolier,  tliese  }«atlier  into  lar^^er  flocks,  associatin;^'  at  this  time  witli  other 
cniiHcuial  species,  and  shortly  alter  they  retin-n  to  tiieir  winter  homes  in  Mexico, 

In  jit'iieral  a|tpearance  and  shape  the  ej;';;^  of  tln^  Pwarl' (.'o\vl»ird  resendtle 
those  of  the  precedinji'  species,  and  the  same  description  will  answer  for  lioth; 
bnt  they  appear  on  an  averajic  to  he  somewhat  less  heavily  s|iotted,  which  ^ixes 
them  a  lijihter  appearance,  and  they  are  also  considerably  smaller. 

The  avera^ic  measurement  of  thirty-se\en  specimens  in  the  llniteil  States 
National  Museum  collection  is  l!>..'i(l  l)y  I4.IMI  millimetres,  or  (t.7(>  liy  O.oll  inch. 
'I'he  larji'est  e^';^'  in  this  series  measni'es  '2().'u  liy  1").  11>  millimetres,  ur  O.Sl  hj 
0.(11  incii;   the  smallest,  IS.O.';  hy  l.'i.Tl  millimetres,  or  0.7 1  hy  o..")!  inch. 

The  type  specimens.  No.  201 7H  and  201  7!>  (I'l.  (I,  Ki<;s.  7  and  8),  hoth  in 
the  iJendire  colU'ction,  were  taken  liy  the  writer  on  Ixillito  Creek,  near  Tucson, 
Arizona,  the  lirst  and  smaller  on  .June  20,  1S72,  from  a  nest  of  tht^  i'dack- 
throated  Sparrow,  with  only  a  sinjile  e;;;;-  <if  its  own,  incul)ation  havinji-  com- 
menced; the  second,  on  duly  11I,1H72,  from  a  nest  of  the  Least  N'ireo,  containin;^- 
also  two  of  its  own  eji';;s,  which  were  fresh.  'I'hey  represent  ahout  the  usual 
amount  of  markings,  and  the  last-mentioned  si»ucinit'n  is  above  the  averaj^c  size. 


172      Callothrus  robustus  (Cadam.s). 

KKll-KVKD  I'OWIIIUI). 

I'Kdioroliindi  iriKiin  WAOI.l'.li,  Isis,  ISL'it,  7"iH. 

CiillotliiKx  nihiixlKs  IMlxJWAV,  Manual"!'  Nortli  Aincricmi  liinls,  IS87,  ">sn. 

(1!  _,  C  — ,  \i  L'.W,  (J  .{15,  I'  19(!.) 

(iKOdi! Ai'iiicAi.  KANcii;:  Mc'xico  and  (Icntral  Aniorica,  nortli  tosoutlicrn  Tcxiis,  south 
to  i'linaina. 

The  i)reedino>  rano-e  of  tlat  Ked-eyed  or  Uronzed  ("owbird,  a  larger  and 
darker-colored  species  than  the  two  precedinfi',  coincides  with  its  o-eonia|)hicii| 
distribution  in  the  United  States,  and  extends,  as  far  as  known,  northward  and 
eastward  only  to  Hexar  County,  Texas,  where  .Mr.  II.  I',  .\ttwater  rejiorts  it  as  a 
rare  sunmier  r''sident  near  San  Antonio,  and  where  he  found  one  ot'  its  e^'jis  in 
tho  iiest  of  a  Uidl<»ck's  ()ri(de. 

W(f  iWi'  inilebted  to  Dr.  .bimes  C.  Merrill,  rnited  States  .Vrmy,  for  the  addi- 
tion of  this  interestiufi'  species  ti>  our  fauna.  lie  first  recorded  it  in  thi'  Mnlletin 
of  the  Xuttall  ( )ruitholooical  ( 'lub  (\'ol.  I,  1S7<1,  j).  SS),  as  an  alunidant  summer 
resident  in  tlu;  vicinity  of  I'^ort  IJrowii,  Texas.  A  full  account  of  tlie  breeding' 
habits  ot'  this  species  by  1  >r.  Merrill  may  be  found  in  the  al)ove-i)ientioiied  liulletin 
(Vol.  11,  1S77,  pp.  <sr)-S7),  from  whi<h  I  extract  the  most  inti-restinji  notes: 

"IMy  first,  specimens  wen^  taken  at  Hidalgo,  on  the  K'io  (Jrande,  70  miles 
northwest  of  Fort  Hrown,  where,  however,  they  ai'e  not  so  abundant  as  lower 
down  tlu^  river.      Here  they  are  conunon  throuohout   the  year,  a  small  pmpor- 


iv'-vt" 


'filU 


11:-:  ■,^: 


:;i 


444 


IM'K  IIISTOlMKi^  OK  NOKTII   AMKIUCAN   ItlKDS. 


fidii  pMii^r  s<iiitli  in  winter,  'riuisc  tiuit  rcnmin  pitlicr  in  lin'yc  llorkM  wifli  tlic 
L(inji-tiiiit'(l  (innklt's,  toninion  ( 'uwltirds,  iinil  Hrcwri's,  Ivnl-winjifil,  mid  YclldW- 
liciidcd  IMiii'l\i)irds;  they  IxM'onif  xci y  tanw,  iind  tli<<  aiiMndiinrr  nt'  food  al)oiit 
tiic  picket  iiiicH  attraetM  tlieni  tor  niiles  around.  Ciillnllinis  rnhiisliis  i.s  readily 
distin^i'iiislialtle  in  tliese  mixed  ^>-iitiieriii^s  I'roni  tlie  ntlief  species  liy  its  Idood-rod 
iris  and  its  jn'cuiiar  top-lieavy  appearance,  caused  liy  its  lialiit  of  pulling'  out  tlie 
featliers  of  tlie  iiead  ami  neck.  Tins  lialiit  is  most  marked  tlurinji'  tlie  hreediuff 
Mniisou  and  in  the  male,  hut  is  seen  tindujiliout  the  year. 

"iMxiut  tlie  middle  of  April  the  conmion  ("owhinl  and  Mrewei-'s  and  tho 
Yellow-headed  hiiickliirds  leave  for  the  north;  the  Lon;:-lailed  ( irackles  have 
fciniied  their  colonies  in  favorite  clumps  of  mes(|uite  ti'ees;  the  K'edwin^fs  that 
remain  to  hreed  ha\  e  selected  sites  tor  their  nests;  the  1  )\\  art'  ( 'owhirds,  ^fdhillniis 
fiidnis  (ilisi  lints,  arrive  from  the  south,  and  ('iilhilliiiis  nilnisliis  jiather  in  tlocks  hy 
themselves  and  wait  for  their  victims  to  huild.  The  males  have  now  a  variety 
of  notes,  somewhat  resend)lin<;'  those  of  the  connnon  ('owhird,  Multilhnis  /iiioris, 
lait  more  harsh.  Uurin;,'-  the  day  they  scatter  over  the  sui'roundin^i'  country  in 
little  companies  of  one  or  two  females  and  half  a  do/,en  males,  returniii;:'  at 
niii'htfall  to  tho  vicinity  of  the  ]ilcket  lines.  While  the  females  are  feeding'  or 
restinji'  in  the  shade  of  a  hush  the  males  are  eaficrly  |(a\  inji'  their  addresses  hy 
|iullin;i'  out  their  feathers,  as  ahove  noted,  striittinji'  up  and  ilown,  and  noddiujf 
and  liowinji'  in  a  very  o(hl  mamu-r.  Mvery  now  and  then  one  of  the  males  I'iscs 
in  the  air,  and,  poisin;^-  himself  two  or  ihree  feet  iihoxc  the  female,  tliitters  (or  a 
minute  or  two,  followin;^'  her  if  she  naives  away,  anil  then  desccials  to  resume 
his  pulhu;^'  and  liowiui.;'.  This  hahit  of  tlutteriu;.;-  in  the  air  was  >\liat  lirst 
attracted  my  attention  to  the  species.  In  other  respects  iheii-  haliits  seem  to  lie 
like- those  ot'  ♦he  eastern  ('owliird  (Mdlnllniis  jirrnris). 

".M\-  lirst  eji'ji' of  ('(illotlini.s  loluisfii.s  was  taken  on  May  14,  lS7<i,  in  a  ( "ar- 
dinal's  nest.  A  few  days  hef'ore  this  a  soldier  la'ou^^ht  me  a  similar  e;iji',  sayiii;; 
he  found  it  in  a  Scissors-tail's  (Mi/niliis)  nest.  Not  recoiini/inji'  it  at  the  tiiia',  I 
l)aid  little  attention  to  him.  and  did  not  keep  the  t-'^is-  I  soon  found  several 
others,  and  have  taken  in  all  twenty-two  specimens  the  past  season.  All  hut  two 
of  these  were  found  in  nests  of  the  Hnllock's,  Hoodecl,  mal  <  )rchard  ( )rioles.  It 
is  a  cin'ious  fact  that  although  Vellow-hreasteil  Chats  and  li'ed-wiiifi'cd  Hlack- 
hirds  hreed  ahnndantly  in  ])l;u'es  most  fre([Uented  liy  these  Cowltirds,  I  ha\e  hut 
once  found  the  hitter's  (•<>•<;•  in  a  Chat's  nest,  and  ne\  ei-  in  a  l{e<lwin{;'s,  thoui^h  I 
have  looked  in  ^(•ry  many  of  them,  i'erhaps  they  feel  that  the  line  should  lie 
drawn  somewher*',  .ual  s(-lect  their  cousins,  the  HIackliirds,  iis  coming'  within  it. 
The  Kwarf  Cowhirds  are  not  trouhled  liy  this  scruple,  however.  Se\ci'alof 
theso  parasitic  e;ii;s  were  found  under  interestiu;;'  conditi<ins.  ( >n  si.\  occasions 
1  have  found  an  eji'ji'  of  lioth  Cowltirds  in  the  same  nest.  In  four  of  these  there 
were  e^iTis  of  tho  riji'hfful  owner,'  who  was  sittinji'.  In  the  other  two  the  Cow- 
liird's  ejij;s  wore  alone  in  th(!  nests,  which  were  deserted.     Miit  I  lia\-e  known  tho 

'  It  wuiiM  bf  intrrcMtirux  to  know  wliat  would  liii\e  lifroiiit^  of  tlm  tliftM*  hptTii'M  in  oiio  nest,  and  liiid  tljii 

liiltc'i'  111 noar  the  fort,  wlnri)  I  conld  have  vinitc>d  liwni  daily.  I  xhould  not  liavr  takiMi  tlio  cgKN'      ''  '* 

]in>IialiK',  lio««v(^r,  that  CitllolhruH  rubuutiit  wouUl  have  disposud  of  tlio  joiiiig  Dwarf  C'o«  bird  as  I'axily  as 
of  the  yoiinj;  Orioles. 


Till'}  Hi;i)  KYi:i>  ("i)Wllll£l>. 


445 


Ilomlfd  ( )riol»'  to  set  nii  mi  {■•^ix  '>)'  ('nlhillinin  nilnifitiis  which  \Viis  mi  ihr  |ii(iiit  n\' 
liiitfhiii^i' wln'ii  t'iMiii(l.  Ilmv  its  own  (lisii|i|iciircil  1  can  not  siiy.  Once  two  ci;}is 
ol'  Ciilliillinis  tiiliiisliis  were  t'oiiiul  in  ii  nest  of  tlic  sniiiii  <  )i'ciiiir(l  Hrinlc  (\iir. 
tilliiiis).  'Twice  I  hii\('  seen  ii  lirokcii  c;iy  it\'  ('(illnllini.s  idliiistii.'t  nmici'  nests  ot' 
liiillocii's  ( trioie  on  whicii  the  ownei-  wiis  sitting. 

"I'",arl\  in  .lime  a  nest  of  the  llooch'd  Oriole  was  t'oiin<l,  with  four  e^i'^s,  and 
one  of  ('(illiilliiHs  rohii-stiis,  all  of  which  1  removed,  leaving'  the  nest.  Ilait|ienin;4' 
to  jiass  liy  it  a  few  days  later,  I  looked  in,  and  to  my  surprise  found  two  ejies 
of  nihiis/ii-i,  which  were  Itrokeii.  'These  were  so  unlike  that  they  were  ])roi)al)ly 
laid  liy  dili'ereiit  lards.  Still  another  ee';i',  and  the  last,  was  laid  in  the  same 
nest  within  ten  days,  lint  the  most  remarkalile  instance  was  a  nest  of  the  small 
( trchard  ( )riole  found  dime  ■_'(»,  containin;:'  thi'ee  e;;MS(if  I'dllnllinis  nil'Kshis,  while 
just  heiieath  it  was  a  \\li(de  e;^';^'  of  this  parasite;  also  a  ln'oken  one  of  this  and 
the  Dwarf  ( 'owltirds  Mulntlinis  nh.siiinis.  'Two  of  the  e^'^^s  in  the  nest  were 
rotten.  'The  third,  strany;e  to  say,  contained  a  liviii},'  emiiryo.  As  the  nest  was 
certainly  deserted,  I  can  laily  account  for  this  l>y  siipposin;;'  that  the  two  rotten 
ones  were  laid  alioiit  the  first  week  ol'  dime,  «  hen  there  was  consideraide  rain, 
anil  that  the  other  was  depositeil  soon  after,  since  wiiicli  time  the  wi'ather  hail 
lieeii  (dear  and  very  hot.  On  one  occasion  1  found  a  t'emale  ('(illdllinis  inhiisln-s 
suspendi'd  from  a.  nest  of  the  Ihillock's  Oriole  hy  a  stiait  thread  around  its  neidv. 
'Tho  ni'st  contained  one  younj;'  of  this  ("owl lird,  and  it  is  pndiahle  that  its  parent, 
after  depositinji'  tla^  e;;'^',  hecaiiK^  entanji'led  in  the  thread  on  hurriedly  leaving' 
the  nest,  and  there  died.  It  had  a|)pareiitly  heen  dead  alioiit  two  weeks.  'This 
case  supports  the  \iiw  that  the  eji';.is  or  \  oim^i'  of  the  owner  ari^  thrown  out  iiv 
the  yoiinj;'  paiasite  and  not  removed  hy  its  parent,  tlioiii;h  1  could  find  no  trace 
of  them  heiieath  the  nest." 

Amon^i'  the  s|)ecies  imposed  on  Ity  the  IJed-eyed  ( "owhii'd  are  the  followimj;: 

Milniliinjor/iiiitiis,  Scissor  tailed  Klycatclicr.  '  <'iiriliii(ili.s  ciinliiKili.'i  c<iiiic<iiitlii.s,  (liMyliiilcil 
JfifniH  iiiiilitliitiii,  Aiidiilioii's  ( Iriolc.  Cardiiiai. 


tctiriis  viirulliiliiK,  lloiidcd  Oriole. 
Iclniis  Hpiiriiis,  Oi'i'hiu'd  Oriole. 
/i'''"'M  liiilliicl,i,  liiillock's  Oriole. 


(iitiiiitit    <(vn(liit   iiirliiiiicliii.   Western    Uliic 

(iioslieak. 
Ictiriis  riiriis  lititijUtiitdii,  Loii},' tailed  Chat. 


Other  species  will  undoiditodly  have  to  he  added  to  this  li.st. 

'The  (Orioles  appear  to  he  the  special  victims  of  the  Weil-eyed  Cowhird,  and 
among  these  .Vudiiiion's  sc-ms  to  Ite  the  worst  sulfori'r.  In  nine  sots  of  this 
species  in  the  I'nited  States  National  Museum  collection  there  are  onlv  two 
whicli  contain  tlu;  normal  numher  of  egos,  four.  In  each  of  tho  other  seven 
tlu're  are  from  one  to  thi'ee  of  those  parasitic;  (spgs,  with  (me  or  two  of  their 
owner.s',  and  usually  some  of  these  are  ]tunctured.  In  none  of  these  nests  were 
eggs  of  the  Dwarf  ('owl)irii  found  in  addition  to  those  of  tlu>  ('idlitlliru.i  rohitsliis. 
'The  former  appears  to  deposit  its  eggs  in  ne.sts  of  tl:;;  smaller  Orioles  only. 

'The  eggs  of  the  Ked-tsyed  Cowl)ird  are  rather  glossy;  the  shell  is  finely 
granulated  and  strong.     Their  sliai)e  varies  from  ovate  to  short  and  rounded 


1 1 

•if 


11 

,':i^ 


,.i 


'Hi 


44<5 


LIFE  IILSTOHIKS  OF  NOKTU  AMliKlCAN   IMK'DtS. 


o>  ■  tc.      I'lit'V  iHH^  pule  l)liiisli  j;r('cii  ill  color  ami  uusiiottcd,  ivscmhlinji-  tlic  v'^<^s 
ot"  tlic  IJlai'k-throiit^tl  Sjkutow  ami  Blue  Grosbeak  in  this  respect,  but  an?  iiuicli 


1 


rii'ci'. 


'I'lu-  averajro  lueasurcnu'iit  nt'  lliirty-cifi'lit  sju'ciincns  in  the  United  States 
National  Mnscnni  collection  is  'iiJ.ll  by  IH:2\)  niillinietres,  or  O.ill  l)y  O.T'J  inch. 
The  largest  e^';^-  of  the  series  nii^asures  2t.(>4  by  IS. SO  millimetres,  or  0.117  b\- 
0.74  inch;   the  smallest,  •il.Sl  by  Hi. 7(1  millimetres,  or  O.Sd  by  (UK)  inch. 

The  tyjjc  specimon,  No.  2(i;5H)  (I'l.  0,  Ki^'.  1>).  from  the  Kalph  collection, 
taken  from  a  nest  of  Amlniion's  Oriole  cont'iinin^'  three  i'.'^'^s  and  also  three  of 
the  Ked-eyed  ( 'owbiril's.  was  oltained  on  May  S,  1S!);5,  in  Cameron  County, 
Texas,  and  represents  aii.iut.an  asi-rafi-e  vixu:  of  thi.'  s[»ccies. 


173.     Xanthocephalus  xanthocephalus  (I'min.m'akti.j. 
vi;.,Lo\v-ni;Ai)i;n  lii.AcKiiiiai. 

Trfn-Ks  .rani'.oriiiliiihis  I'.nNAr  VUTF,  Joiiriiiil  Acadoiny  Natiu'al  Scicnros,  Phila..  \',  l.SLMi,  L'!',!. 
X(tnilr:^<l)liiilt(s  .iKiitltixrp'tithm  .loll'fA.N,  .Manual  ef  X't'itchiatcs,  etl.  t,  ISHi,  '.tli. 

(B  404,  C  -IVi,  K  -KiO,  V.  ;51!l,  IJ  4i)7.) 

OiooiiUArnicAi.  UAMtr.:  Wost'irn  >rortli  Aiiuii'lca;  I'rmii  nortlieni  Mexico  and  Ijowcr 
('alit'oniia,  throiijili  Te.vas.  New  Mcxice,  Aiizoiia.  and  California,  north  to  sourlicrn  hritisli 
Colnnibia,  and  in  tiie  interior  of  tiie  honi'iiioii  of  Canada,  in  tlie  Provinces  of  Athabasca 
ai'd  Kccwatln.  to  aUonI  latitude  ."),S  .'!(»'  N.;  east  to  Manitoba,  and  in  the  United  States 
rc^idailylo  Wisionsin,  noithcin  Uliiois,  noitiiwestcrn  Indiana,  .Mis.sonri,  and  tlie  Indian 
'rciiitcM'y.  ("asaaily  t<i  Oncario  and  <,>nebec,  Canachi,  Pcinisylvania,  New  York,  the  New 
i'lnijlaiul  Siates,  tlie  District  of  Colu:.d)ia,  Soath  Carolina,  Florida,  and  liouisiana.  Acci- 
dental in  the  Ishmd  of  Cnba  and  in  Greenhnid. 

'ilie  breeilinu'  i-an;;-e  of  tlie  Vidlow-honded  Hlackliird  is,  I  believe,  eor.x- 
tensive  with  its  rejiiilar  o-eoi^r  .pliical  distriltntion.  althoujili  we  have  110  j)Ositiv(! 
information  that  it  l)reiMls  in  \'xas  and  in  the  Indian  Teri-itory.  It  is  a  well- 
known  and  abundnit  winter  iesid(  lit,  however,  alon^'  the  Oulf  coast  and  in 
the  lower  Kio  ( Irande  \  al)e\',  in  'I'exas,  and  it. lias  been  (disei'Ncd  there  up  to  the 
latter  part  of  April.  In  looking;'  )\-er  tli<^  ^.eries  of  e^;;s  of  this  species  I  tind 
tha*  the  I'nite  1  States  National  ."Itisemn  contains  a  set  of  three,  orijiinally  par. 
of  Dr.  l-iilandii'r's  c(dlection,  made  in  the  ', icinity  of  Matamoras,  Me.xico,  .'Mid 
received  from  Lieutenant  <'(M'.eh,  in  ISo.s,  which,  altlion;L;li  in  a  poor  state  (d' 
preservation,  i-an  readily  be  identilied  as  belon;^in;i'  to  this  bird.  Ihit  in  the 
almost  impenelraliie  tangle  and  under^'i'owtli  with  which  nianv  of  the  laj^oons  in 
tliat  section  (d  couiitr\  are  surrounded,  ^vllie!i  iticalities  are  uiainl'-'  resorted  tr. 
by  these  birds  dminji'  the  l)reedii.o'  .season,  it  is  an  easy  matter  to  ovcrhxdv  even 
sueii  extensive  colonies  as  are  oceasiona.'lv  found  at  that  time  ol'  year  on  it> 
reoiilar  breeding-  fi'munds  farther  north,  and  1  therefore  believe  that  it  will  yet 
be  found  lU'stin;^-  in  '5'exas 

riie  Vellow-headed    Hlackliird.  wdiile  conuiioii  in  suitable  localiti<'s  dui'iny 
th  '  br.jediny  season  ihronglioul  portions  of  our  Northern  and  Western  States,  is 


THE  YKLLOW  UEADKI)  liLACKBlUD. 


447 


ontiivly  !il)S('nt  in  iiiiiny  others.  It  is  a  liird  ot"  the  pniirics,  especially  such  as 
arc  covered  here  and  there  witii  lakes,  slouj^hs,  and  extensive  marshes,  and 
avoids  the  more  arid  desert  tracts,  extensive  forests,  and  tinilier-covered  moun- 
tain ranges,  altliouj 
11])  to  !l.<»00  feet. 


>h  in  (_!<dorado  it  has  been  ol)ser\cd  ii 


1  siinnner 


.t  altitudt 


Besides  llic  numerous  localities  mentioned  in  previous  works  on  this  sub- 
ject. Dr.  E.  A.  .Meai'us,  Tniteil  States  Army,  found  it  breeding'  in  larj^c  nmni)ers 
the  Mojiolloii  Mountains  in  Arizona.     Mr.  A.  W.  Anthonv 


It  M 


ormon 


L-A 


e.  m 


>ut  tl 


reports  it  as  connnon  throuj^'hout  the  sunnnerm  southwestern  New  J>le.\ico, 


th 


X( 


Mi 


hi 


exc(H'dinjfl\'  common  in  tlu^  \'icinity  of  Fort  IJidwell,  ('alifornia,  amoiiy  the  tules 
of  Gooso  Lake,  and,  if  possible,  still  more  so  ahm;^'  tlie  low,  marshy  shores  of 
Lakes  Malheur  and  llarnev,  in  southeastern  ( )rey-on,  whert^   I  have  seen  it  in 


immense  numliers  and  examined  man 


'}• 


nests.      It  is  111. 


kewisi^  \i'rv  connnon  alonii' 


the  shores  oi'  Klamath  Lake,  and  especially  in  tlu?  extensive  Klamath  marshes. 
1  liavt*  also  noticed  it  in  dilfertsnt  parts  of  Xexada,  Idaho,  and  Washington,  and, 
in  fact,  it  seems  to  be  }^(Uierally  distributed  in  favoral)le  localities  throujihout  the 
entire  Northwest,  exceptinji'  jjcrhaps  iii  the  innnediate  vicinity  of  tlu;  seashore. 
Aliiiiji'  the  shores  of  the  numerous  lakes  in  .Manit(>l)a  and  Saskatchewan  it  seems  to 
'e  e([U;dl\-  I'onnnon.  Mr.  \\.  MacFarlane  forwar(le(l  a  nest  and  a,  set  of  e;ij;s  fi'om 
unbcrhind  House,  Saskat<'hewan,  and  a  skin  from  the  Hudson  Hav  I'osi  at  iMi 
lirochet,  situated  at  the  northern  extremity  of  Ueindeer  l,ake,  in  about  ''^titude 
.")S'^'  ;50'  and  lon"itU(h'  lol  '  west  of  (ireenwich,  where  it  is  said  to  be  a  moder- 


nmer  resident.     This  localitv  marks,  as  f 


ately  common  sui 

most  northern  point  of  its  ran^^■(^ 

The  Vellow-headed   Mlack!iird  is  emineiith- 


u'  as  IS  V( 


•t  ku 


own 


th 


sociiiule   m  Jts  ll< 


ibit 


s,  scarceu 


evi'r  seen  smiilv,  ami  nsualK'  hreeds  ui  larjie  <'olomes 


h 


It  is 


ini)arentlv 


tlv.  1 


low 


ever,  not  very  toleriiul   toward  the  other  spt'cies  of  iJlackliinls  which  frecpieiit 


sum 


lar  localities,  and  therefore  rareh'  nests  i 


lear  or  amou"!'  them 


th 


Its  notes  are 
harsh  and  raspini;-,  an<l  wlu'U  a  colony  of  these  birds  is  disturl»ed  on  its  breedinj;' 


•trounds  by  an  unwelcomt*  intruder,  and  j^ives  vent  to  its      spleasure,  the  uoi.sc 


md   ('(^mmotion  proi 


luced 


are   somethinji'   startlinj^-.    The    male,    when  at  ease 


and  c!in;4in<i' to  some  swaviui^' rci-d  or  rice  stalk,  often  indulj^  s  in  a  Mirl  of  soim'. 


tmiiin;^-  auil  twistiuu'  its  head  in  all  forts  ot'  unu^ 


licisiti<)  IS  dnriiis''  this 


f( 
th 


ance:   but  with  ali  th 
rl 


lan  a  series  ot  ntu-rU  mdescriliable  s(iueaks, 


•tfort 
ibk 


s  lie  iloes  not  succeed  ui  uttermij'  niucli  eist 


>er- 


'chiick,  chiick.' 


'1> 


Its 


s  ordmai'N-  c;dl  note  is  a  siiri 


hrill 


It  usualh   arrives  on  its  l)ix'ediMi;'  iirounds  in  our  N'orthern  States  diiriii"- 


the  first  half  of  April,  and  coiTes|)ondiiij^iv  later  farther  north 


(f  tlir  \'iIlow-lieaded  Ulackbird  coiisistH  of  various  kin.'    of  si 


nal 


sect  Is 


-lie 


as  wild  rice 


tc.,  and  in  farmiiii;-  districts  it  occasionallv  <■ 


damage  to  ^•ount'•  corn,  as  wi-U  as  to  corn  in  the  milk,  and  to  oal  and  wheat  field 


nis  IS  moiv 


tl 


Kill  compeiisi 


ited  tor,  lio\ve\er,  b\  tl 


le  immi 


■use  number  of  insects, 


includuiij  tlii'ir 


arvjf,  '\  Ml 


ch  it  destroys,  es|)ecially  younjr  locusts  and 


;rasf  hoppers,      m  tin-  sprii.ii  an<l  fall  flocks  of  these  birds  in; 


seen  tollowinj.',' 


t^ 


448 


lill'K  UISTOKIKS  Oy  NOSrni  AMERICAN  lUUDS. 


th 


plow,  t'lciiuiM^'  up  ovcrytliiiig'  as  tliey  ;•■<> 


th 


til 


I  bel 


ll'Vt! 


that, 


(•11  thu  wliolo   it 


(Iocs  far  iiinn 


(I  than  liarii 


.Mr.  15.  'P.  (Jaiilt  writes  1110:  "In  nortlicastoni  Illinois  tlio  niarslics  of  tlic 
CahniK't  ami  i'"ox  Lake  r(''::i()Ms  used  to  ho  favorite  resort.s  of  these  hinls.  1  have 
alwa\s  found  them   iiestiu'''  in  the   tall   wild 


ice  {iTowin;;'  auuiidantu-  in  tlieso 


th 


th 


localities.  Each  nest  was  attached  to  several  such  stalks,  at  a  luMjiht  of  2  or  15 
teet  above  the  siirfact!  of  the  water,  and  usually  in  a  jilace  where  it  was  almost 
out  tif  tlu!  ([Ui'Stion  to  use  a  boat  to  good  advantai^c^  and  (piite  daniicroiis  if  not 


UU} 


)ossi 


ble  t 


I)  wade. 


.Mr.  .1.  \y.  Preston  ina.Ues  the  followino  remarks 


T\ 


lese  nirds  suarni  m 


the 


numerous  swamps  of  northwestern  Iowa.     In  one  small  tract  of  water  cane  I 
have  seen  over  a  thousand  nests  built  amonj^'the  stalks,  and  sometimes  so  closelv 

s  are  cunninj^ly  woven  into  clum|»s  ol'  last 


as 


to   touch  each  other.     'These  nests 


seasons  cane,  and 


u'e  ( 


lioice  bits  of  bird  architecture 


r 


Uf  mati'i'ials  utilized 


are  o 


Id  blades  of  sedj 


'•(■s  and 


■asses  brou"' 


■lit  fr 


■oni  .shallow  water  and  used  wet. 


1   lia\c  coucealeil  mvself  amoii"'  them  and   watched  the   femah^  uatheriii"'  tl 


materials,  w 


Iiicl 


1  sUe  do( 


eisurc'lv  manner,  dist 


(lUl' 


■iiich 
her.     Tlu^  lu'st  is  jilaced  from  (I  inclies  to  .'5  feet  above  the  water." 


le 

as  do  not  suit 


.V 


moni-' 


tile  extensive  tule  marshes  borclerinj''  .Malheur  Lake,  ( )reL;'oii.  I  ha\( 


seen  hundreds  of  these  jjirds  nestiny.  Here  the  nests  \\ere  all  secui'eK  fastened 
to  si'\-eral  tall  Uile  stems,  or  to  rushes  from  10  to  30  inches  above  the  water 
level.  Some  resenibl(>(l  inverteil  ctnies,  and  measured  as  iiiuch  as  H  or  10  inches 
in  outer  depth;  the  majority,  however,  were  not  nearly  so  deep.    A  well-}ireserved 


nest  now 


•fore  me,  \o.  •iO'_';5;5,  I'aited  Htates  National  Museum  collection,  tak 


on  Jiiiu!  .'5,  1S7(),  near  .Malheur  Lake,  measures  exteriorh'  A  inches  in  deiith  1)\- 


-,i. 


inciies  m  outer  diametei 


Tlu'  inner  cup  is  2\  inches  deep  by  2'{  incia 


S  Ml 


diamete 
pieces  ( 


The   outside  of  the  nest  is  composed  of  coarse  marsh   jji'rasses  and 


:ftul 


an( 


1  rusl 


islies,  w 


user 


th 


1  tol 
1 


)ind 


liese  materials  tojiethei 


Inch 
th 


are  woven  toiictlier  wiule  wt 


,hil( 


't,  but 


no  mud  IS 


le  111 


use  heni'i-  utili/ed  m  a  drv  static 


;   tl 

The  nest,  al 


ner  cup  is  line(|  with  iiner  firasse; 


liou;;li  laru'i'  and   oulkv. 


wails  o\cr  an  mch   thu 


i~  (lUite  liiilit,  but  still  strnu<;'  and  diir 


withstand 


ti 


ibl 


e  enon 


it!) 
f^h  to 


u- 


lieav\-  ji-ales  w 


hicl 


1  occasionallv  swrcii  o\er  tliesi 


th 


ake 


I   lia\e  seen  oiih   the  lemale  laiild 


my 


d  doubt  if  I 


lailow  inland 


ic  male  assists  to 


an\"  n'reat  extent   in   viiis   lai)or,  but  he  does  not  al)andnn   his   mate  (hirinij'  tl 


le 


season  ot  incubation,  as 


I 


a\e  seen  it  stated:    for,  althoii; 


■hi 


le  may  not  assist  in 


th 

th 


lese  duties,  he  is  ncer  far  awa\'.      It  takes  about  a  week  to  build  a  nest. 


aiK 


i'X  are  tre(|uentlv  not  use(l  tor  a  \\t.'vk  or  more  a 


ifter  1 


leiny-  finished.      Ii 


more  xiiitliern  parts  ot   it> 


b 


.lit 


raii"-e  nidilication  iisumII\    Im  :;ins  duriii!. 


he 


last  ten  d; 


Mi 


\'.  and   IS  at  its  heijiiit  li\'  the  iiii 


th 


A  .] 


w 


it(dicwaii  and  still  fartliir 


no 


•th  it 


is  pro 


tractecl  to  the  latte 


r  iia 


I' 


while  in  .Sas- 
ol  this  month. 


.Ml'.   H.   .\lacl''arlaiie  took  fre.sh  eii'fi's   in   th"  \iciiiity  of  t'nmiiei  land    llniise  on 
.iiine  ;50,  1H!I(). 

I'"ro;,   two  to  five  ('"irs  are  laid  to  a  set,  usualh'  four;  and  1  !)e!ie\ c,  throii'iii- 


oiit  the  iioiiliern  parts  ot    its  raiii.>;e  at  least,  only  a  single  Urood  is  raided  in  a 


d 


season;    an  cij'l;'  is  depositeu  ( 


laily. 


■''fin 


THE  YELLOW  IIUADKI)  HLACKIURI). 


449 


Tncul)!ition,  as  luiarly  i;s  I  hii'<'  bemi  iihlu  to  awnrtain,  lasts  alioiit  fourteen 
days,  and  tlie  youn<^-  are  able  to  leave  the  nest  in  about  sixteen  days  after 
hatching. 

Hy  the  1st  of  Auf^ust  the  Yellow-hoadeil  Blackbirds  have  fj^athered  into 
larf'G  Hocks  and  then  roam  about  in  search  of  }>()od  feeding  grounds.  'I'hey  fly 
in  compact  masses  and  at  tliis  tinu*  associat(f  to  some  extent  with  Brewer's  and 
the  Ived-winged  Blackbirds.  By  tlu?  middle  of  October  they  gradiudly  disajtpear 
ivlongthe  northern  borders  of  their  range  and  move  southward,  wintering  in  our 
soutluvestern  States  and  in  northern  Mexico. 

The  i^ggs  of  the  Yellow-headed  Blackbird  vary  in  siiai)e  from  ovate  to  ellip- 
tical anil  elongate  ovate;  the  shell  is  finely  granulated,  strong,  and  rather  glossy. 
The  ground  color  varies  from  grayish  white  to  pale  greeni.sli  white,  and  this  is 
profusely  and  pietty  (evenly  blotched  and  speckled  over  the  entire  surface  with 
ditferent  shades  of  l)rowns,  ciiuiamon  rufous,  ecru  drab,  aiul  pearl  gra}'.  The 
markings  are  usually  heaviest  al)out  the  larger  end  of  tliti  egg,  and  sometimes  a 
specimen  is  met  with  which  shows  a  few  tine,  hair-like  tracings,  like  those  tV)und 
on  the  eggs  of  the  Orioles. 

The  average  measr  ement  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-four  eggs  in  the  United 
States  National  Museum  collection  is  25.83  by  17.!)2  millimetre.s,  or  about  1.02 
by  0.71  inches.  The  largest  i'<i;'^  in  the  series  measures  28.11(1  by  1!).81  millime- 
tres, or  1.14  b}'  0.78  inches;  the  smallest,  23.11  by  17.53  millimetres,  or  O.'Jl  by 
O.C!)  inch. 

The  tyj)e  specimen,  No.  20233  (PI.  f!,  Fig.  10),  from  a  set  of  three,  wa.s 
taken  l)y  the  writer  at  Malheur  Lake,  near  Camp  Harney,  ( h'egtm,  on  Juno  3, 
1S7(),  and  i-i'itresents  one  of  the  coarser  marked  a!id  larger  eggs;  Nos.  25028 
and  25030  (1*1.  (i,  Figs.  11  and  12),  l)oth  from  sets  of  four,  taken  by  Dr.  Fdgar 
A.  i\Iearus,  Fnited  States  Army,  near  Fort  Snelling,  Minnesota,  .May  27,  1891, 
represent  tiie  liner  and  mont  common  styles  of  markings,  and  show  the  variations 
in  size  as  well,  the  former  showing  also  a  few  hair  lines  which  are  not  often 
found  on  the  eggs  of  this  species. 


wm 


II: 


174.     Agelaius  phoeniceus  (Linnaeus). 

Ki:i)-WlN(!i;i)  ItLACKlilUD. 

Oriolns  phwiiivt'itu  LiNN,Kt\S.  Systemii  Natiinc,  cd.  12,  F,  1T()(!,  KJl. 
Aijehiiu.s  phaiiicciin  awM^tioti,  I''iiuiiu  Borculi  .Vinericaiiii,  II,  1831,280. 

(H  401,  C  212,  R  201,  C  310,  U  lOS.) 

(iKodHAi'uicAi,  K  iNoi', :  Tciiipcriite  Nortli  AiiiiMica;  north  in  tlio  oiistorn  parts  nf 
tiic  Diimiiiiou  of  <'aiiii(ia  to  abiiul  latiiiulc  1!)'^;  in  the  inlcrior  to  (Jr^'at  .Slave  Lake  and 
l''"!'  Hinipson,  Northwest  Territory  to  about  latitude  02^  N.;  iiiul  on  tlu'  I'acitic  Coast,  as 
;;..•  as  ivuown,  to  soutluun  IJritisli  Columbia.  t"outh  in  winter  to  Costa  Kica,  Central 
America.     Accidental  in  Hn^huid,  Italy,  etc. 

T'.e  breeding  range   of    the   Red-winged    Blackbird,   also  known   as   the 
"Swam[)"  and  ''Marsh"  Blackl)ird,  is  netu'ly  coextensive  with  its  geographical 
distribution  both  in  the  United  States  and  the  Dominion  of  Canada.      It  is  one  of 
it;x!H>— No.  ;t — lit 


'!   S 


i  ■ 

m 

W- 

p- 

-  i' 

Il- 

■J 

■VI       ■' 

'•  "i ' 

ls  1- 

■ '    '  1    ■ 

450 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


the  coinraoiiost  and  best-known  birds  witliin  onr  borders,  breeding  in  all  suitable 
localities  tliroujilioiit  the  entire  country,  exceptiniif  the  extronie  southern  portions 
of  tlu!  Florida  peninsula  and  adjacent  keys,  the  lower  Itio  Grande  Valley  in 
Texas,  the  lower  (JoliM'ado  Valley,  the  southern  jjortious  of  Arizona,  and  the 
greater  part  of  California  west  of  the  Sicjrra  Ncvadas,  when!  it  is  replaced  by 
closely  allied  forms.  Beyond  onr  northern  border  it  breeds  throughout  the 
more  temperate  portions  of  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  attaining  the  most  northern 
jxtints  of  its  range  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Simpson,  on  the  Mac-kenzie  River, 
and  along  the  shores  of  (Ireat  Slave  Lake,  in  the  Northwest  'I'erritorx';  while 
on  the  Pacific  Coast,  as  far  as  I  am  aware,  it  has  not  been  noted  farther  north 
than  in  the  southern  portions  of  l?ritisli  Cohunbia,  which  seems  to  mark  the 
limit  of  its  range  in  tlu..  direction.  lOiiornious  flocks  of  these  birds  winter  in 
the  Southern  and  some  of  the  Middle  States,  but  the  majority  perhaps  pass 
farther  south,  (extending  their  migrations  into  Mexic(»,  and  sometimes  to  Costa 
liica.  Central  America. 

The  U(Hi-winged  Blackbird  is  eminently  sociable  in  its  habits,  and  generally 
moves  about  in  large,  compact  Hocks,  except  during  the  breeding  season,  when 
it  scatters  into  small  colonies,  and  sometimes  into  single  |)airs. 

It  usuilly  arrives  in  the  .Middle  Stiiles  about  March  15,  moving  slowly 
northward,  and  by  the  last  of  April  most  of  the  birds  are  Cftabli.shed  on  their 
l)reeding  grounds,  the  males  ])receding  tiio  females  several  days. 

Fts  favorite  haunts  are  moist  meadows  adjoining  the  banks  of  small  creeks 
and  streams,  boggy  spring  holes  and  ponds  bordered  by  clumps  of  cat-tails, 
Hags,  rushes,  and  rank  weeds,  low  islands  covered  with  marsh  grasses  and  a  few 
willow  and  alder  bushes,  and  particvdarly  the  large  and  extensive  tule-boidered 
lakes  of  the  interior.  As  the  mating  season  arrives  the  males  become  very 
demonstrative  in  their  attentions  to  their  prospective  mates,  and  their  not 
umnelodious  "conk-qne-reeh,  conk-(pie-reeh"  may  be  heard  in  all  directitms.  A 
call  note  like  "tch-cwee,  tch-ewee,"  an  energetic  "tchiick,  tchiick,"  or  "diick, 
diick,"  and  a,  long-drawn-out,  clear  whistle  like  "zhee-hee,  zhee-hee,"  are  also 
fre(iuently  uttered  at  this  time. 

AVhile  the  food  of  the  Ked-winged  Blackbird  consists  to  some  extent  of  Indian 
corn,  rice,  wheat,  and  oats,  it  also  feeds  on  many  of  the  seeds  of  noxious  weeds, 
like  the  ragweed  and  smartweed;  and  it  destroys  large  numbers  of  cutworms 
and  injurious  insects  and  their  lar\'a\  In  many  of  the  ])rairie  States  it  does  an 
inunense  auKnint  of  good  by  feeding  on  the  myriads  of  locusts  which  overrun 
the  c(.nntry  at  times,  as  well  as  on  their  eggs  when  tin-ued  up  by  the  plow. 
Small  moUu.sks  and  m  nts  also  enter  into  their  bill  of  fare,  as  well  as  wild 
berries  in  tlieir  season,  and  in  some  of  the  Southern  States  they  an;  said  to  feed 
on  the;  seeds  of  tlie  pine.  In  .southea.stern  Oregon  1  have  seen  them  feed  on  an 
Ephemera,  locally  called  "^lay"  or  ".salmon"  fly,  which  makes  its  appearance 
there  about  .Tune  1  in  countless  numbers. 

While  tli(>  Hed-winged  iilackbird  nndoubteilly  does  niore  or  less  damage  in 
some  of  our  farming  regions — for  in::tauce,  to  yoiuig  corn  just  sprouting,  and 


THE  EEDWINGED  BLACKBIRD. 


461 


ndiau 
voeds, 
worms 
oes  au 
voiTiin 

plow. 
s  wiltl 
to  t'et'd 

on  iUi 
;arauce 

lao-c  in 
ig-,  and 


ai^aiii  when  it.  is  in  tho  milk,  find  in  the  rice  plantations  in  the  Sontli — it  likewise 
does  a  great  doal  of  good,  and,  excepting  sections  where  it  congro<;atcs  in 
large  nnmbers,  it  is  safe  to  assert  that  tho  good  done  by  it  thronghont  tho  year 
far  ovor])alan('ps  tho  harm.  Tho  young  are  fed  almost  oxtilusivoly  on  insects, 
and  enormous  lunnbers  are  required  to  feed  them. 

Tho  nesting  season  varies  somewhat  in  different  sections  of  its  range.  In 
same  parts  of  the  South  full  sets  of  eggs  have  been  found  as  early  as  the  first 
week  in  Apr.',  wlnle  in  others  nidilication  begins  fully  a  month  later.  In  the 
northern  half  of  the  United  States  it  is  at  its  heijrht  from  Mav  15  to  Juno  la,  and 
occasionally  fresh  eggs  are  found  more  than  a  month  later,  these  probably  being- 
second  broods.  At  Fort  Ues(dution,  on  Great  Slave  Lake,  full  sets  have  Ix'en 
taken  on  Juno  7  by  Messrs.  Robert  Kennicott  and  James  Lockhart.  In  the 
West  I  found  the  Red-winged  Ulackbird  common  throughout  Washington, 
Oregon,  Idaho,  Montana,  and  Nevaila,  and  it  breeds  more  or  less  abundantly 
in  all  suitable  localities  throughout  this  region. 

Mr.  II.  P.  Lawrence  observed  large  flocks  of  Blackbirds,  consisting  of  this 
species,  the  Ricolored,  and  Brewer's  Black! )irds,  near  the  (!ohnnbia  River,  below 
Vancouver,  Washington,  but  they  appear  to  become  rarer  near  tho  coast.  At 
Fort  Walla  Walla,  Wa.shington,  a  little  colony  nested  in  a  swampy  thicket  close 
to  the  Post,  at  an  unusually  early  date,  April  20,  1881,  and  tho  majority  of  the 
nests  contained  full  sets  of  eggs  at  that  time,  while  at  Camp  Ilarney,  Oregon, 
about  2.")0  miles  farther  south,  nidilication  began  about  a  month  later. 

The  nests  resemble  those  of  tho  preceding  species  in  general  construction, 
but  average  a  trifle  smaller.  They  are  usually  placed  in  bunches  of  reeds,  rushes, 
or  small  bushes,  from  a  few  inches  to  sever>  I  feet  above  the  ground,  and  occa- 
sionall}-  in  a  tussock  of  rank  grass  directly  on  tho  groimd,  mostly  in  swampy 
places  close  to  water,  and  rarely  any  great  <listanco  away.  Now  and  then 
a  nest  may  bo  found  placed  in  the  forks  of  willow,  elder,  and  alder  bushes, 
from  10  to  1,")  feet  from  th(!  ground.  The  ni.st  is  always  securely  attached  to 
several  of  last  year's  reed  and  grass  stems  or  to  small  branches  of  bushes;  the 
materials  composing  it  vary  considerably  in  bulk,  they  are  used  in  a  wet  state, 
and  consist  of  ditVert  nt  kinds  of  coarse  niar.sh  grass,  eel  grass,  and  strips  of  rotten 
willow  and  sagebrush  bark,  as  well  as  of  liner  grasses.  They  are  usually  lined 
with  tine  grass  tops,  and  occasionally  with  horsehair. 

An  average  nest  measures  from  4.J  to  5  inches  in  outer  diameter,  and  from 
3^  to  (5  inches  in  depth;  the  inner  cup  is  from  2.J  to  3  inches  in  diameter,  and 
about  tho  same  in  depth;  it  takes  about  a  week  to  complete  a  nest  and  for  it  to 
become  sufficiently  dry  to  bo  used.  Jlr.  W.  E.  Grover  found  the  Red-winged 
Blackbirds  breeding  in  considerable  nuinbers  on  Galveston  Island,  Texas,  tho 
nests  being  gen(;rally  placed  in  salt  cedars  or  in  Cherokee  rosebushes.  Ono  of 
tho  nests  sent  by  him  to  the  United  States  National  Museum  collection  had  quite 
a  quantity  of  snake  exuviic  incorporated  in  its  walls,  a  rather  unusual  building 
nniterial  for  this  species. 


■••riiUJii 


'I, I-  V)  .'■.i'f 


i      ' ,      ''- 
■  <     ••■!.■, 


i'';^'.^' J 


452 


LIFIC  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


Mr.  I).  C.  li(«inl  sent  iim  a  ])li(>t<»f;'riii)li  ot  a  iiwst  of  this  spocies  takcni  near 
Flnsliin^r,  Loiin-  Islnnd,  Now  York,  wliicli  was  Imilt  directly  on  oiio  ot'  tlin  lion^- 
))ilk'(l  Marsii  Wren,  Chfothonix  jiiilnsli-'is ,-  hutli  lU'sts  were  occupied  and  contained 
e<j;'<^'s  when  taken.  The  Cowliird  inijuwes  occasionally  on  this  species.  'I'he 
imniber  of  cf^fi's  laid  to  a  set  varies  from  t\V(»  to  six,  and  one  is  laid  daily  luitil 
th(i  set  is  coin]ileted.  Sets  of  three  and  foiu"  an;  most  often  found;  in  the  more 
sdiitliern  portii>ns  of  its  range  three  pre(himinate,  whih*  farther  north  foiu'  are 
tlui  nsual  coniiilemeut.  Sets  of  live  are  uuconnnon,  iind  thos(!  of  six  are  very 
rare.  Only  a  single  brood  is  usually  reared  throughout  the  greater  jjortion  of 
tlioir  riuige. 

lncul)ation  hists  al)out  two  weeks,  and  tlie  yoiuig  are  able  to  leaA'e  the  nest 
in  al)out  sixteen  days.  As  soon  as  they  ar(^  larger  enough  to  pi'ovide  for  tiieni- 
selves  they  gather  into  small  companies  and  roam  ov(!r  tiie  country.  In  August 
and  Sejjtember  tlu^y  ciingregato  in  larger  tlocks,  containing  many  thousands,  and 
at  which  time  they  fre(|uently  do  considerable  damage  in  certain  favorite  resorts. 

The  eggs  of  the  lve(l-winge<l  Hlackl)ird  are  mosth,- o\ati'  in  shape;  the  shell 
is  strong,  linely  granulated,  and  moderately  glossy.  The  ground  color  is  usually 
pale  bluish  gr<'eii,  and  tliis  is  occasionally  more  or  less  clouded  with  a  |)ale 
smoke-gray  sulfusion.  They  are  spotted,  blotched,  marbled,  ami  streakeil,  mostly 
about  tlu-  larger  end,  with  ditl'ereiit  shades  of  black,  brown,  drab,  and  heliotropes 
|)urple,  presenting  great  variation  in  the  amount,  character,  and  style  of  markings. 
Occasionally  an  entirely  unspotted  vij;',!;  is  found. 

The  average  measurement  of  three  hundred  and  eighty  eggs  in  th(i  United 
States  National  Museum  collection  is  24.Xt>  by  17..^).")  millimetres,  or  about  (i.'.(.S 
1)\-  ().(!'.)  inch.  The  largest  egg  in  tiie  series  measures  27. '.(4  by  I'.I.O,")  millime- 
tres, or  l.lo  by  0.7.")  inches;  the  smallest,  20.57  by  15.75  luillimetres,  or  0.81  l)y 
0.(i2  inch. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  15037  (I'l.  ti.  Fig.  1.3),  collected  by  Dr.  Elliott  Cones 
near  Fort  Macon,  North  Carolina,  .Iiua^  12,  l.S(il»,  represents  an  egg  in  which  the 
ground  color  is  almost  hidden,  while  No.  201IJ!)  (Pl.  6,  Fig.  14),  from  a  set  of 
four  eggs,  I'nMidire  collection,  taken  by  the  writer  on  April  27,  ISSI,  near  Fort 
Walla  Walla,  Washington,  represents  a,  handsome  and  well-marked  i."^<j;.  No. 
2()ino  (I'l.  (I,  Fig.  15),  from  a  set  of  three  eggs  taken  by  Dr.  E.  A.  Mearns, 
Fnited  States  Army,  near  Fort  Clark,  Te.xas,  on  ,Fuly  5,  ISil.H,  rejn-e.sents  another 
tyije,  intermediati^  between  the  two  previously  mentioned. 

The  style  of  markings  selected  for  the  ty])es  of  Ai/elniiis  gtihernator  and 
Ai/clahifi  tricolor  ap[)ly  likewise  to  eggs  of  this  sjiecies  and  would  answer  equally 
well  for  them. 


TIIK  SONOUAN  lti;i>VVlN(J. 


4.'53 


"  •>!  IS 

■    'i 
.1  :it 

175-     Agelaius  phccniceus  sonoriensis  Kidciway. 

SONDKAN  KKIJWINO. 

Agelaius phanicciin  Hniiori'nsis  KiixiWAY,  AraniiiU  Nortli  Ainericiin  Itinls,  I8S7,  ;{T(». 
(B401,  part;  V  212,  part;  E201,  part;  C  MCt,  part;  I'  l!l.S.») 

GEoiMtAiMiM'Ai,  RANCH"-:  Nortlii'ru  Mt!xico  and  contifiiioiis  borders  of  the  TTnited 
States,  from  tlie  lower  Itio  (irande  Valley,  in  Texas,  and  Soiitliern  Arizon.i  w(>st  to  the 
lower  Colorado  \'alley,  Calil'ornia. 

Till'  Scniorau  IJcdwin^'  is  distinofuisliiiblcf  troni  tin'  (iiinmon  Hcd-winifod 
]?lackl)ird  liy  tin-  liji'litcr  colors  ot"  the  t'ciiialc,  its  siindlcr  liill,  and  its  sonu'wliat 
larj;or  size.  Its  hrocdin^'  rau^n  in  tliu  Ihiiti'd  States  is  conlincd  to  onr  cxtroniu 
southern  lutrder. 

Five  siieeiniens,  threes  males  and  two  females,  now  in  tin'  I'nited  States 
National  Miisemn  <'olleetion,  taken  by  Dr.  dames  ('.  Meri'ill,  I'uited  States  Army, 
at  Fort  Hrown,  Texas,  are  ret'erahle  to  this  snlisjieeies.  The  last  two  were 
taken  on  February  17  and  March  111,  1S77,  hnt  there  are  im  dates  on  the  labels 
attached  to  the  males.  There  are  also  several  sets  ol"  ejifi's  in  the  I'nited  States 
National  Museum  collection,  taken  by  the  Doctor  at  the  same  place  on  May  1, 
1877,  which  are  presuMnibly  referable  to  tliis  race.  These  are  indistini:uishal)le 
from  tho.s(jof  the  Ued-wiuf^ed  Blackbirds,  but  as  they  are  not  al)sohitely  identilied 
I  have  not  lijjiu'ed  aii\'  of  them;   thex'  averaj^c  a  trille  snndler. 

A  colony  of  Ued-winji'cd  Blackl)irds  (in  all  |trobabilit\  ot'  this  sul)S])ecies) 
nested  at  the  sink  of  the  Santa  Cruz  Ifiver,  anntuj^-  the  tla^s  and  cat-tail  rushes 
in  the  laiiuna,  '.I  n\iles  northwest  of  M'ucson,  Arizona,  in  the  sprino- of  1S72,  but 
1  did  not  take  any  of  their  e^i'ofs,  siipposin^i'  them  to  be  the  connnon  eastern  Ived- 
winji'ed  Blackbird,  which  the\'  closel\-  resemble  in  all  their  habits  jiiul  actions. 
They  appear  to  be  resident  there,  as  I  noticed  sonu'  at  all  sca-mis  id'  the 
year  around  m\'  camp  on  Killito  ( 'i-eek,  which  they  often  visited,  in  company 
with  other  Itirds,  pickino-  up  scattered  firain  at  the  picket  line  to  wiiich  my 
horses  were  tied  at  niylit. 

There  are  no  ]iositively  identilied  e^ofs  i>(  this  subspecies  in  tic  United 
States  National  Museum  collection,  but  thev  undoul)tedl\  resemble  those  of  the 
lieil-wiuged  Blackbird  so  closely  as  to  be  practically  indistinguishable. 


176.     Agelaius  phoeniceus  bryanti  KiixiwAv. 

liAUAMAN  i;i:nwiN(i. 

AijelaiuH  phwnivciix  hrj/niili  liinowAv,  Manual  N(U'tli  American  Mirds,  1SS7,  .".7(t. 
(I!  1(11,  part;  0  212,  i)art;  K  2t!I,  part;  V.  ;!10,  part;  l'  4it.S/,.) 

(Jkoghai'HICAI,  liAN(iK:  The  lialiaiaa  Island  ;,  \V(^st  rndies,  tlu"  .soiuhern  portions  of 
tlie  I'lorida  peninsula  and  the  adjacent  keys:  west  casually  ?  to  the  (ialf  I'oast  of  Louis!- 
ai.a^bake  lior^'ue);  south  to  Vueatan  and  Niearafjua,  Oentral  America. 

The  breeding'  raufic  of  the  Bahannni  IJedwinii' in  the  Unitc<l  States  extends 
thmuo'h  the  soutlit^rn  |)ortions  of  the  I'^loi-icla  peninsula  (the  Kxci'^lades)  and  the 


'•a- 


l^';  !,*■*■■''*.' 


454 


LIFE  1JI8TORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIHI)8. 


iidjiircnt  keys,  north,  iis  far  as  known,  to  Matanzas  Inlet,  and  ]iossil)ly  along 
the  (jiilf  coast  to  Louisiana. 

There  is  a  sjiccinien  in  the  United  States  National  ^Inseuni  collection,  taken 
nt  l^ake  liorgne,  Louisiana,  showing  all  of  the  characteristics  of  this  race, 
which  is  distinguiHhal)l('  from  tin*  common  l?ed-winp('d  IJlackhird  1)y  its  larger 
and  sharper  bill  and  smaller  size.  First  Lieut.  Wirt  Robinson,  Fourth  Artillery, 
United  States  Army,  found  this  .sul)si)ecies  breeding  abundantly  at  Matanzas 
Inlet,  and  .secured  several  skins  which  an*  referable  to  it. 

Mr.  (!.  J.  Maynard,  in  his  IJii'ds  (tf  Florida,  describes  the  habitat  and  nesting 
hal)its  of  tlui  Haliaman  Redwing  as  follows: 

"  'i'he  Avidi'spread  marshes  of  the  Everglades  of  Florida  are  covered  with 
a  luxuriant  growth  of  tall  grass,  which  attains  to  tlai  height  of  .">  or  e\en  (!  feet. 
'Plu'.se  vast  i)lains  form  the  homes  of  hundreds  of  Red-winged  IMackbirds,  and 
there  they  also  breed.  As  the  grass  is  submerged  in  at  least  a  foot  of  water  in 
the  spring,  the  Blackbirds  are  obliged  to  suspend  their  nests  near  the  tops  of  the 
stout  stalks,  of  which  they  bring  several  together,  weaving  the  leaves  in  the  nests 
and  around  them  in  order  to  make  them  secure.  The  Everglades  are  seldom 
free  froin  wind,  which  often  blows  a  gale,  waving  the  grass  back  and  forth 
furiously,  so  that  the  binls  are  forced  to  l)uild  exceedingly  compact  structures 
or  they  will  be  blown  to  j)ieces.  The  nests  are  therefore  made  of  the  leaves  of 
the  coarse  saw  grass  which  abounds,  neatly  and  Hrmly  woven  together.  The 
swaying  motion  to  which  their  domiciles  are  constantly  subjected  has  a  t  Midency 
to  throw  the  eggs  out,  and  would  were  it  not  that  the  birds,  who  lia\e  doubt- 
lessly been  taught  by  the  experiene(*  of  former  gi-nerations,  build  their  nests 
very  deep,  and,  not  content  with  this,  they  make  them  more  secure  by  contract- 
ing the  entrance  so  much  that  it  is  imjiossible  tor  the  eggs  to  fall  out  e\en  when 
the  grass  bends  >^^^  that  the  tops  touch  the  watei\  I  discovered  the  first  nests 
in  that  locality  on  the  )Sth  of  A{)ril,  and  they  each  contained  three  eggs,  which  I 
afterwards  found  were  all  that  were  ever  deposited.  These,  contrary  to  tlu*  rule 
among  birds  which  lay  a  less  niimber  of  eggs  in  the  South  than  in  th(j  North, 
were  proportionately  smaller  when  compared  with  New  England  specimens. 

"May  1  of  that  season  founil  me  standing  on  one  of  the  small  outer  keys, 
aljout  lltO  mih'S  south  of  the  ])oint  last  described.  This  islet,  like  nii'uy  others, 
contained  a  small  lagoon  in  tlie  center,  around  which  was  a  belt  of  land  that 
supported  a  ninnber  of  trees,  mainly  the  kinds  known  as  "  button 'vood"  and 
"mangrove.'"  There  were  a  large  number  fif  Red-winge<l  iilackl)irds  breeding 
on  this  key;  but  I  was  ])uzzle(i  to  lind  the  nests,  for  1  coidil  not  see  tliiiii  in  the 
trees,  and  there  wen*  no  laishes  or  gi'ass.  After  watching  them  attentivi'K'  f(ir 
a  few  moments  1  saw  a  female  emerge  from  a  small  liole  in  a  buttonwood  ti'ee, 
not  far  from  ihe  ground,  and,  cliMd)inp'  up  to  it,  discovered  the  nest,  ivhich  was 
built  like  that  of  a  Hluei)ifd.  I  afterwards  found  several  in  similar  jthuH's,  all 
containing  eggs.  For  a  time  I  could  not  understand  wiiy  the  l)irds  had  cho^en 
these  novel  situations  for  homes,  but  tlu*  'ha-ha'  of  a,  group  of  Fi.sh  Crows 
helped  to  enlighten  me;  for  1  kiu'W  that  the  ])re(lat(a-y  habits  uf  the  latter-named 
species  renders  the  eggs  of  all  birds  unsafe  if  e.xjtosed,  unless  the  owners  are 


Tni<:  BAIIAMAN  BEUWING. 


455 


snflicioiitly  utrourp  to  protect  tliem,  and  wliat  tlio  llodwinf^s  lack  in  stronotli  tlicy 
make  up  in  cunnin;;',  an  tliey  placed  their  treasures  where  it  was  impossible  tor 
their  enemies  to  j-'et  at  them."' 

In  the  Ralph  collection  of  e<^gs  are  three  sets  tak(!n  near  Lake  Worth, 
Florida,  in  the  sprinj;'  of  1S1)4,  Avhich  are  undouhtedly  referal)le  to  this  suhspct- 
cies.  They  are  smaller  than  the  e^'fi's  of  the  U(Ml-\vin<;cd  Mlackhird,  eijiht 
s})ecimens  averaj>in<^-  2"_M!>  by  l(!.7(j  millimetres,  or  about  O.ST  liy  o.dil  inch.  I 
liave  not  tij^'in-ed  a  specimen,  as  they  iU'c  in;Iistin<^uishal)le  from  those  of  the 
Ked-wiuged  Blackbird  excejit  by  their  smaller  size. 


■PI 


177.     Agelaius  gubernator  (Waoi.ek). 

UK  (il.(ilii;ii  lil.ACKItlHl). 

PmrncoUus  fj\thernaior  Waoler,  Isis,  IV,  l«3l',  281. 

Ayelaiita  gubernator  Uonai'AUTE,  (ie();;ru|>liical  and  Compreueiisivc  hist,  IMJJS,  29. 

(B  402,  0  212«,  K  201rt,  G  317,  U  499.) 

GEOORAi'niCAL  RANOK:  Pacific  Coast  districts,  from  wpstcru  Wasbiiigtoii  aoiitli 
through  western  Orejjoii,  and  California,  west  of  tiie  Cascade  .Monntains  iind  the  Sleriii 
Nevadas  to  Lower  California  and  Mexico.  Casually  to  western  Xevada  and  southeastern 
Cidiforuia  (Inyo  Connty). 

The  l)reeilin<>' rano'c  of  the  Ricolored  or  Crimson-shouldered  Blackbird  seems 
to  be  a.  rather  contracted  one.  This  species  was  first  obtained  in  the  I'nited 
(■'dates  by  Mr.  .1.  K.  Townsend,  on  the  lower  (_!olinnl)ia  Uiver,  and  its  hid)itat 
api»ears  to  l)e  mainly  restricted  to  the  regions  west  of  the  Cascade  Mountains 
in  Washinjiton  and  Oretron  anil  w'est  of  the  Sierra  Nevadas  in  California.  Mr. 
Walter  K.  Bryant  reports  it  as  breeding-  near  Kl  Kosario,  in  Lower  ( 'alifornia. 
A  few  specimens  have  been  taken  at  points  east  of  the  Sierra  Nevadas,  where  it 
has  been  reported  as  breeding  near  lieiio  and  idong  tlu^  Truckee  lvi\cr,  Nevada. 
1  have  also  reported  it  as  nesting  in  the  vicinity  (d'Camjt  Harney,  <  )reg(ai,  but  I 
am  now  fully  convinced  that  1  was  mistaken  in  my  iileiitiiiciition  of  this  s|)ecies, 
and  it  seems  more  than  probable  that  the  other  reiia-ds  are  also  iiuestionable. 

It  is  a  very  easy  nuitter  to  make  such  misideiitihcations,  especially  in  speci- 
mens not  fully  adtdt,  and,  after  a  careful  study  of  the  subject,  I  now  believe  that 
this  species  does  not  Vjreed  anywhere  east  of  these  momitains,  in  the  st>-called 
"Great  liasin  region." 

The  Bicolored  Blackl)ird  seems  to  b  :  tetty  general^'  di  l.i])Uted  tlnvMigh- 
out  such  portions  of  the  State  of  Calif'ori.i.>,  west  of  the  Sierr.r  Ne\  adiis,  as  are 
ada})ted  to  its  needs,  wdierever  water  is  abundant.  It  a|)pears  t  lie  naa-e  com- 
mon in  the  interior  than  in  the  innnediate  vicinity  of  the  coast.  It  is  especially 
numerous  in  the  Sacramenti)  and  San  .loacpiin  valleys,  and  many  of  these  bird-; 
winter  there.  Mr.  Charles  A.  Allen  writes  me  that  it  arrives  on  its  breeding 
grounds  in  ^farin  County,  t'aliforiua,  early  in  ]\Iarch,  where  it  breeds  abun- 
dantly near  Olema,  as  well  as  in  Yolo  and  Lake  counties. 

'  }!iicl>  (.1   llciriclii,  etc.,  ISSl,  p.  i;ili. 


it 


|i  W' 


,'  >   I 


lite: 

[■■■i, >.■  '1,1 .  I. 


X" 


456 


LIFE  niHTORIHS  OF  NOUTII  AMERICAN  lUKDS. 


Its  <;'»'n('r(il  liiiliifs,  CimkI,  cfill  iidtt'M,  etc.,  jirc  siinilfir  to  tlioHO  of  tlio  Rerl- 
win<;o(l  JUiU'kliinI;  like  this,  it  hrccds  iiinoiifi'  tlic  tiilt',  nislics,  niul  coiirso  ^lass, 
either  in  siiifilc^  jmirs  or  in  cohmit's,  in  or  near  niiirshcs,  phiciny  its  nest  in  tiit'ts 
of  inarsli  frniss  and  rci'ds,  from  1  to ,"{  tcct  aixivc  tho  water,  and  siniihu'  mateiials 
are  nsed  in  its  constrnetioii. 

'I'iu^  ey'fi's,  from  two  to  fonr  in  nnnd»er  (very  rarely  nioic),  reseiimh'  tiiose  of 
tho  Uc'd-win<,'ed  HIackbird,  excepting;'  tliat  they  nrc  ii  trilie  smaller  and  perhaps 
on  an  averaj^e  less  heavily  marked,  lint  otherwise  the  same  description  will 
answer  for  both.  The  I ireedinj^- season  in  ( 'alifornia  hejiins  nsnally  in  the  last 
ten  days  of  April,  and  contiiuu's  thron;;hoiit  May. 

Ordinai'ily,  I  believe,  two  broods  are  raised  in  u  season,  the  yonnjj  of  the  fii'st 
broods  o'iithcrin^'  in  tlocks  as  soon  as  they  are  larj^e  enonji'h  to  cai-e  for  themselves. 

The  averai^'e  measnrement  of  forty-fonr  speeimiois  in  the  United  States 
National  Museum  eoUeetion  is  24.07  by  17.35  millimetres,  or  about  0.!(5  by  0.(!8 
ineh.  The  larji-est  e^'j;'  in  the  series  measures  2(!.42  by  17.7H  millimetres,  or  1.04 
by  0.70  inehes;  the  smallest,  21. 34  by  1(1. 7(1  millimetres,  or  0.H4  by  O.fiO  inch. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  I?")!!!!  (I'l.  (>,  Vv^.  l(i),  from  a  set  of  four,  was  taken 
by  Mr.  Charles  A.  Allen,  near  Nicasio,  Marin  (-(mnty,  (-alifornia,  on  Ajiril  23, 
|H77,  and  represents  a  specimen  with  a  smoky  <>ronnd  color,  while  No.  25351 
(I'l.  G,  Fi};-.  17),  also  from  a  set  of  fonr,  in  the  J{alph  collection,  taken  near  Uleniu, 
California,  on  Auril  23,  1HH4,  represents  one  of  the  ordinary  types. 


178.     Agelaius  tricolor  (Nuttaij.). 

TmCObOKKO  MLACKllIUn. 

Icterm  Irivolor  NuTTALL,  Atidahon's  OrnitholoKiciil  Hiograiiliy,  V,  IS.'JO,  I'l.  .'(SS,  Fi;;.  J. 
AijeUtim  irirolor  IJoNAi'Auri;,  (Icd^iriipliiciil  and  (loinjiarative  List,  l.S.'W,  I'O. 

(H  403,  ('.  2lL'/<,  K  li(i2.  C  ;!1H,  IJ  .")(»(».) 

GKofinAl'ltirAl,  HANfiK:  Sontliwcstcrii  Ori'tjon,  siintli  tliroiifili  Caliloniia.  west  oftlio 
Sierrii  Ncvadas.  to  nortlierii  Lower  ('iilil'ornia. 

The  breediuff  ran},'e  of  the  Tricolored  or  Ived  and  White  Shouldered  lilac.k- 
bird  is  ]»robablv  coextensive  with  its  {reof^Taphical  distribution.  It  ai)pears  to  1)0 
a  resi(h'nt  wherever  found,  and,  as  far  as  1  can  learn,  lias  not  yet  been  rejmrted 
from  ]toints  farther  north  than  Klamath  Lake,  in  southwestern  Oreji'on.  Here 
it  was  fir.st  met  with  by  Dr  .1.  S.  Newberry,  anil  later  by  Dr.  James  C.  Merrill, 
United  States  Army,  who  noticed  a  few  amono-  the  common  ]{ed-win^'ed  Black- 
birds there,  l)Ut  did  not  find  it  breedin<f.  1  failed  to  observe  it  while  stationed  at 
Fort  Klamath,  and  it  is  probably  unconnnon.  It  is  known  to  breed  abundantly 
in  the  interior  valleys  of  CJalifornia,  especially  in  tho  southern  and  central 
jiortions  of  the  State,  but  it  is  not  found  east  of  the  Sierra  Nevadas. 

Mr.  F.  Stephens  writes  to  me:  '^Ai/rlaiiis  tricalur  is  an  abundant  winter  resi- 
dent in  the  larger  valh^ys  of  Los  Anjides  and  ( )ran;i('  counties,  occmrinfi'  here  in 
very  larjro  tiocks.      In   sunnner  it  is   somewhat   rarer,   but  several  colonies  are 


■Ilk.Wghjf.aXMillir'igif^f Jaegw--*  u^^^iw^anw*^ 


m 


:■'  y 


TDK  TliK'OLOKKI)  lthA(M\ltllM). 


4r>< 


kiKiwii  to  iiic  ti)  1)roo(]  ill  tiil<>  iiiiii'slicH  from  hcji  Icvfl  ii|i  in  iin  iiltitudo  of  ^Jt^H\ 


IIH. 


t'ccf.      I  riircly  noticed  it  in  tli''  lii^^'iicr  t'ootliiiis  tinil  iiiuiintjii 

III  Lower  ('ill  i  torn  ill  Mr.  A.  W.  Antlioiiy  ivports  tlic  'I'ricolorcd  MJiickliird: 
"HutluT  coiiiiiioii  idoii^' tlu!  iiortliwost coHHt,  lin'cdiiiji'  in  iill  tVcsh-wi'tcr  iiiiirslics; 
and  in  San  liat'ad  Valk-y  Mr.  L.  Holding'  I'oiind  a  lar^i'c  colonv  iicstinfi'  in  tulen, 
May,  ISS;-.."' 


Mr.  1-.  Middiiifi',  in  hU  inanuHcript  noto.**,  wliicli  lio  kindly  placi'd  at  my  d 


is- 


jioHal,  di'.><crilics  tlic  ia'ci'dinji']ilac('ot'  an  immense  colony  of  tliis  species,  foiinil  by 
liim  on  May  in,  ISTII,  near  Stockton,  ( 'alifoniia,  as  follows:  "I  noticed  a  ili;.;lit 
of  these  liirds,  mostly  females,  coming;'  and  ^'oin;;'  from  and  to  tlie  center  of  an 
(!.\ti'iiHive  tide  marsli  to  a  pasture  some  ;{  miles  distant  from  this  place,  not  in 
compact  flocks,  hut  a  sti'a^'<^liny  llifi'ht  of  individuals,  which  seenu'd  to  move 
independently  of  each  other;  those  i-etiiriiin;^'  were  laden  with  f.Tasshoppers  for 
their  yoiiii}^.  |{y  following,''  the  hirds  I  found  their  nests,  whiidi  were  })laced  in 
last  year's  tide  and  in  a  \i<;drous  jirowth  oi"  that  of  tin-  present  soason.  Thov 
averaj^ed  alioiit  a  nest  to  the  sipiare  yard,  and  these  were  usually  attached  to  the 
tiih^  stems  of  this  and  last  Ncar's  j^rowth,  alioiit  "J  feet,  and  occasioiialh'  onh-  a 
foot,  above  the  water.  I  examined  nearly  a  hiindreil  nests.  The  jyreatest  niimlier 
of  oi'i's  found  in  anv  one  was  three;  the  usual  iiiimlier  was  two,  and  man\'  con- 


tauieil 


liiit 


II  siniile  (■"•"•  or  a  voiiiijj 


bird.      Nolle  of  the  ^■(lllnl!f  were  more  th;m 


w 


eek  old.     'V\ 


le  colonv,  coiisis 


tiiij;- of  many  hundri'ds,  was  apparently  not  tliri\- 
inji';  some  of  the  nests  had  sli|)ped  from  their  moorinji's  and  were  capsized  in  the 
water,  many  youiiii'  were  dead,  and  a  consideraiile  number  of  the  e^'^s  were 
addled;  all  of  ;lie  nests  examined  were  built  without  mud." 

Mv.  11.  W.  ileiishaw  found  a  ctdoiiy  of  these  birds  nesting-  in  a  dry  pasture, 
in  a  jiatcli  of  nettles  and  briars  coverinii'  between  .'5  and  4  acres,  in  the  Santa 
Clara  Valley,  California,  on  June  21,  iHTo.  The  nettles  jirew  so  dense  and  hij;h 
(sometimes  attaininj;'  a  height  of  12  feet)  that  he  found  it  almost  impossible  to 
force  his  way  into  tlieir  midst,  nor  did  he  succeed  in  peiietratiii};'  beyond  a  few 
yards.  He  remarks;  "I  speak  within  boiinils  when  I  sa}' that  two  hundred  pairs 
had  here  conirre^ated  to  rear  their  younj,'',  and  the  oilor  arising;' from  some  portions 
was  almost  as  strong-  as  from  the  ( Jormorant  rookeries.  The  nests  were  there  by 
liundreds,  nearly  every  bush  holdiufj  several.  '^Phese  were,  however,  mostly 
old,  showing;'  that  the  jilace  had  ser\ed  for  a  breedinij-  resort  for  probalily  many 
years.  A  few  of  the  nests  were  this  season's  and  contained  \-ounfi',  none  that  1 
Haw  haviii;;'  e;>';i^s,  though  could  I  have  extended  my  search  some  would  iloulitless 
have  been  found.     The  nests  were  rather  sliyht,  Himsv  structures,  liiit  in  "('neral 


resemblei 


th 


id(^  liy  the  Redwing'  of  the   Kast,  and  were  fasteneil   on  th 


bushes  in  the  same  way.     My  presence  ainoiij;'  them  created  a  j^reat  disturbance, 
1  the  tri'es  were  soon  covered  with  the  panMit  birds,  one  and  all  resentin<r  this 


aiK 

intrusion  on  their 


)ld-ti 


me  possessions  m  no  "'en 


tie  t 


ones.      A  i'vw  davs  later  I 


came  across  an  immens(!  Hock  of  youn<i'  birds  in  the  streaked  nestini^-  ]iliinia<i'e, 


able  to   take   care  of  themselves;   thev  had   i>atliered  thus   to"-eth 


ind  fairh- 


'  Itiids  of  Lowri  Ciilit'iirnia,  Ciilirorniii  A<'iiiU'iny  of  Niituriil  Siiciui's.  \'(il.  11,  IKS'.I,  p.  :;!M. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


2.5 


2.2 


1^ 

14^    112.0 


II 


1.8 


1.25      u    III  16 

^ 6" 

1^ 

Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


73  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  MS80 

(716)  872-4503 


f/ 


^ 


^ 


^ 


ft 


468 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OP  NORTH  AMERICAN  HIRDS. 


covered  several  small  trees  by  the  roadside.  In  all  the  number  there  was  not  n 
single  adult  bird.'" 

The  general  habits,  food,  etc.,  of  the  Tricolored  Blackbird  ave  very  similar 
to  those  of  the  eastern  Redwing,  but  their  notes  are  said  to  bo  cjuito  different. 
The  young  seem  to  be  fed  almost  entirely  on  grasshoppers,  and  an  immense 
number  of  these  insects  must  bo  yearly  destroyed  by  them,  which  fully  counter- 
balances the  trifling  damage  they  may  occasionally  conmiit  in  the  grain  fields. 

From  one  to  four  eggs  are  laid,  sets  of  three  usually  prevailing,  and  two 
broods  are  probably  raised  each  year;  the  breeding  season  appears  to  be  at  its 
height  during  the  first  week  in  May. 

The  eggs  rosoinblo  those  t»f  the  Red-winged  Blackbird  in  shape  and  gen- 
eral style  of  markings,  averaging  a  trifle  smaller,  however;  and  both  the  ground 
color  and  the  markings  appear  (at  least  in  the  majority  of  specimens  before  me) 
to  be  somewhat  i)aler  than  in  tiie  eggs  of  tho  former,  but  there  is  not  suflicient 
diff"orenco  to  require  a  special  description. 

Tiio  average  measurement  of  forty-one  specimens  in  the  United  States 
National  Museum  collecticm  is  23.94  by  17.15  millimetres,  or  about  0.94  by 
0.G7  inch.  The  largest  egg  in  the  series  measures  2().42  bj-^  17.78  millimetres, 
or  1.04  by  0.70  inches;  the  smallest,  21.5!)  by  1().51  millimetres,  or  0.85  by 
0.G5  inch. 

The  type  specimens,  Nos.  25354  and  25356  (PI.  <!,  Figs.  18  and  19),  both 
from  the  Ralph  collection,  each  from  a  set  of  three  eggs  and  re))resenting  the  two 
])revailing  styles  of  ct)loration,  were  taken  near  Lakeside,  San  Diego  County, 
California,  on  Ma^  4,  1890. 


m 


179.     Sturnella  magna  (Linn.1':us). 

MEADOWLAIJK. 

Alauda  magna  LiNNi«us,  Systcira  Natura-,  fd.  10, 1,  1758,  1C7. 
Sturnella  magna  SWAINSON,  Pliilosophicul  Magazine,  I,  1827,  43<K 

(B  400,  C  214,  U  'Mi,  C  320,  U  fiOl.) 

(iEOGBAPHTCAL  RANGE:  Eastcru  North  America;  north  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada 
to  southern  Nova  Seotia,  soutliern  New  Brunswick,  Quebec,  and  Ontario  to  cuHtern  Mani- 
toba. West  to  Alinnesiita,  Iowa,  Missouri,  eastern  Kansas,  the  Indian  Territory,  and  Texat*. 
South  to  Florida  and  tlie  Gulf  coast.    Accidental  in  England. 

The  well-known  Meadow  or  Old  Field  Lark  is  a  constant  resident  south  of 
latitude  39°,  and  many  winter  farther  north  in  favorable  localities.  It  breeds 
throughout  its  range,  exco])ting  the  western  parts  of  the  Indian  Teiritory  ami 
western  Texas,  and  in  suitable  places  it  is  (juite  connuon.  In  our  Northern 
States  and  the  southern  parts  of  the  Dominion  of  Canada  it  is  only  a  sunnner 
resident,  arriving  usually  about  Aja-il  1  and  remaining  ordinarilj-  initil  the  latter 
part  of  October  and  occasionally  into  November;  while  in  the  northeastern 
portions  of  its  range  it  is  nowhere  common.     E,\cepting  during  the  breeding 

'  Geographical  Survey*  We«t  of  the  lOOth  Meridian,  Wheeler,  Appendix  J  J,  1S70,  p.  24U. 


THE  MEADOWLARK. 


459 


season  it  is  more  or  less  gregarious,  and  small  flocks  may  often  be  seen  roving 
about  in  search  of  good  feeding  grounds.  This  is  especially  true  in  the  fall  of 
the  year,  wlien  several  families  unite,  and  as  many  as  two  dozen  may  occasion- 
ally be  flushed  in  a  field  over  which  they  scatter,  roaming  about  independently 
of  each  other;  but  when  ono  lakes  wing  all  the  others  in  the  vicinity  generally 
follow.  In  the  Eastern  States  the  Meadowlark  is  a  rather  shy  bird  and  not 
easily  approached  within  gunshot,  while  in  many  jjarts  of  the  South  and  in  the 
Middle  States  it  is  (juite  the  reverse  and  generally  allows  itself  to  be  closely 
approached  without  taking  wing.  Its  flight  is  rather  laborious,  at  least  in 
starting,  and  is  accomplished  by  a  series  of  raj)id  movements  of  the  wings, 
alternating  with  short  tlistances  of  sailing,  and  is  rarely  protracted.  On  aligliN 
ing,  which  is  almost  invariably  accompanied  with  a  twitching  of  its  tail,  it 
usually  settles  on  some  fence  rail,  post,  bowlder,  weed  stalk,  or  on  a  hillock  in 
a  meadow  from  which  it  can  get  a  good  view  of  the  sun-oundings,  and  but 
rarely  on  a  limb  of  a  tree.  Its  favorite  resorts  are  meadows,  fallow  fields, 
pastures,  and  clearings,  but  in  some  sections,  as  in  northern  Florida,  for  instance, 
it  also  frequents  the  low,  open  pine  woods?,  and  nests  in  these. 

Our  handsome  Meadowlark  is  a  favorite  with  most  people,  but  its  clear, 
whistling  notes,  so  frequently  heard  in  the  early  spring,  though  melodious  and 
pleasing  to  the  ear,  are  not  nmch  varied. 

One  of  its  songs  sounds  like  "  hdd-h(5t^-h(?t?-thdti-hea,"  uttered  in  a  clear,  high 
'-(  ,  a  Sx-cttnd  or  call  note  resembles  "eeck,  ec'ck,"  ending  with  a  trcnudous 
(pi  »er.  Ml  of  these  notes,  although  short,  are  difficult  to  reproduce  in  type. 
Mr.  W.  Vj.  Grover,  of  Galvestoiv  Texas,  writes  me  that  one  of  their  calls  .sounds 
like  a  longdrawn,  whistled  "  laze-kill-di'e." 

Considered  from  an  economic  point  (»f  view,  it  is  one  of  the  best  feathered 
friends  the  farmer  has,  and  desenes  the  fullest  protection,  feeding,  as  it  does, 
mainly  on  noxious  insects  and  their  larva.',  caterpillars,  moths,  grasshojijiers, 
spiders,  worms,  et(^,  and  only  to  a  limited  extent  on  small  grain.  In  the  late 
fall  and  winter  it  resorts  sometimes  to  the  roads  and  barnyards,  wlure  it  may 
occasionally  be  seen  searching  among  the  drojjpiiigs  of  horses  for  undigested 
jiartides  of  grain. 

The  ]\Ieadowlark  spends  the  greater  j)art  of  its  time  on  the  ground,  and 
all  of  its  food  is  procured  there.  It  is  rare  to  find  one  alone,  and  I  believe  it 
remains  paired  for  life. 

Nidification  usually  begins  in  the  first  half  of  May  and  lasts  through  the 
greater  part  of  June,  and  occasionally  fresh  eggs  are  fouiul  during  the  first  ten 
days  in  July,  jutssibly  second  broods,  but  as  a  rule,  in  the  northern  parts  of  its 
range  at  least,  only  a  single  brood  is  raised  in  a  season. 

Hoth  sexes  assist  in  the  construction  of  the  nest,  which  is  always  placed  on 
the  ground,  either  in  a  natural  depression  or  in  a  little  hollow  scratched  out  by 
the  birds,  alongside  a  bunch  of  grass  or  weeds.  It  is  invariably  well  hidden, 
stalks  and  bhules  of  gi-ass  being  pulled  and  jtartly  woven  over  it,  fi>nning  a 
more  or  less  complete  <lome  or  roof,  generally  concealing  the  eggs  or  young 
efiectually  from  view.     The  nest  jn-opcr  consists  of  a  slight  lining  i>f  dry,  wiry 


ll 


^ 


460 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OB'  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


grass,  bits  of  stubble,  weed  stalks,  and  occasionally  pine  needles;  the  inner 
cuj)  is  finished  with  finer  matcnals  of  the  same  kind.  Occasionally  a  covered 
way,  from  1 8  to  3fi  inches  in  lenjifth,  leads  to  the  nest,  which  in  such  cases  is 
placed  at  the  end  of  the  tuimel,  beside  a  tussock  of  rank  grass,  and  in  such 
situations  they  are  difficult  t-y  find.  The  female  is  a  close  sitter,  while  the  male 
shows  (considerable  anxiety  and  flutters  about  the  vicinity,  often  betraying  the 
location  of  the  nest  in  this  wa}'.  (Considerable  additional  work  is  sometimes  done 
on  the  nest  after  t!ie  eggs  have  been  deposited. 

This  bird  is  ociiasionally  imposed  on  by  the  Cowbird,  but  not  very  often, 
and  an  instaniie  has  been  recorded  where  a  second  nest  Wiis  built  over  the  one 
containing  the  ))arasitic  njri!;.  Most  of  the  nests  are  placed  in  level  meadows, 
but  where  side  hills,  especially  those  with  a  southern  exposiu-e,  are  available,  it 
frequently  selects  them.  The  Meadowlark  has  many  enemies,  and  numbers  of 
its  eggs  and  young  are  destroyed  every  season  by  vermin,  etc.,  and  by  the 
agency  uf  man  as  well.  In  dairy  regions  the  mowing-machine  uncovers  and 
destroys  numbers,  and  in  many  places  in  the  New  England  States  and  in  central 
New  York  it  is  becoming  ran  r  with  each  year. 

The  nest  of  the  Meadowlark  varies  somewhat  in  size  and  bulk  according 
to  the  situation.  An  average  one,  now  before  me.  No.  2r)093,  United  States 
National  Museum  collection,  taken  by  Dr.  William  L.  Ualph,  mea.sures  7  inches 
in  outer  diameter  by  3  inches  dee});  the  inner  cup  is  3  inches  in  diameter  by  2 
inches  deep.  It  is  composed  exteriorly  of  coarse  grass  and  lined  with  fine  wire 
grass,  and  it  is  only  partly  domed. 

The  number  of  eggs  to  a  set  vaiies  from  three  to  seven,  sets  of  five  being 
nutst  conmion,  and  one  is  depoHite<l  (hiily.  Incubation  lasts  about  fifteen  or  six- 
teen days,  both  sexes  assisting  in  these  duties.  The  young  are  able  to  leave 
the  nest  in  about  two  weeks,  which  is  some  time  before  they  are  al)]e  to  fly,  and 
they  are  very  iu\e\)t  in  hiding  at  the  slightest  sign  of  danger.  After  they  are 
able  to  ja-ovide  for  themselves  they  gather  into  small  parties  and  remain  in  the 
vicinity  where  they  were  reared  luitil  the  latter  part  of  Oirtober,  when  they 
gradually  move  southwaixl.  N(me,  as  far  as  known,  pa.ss  beyond  the  United 
States  to  winter.  They  find  congenial  homes  at  this  time  of  the  year  in  the 
more  southern  States,  and  are  then  especially  abundant  along  the  Gulf  coast. 

The  eggs  of  the  Meadowlark  vary  considerably  both  in  shape  and  size; 
the  majority  are  ovate,  while  others  are  short,  elliptical,  and  elongate  ovate.  The 
shell  is  strong,  closely  gi*anidate«l,  and  moderately  glossy.  The  ground  color  is 
usually  i»ure  white;  this  is  occasionally  covered  with  a  pale  |)inkish  suffusion, 
anil  it  is  xavy  rarely  pale  greenish  white.  The  eggs  are  more  or  less  jjrofusely 
s])otted,  blotched,  and  s))eckled  over  the  entire  surface  with  different  shades  of 
bri»wii,  ferruginous,  pale  heliotrope  jmrple,  and  lavender;  these  markings  gener- 
ally i)redominate  about  the  larger  end  of  the  egg,  and  are  rarely  heavy  enough 
to  hide  the  ground  color. 

In  some  sets  the  markings  consist  maiidy  of  a  profusion  (»f  fine  dots;  in 
others  the  spots  are  well  rounded  and  fewer  in  number;  and  again  they  occur 


THE  MKADOWLAHK. 


461 


in  tho  tihapo  of  irroffular  luid  coiirHc  blotrheH,  mixed  with  fint^r  sj)eck.s  and  dots;  in 
fact,  there  \h  an  ondhfSH  variation  in  tlio  Htjlc  of  niarkin^H. 

The  averaffo  nyasiirenient  of  a  werioH  of  two  hundred  and  one  specimens  in 
the  United  States  National  A[useum  collection  is  27.75  by  2().3r)  millimetres,  or 
1.09  by  0.80  inches.  The  larfjest  efff?  measures  30.78  by  22.C1  millimetres, 
or  1.21  by  0.8!)  inches;  the  smallest,  21.59  by  18.29  millimetres,  or  0,85  by 
0.72  inch. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  23755  (PI.  (5,  Fig.  20),  from  a  set  of  four  egg»,  taken 
by  Mr.  C.  W.  Richmond,  near  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  on  May  12, 
1889,  has  been  selected  to  show  the  occasioiud  variation  in  the  ground  color, 
being  a  j)ale  green  in  this  instance.  No.  25858  (PI.  6,  Fig.  21),  from  a  set  of 
five  eggs,  Ralph  collection,  tak»Mi  by  Dr.  William  L.  Ralph,  in  Oneida  County, 
New  York,  on  May  20,  1882,  represents  a  normally  colored  and  average-marked 
egg  of  this  species. 


i8o.     Sturnella  magna  mexicana  (Sclater). 

MEXICAN   MEAUOWLAKK. 

Sturnella  mexicana  ScLATER,  Ibis,  18(>1,  179. 

Sturnella  nuujna  var.  mexicana  Baiku,  Brewer  and  Bidgway,  History  of  North  Ainericuii 
Binls,  Vol.  II,  1874,  17a. 

(B  — ,  C  — ,  B  L'63rt,  C  :m,  U  501rt.) 

(tEooraimiical  rance:  Cciitrul  and  iiortbcra  Mexico  iiud  contiguous  border  of  the 
United  Htate.;  from  soutlierii  Ari/.ona  to  the  lower  Bio  (irande  Valley,  iu  Texas,  and  pos- 
sibly along  the  (Uilf  coast  to  southern  Florida;  south  to  Costa  Bica,  Central  America. 

The  breeding  range  of  the  Mexican  Meadowlark,  a  somewhat  snuiller 
race  than  the  j)receding,  with  a  snuiller  l)ill  and  larger  and  .stouter  feet,  is  con- 
fined to  our  southern  border,  as  indicated  above.  It  ajipears  to  be  ratlutr 
unconnuon  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  unless  we  include  the  small, 
dark  l)ird  fouiul  in  southern  Florida,  which  Mr.  Frank  M.  CJhapnuui  refers  to 
this  subspecies.     lie  nuikes  the  following  remarks  about  the  Florida  l)ird: 

"Abundant.  Comparison  will  not  |)ennit  me  to  refer  the  snmll,  dark 
Meadowlark,  resident  in  Florida,  to  SttnneUa  nidfpia,  and  while  they  are  not 
fully  t\pical  o(  Sfinni'll<t  niai/Hd  mexicana,  they  a|)proach  it  .so  closely  as  to  ajjpar- 
ently  render  subspecific  separation  im|)ossible.  Tho  Florida  birds  are  perhaps 
slightly  darker  above,  tlie  neck  gorget  is  sonuiwhat  wider,  and  the  yellow  of  the 
inider  parts  has  more  of  a  sid|)hur  tint  than  in  Mexican  specimens."' 

Among  the  series  of  skins  in  the  United  States  National  Museum  collection 
are  specimens  from  Teiu>esse<*  and  southern  Indiana  which  an;  about  as  dark 
and  as  snudl  as  the  southern  Florida  birds;  the  ditl'erence,  if  any,  is  very  trifling, 
uiul  if  the  Florida  bird  is  admitted  to  be  Stuniella  majfua  vicricaiia,  tliesti  would 
also  have  to  be  included  in  this  race.  They  certainly  difl'er  considerably  from 
some  skins  examined  by  me,  which  were  taken  near  Hrownsville,  Texas,  and 

I  Tho  Auk,  Vol.  V,  188S,  p.  273. 


•  i,:Ui 


•.Hi 

t 

■-ill 


1.  ' 

m 

1  ■ 

'■   !   ' 

■    i    i 

'  ■ 

462 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


Matninoriis,  I^Iexico,  and  I  l)elieve  another  good  HulwpecieH  exists  in  Hoiithem 
Texas  wliicli  still  rc^niains  to  be  doacribod,  and  is  not  readily  referable  to  either 
Stutui'lla  niaijmi  or  any  of  its  recognized  subspecies. 

The  Mexican  Meadowlark  was  first  added  to  our  fauna  by  Dr.  James  C. 
Memll,  United  States  Army,  who  took  specimens  near  Fort  Hrown,  Texas, 
on  August  21  and  September  13,  1877.  It  appears  to  be  only  a  summer  visitor 
there,  and  was  a)>undant  from  April  to  October.  Its  notes  and  habits  do  not 
seem  to  dift'er  essentially  from  those  of  SturneUa  nmgna. 

Mr.  F.  Stephens  also  took  both  male  and  female  of  this  subspecies  near 
old  Camp  Crittenden,  in  Sonoita  Valley,  Arizona,  on  July  22  and  24,  1884, 
thus  extending  its  range  considerably  westward,  and  showing  that  it  overlaps 
that  of  the  Western  Meadowlark.  Mr.  Stephens  writes:  "I  do  not  recall  any- 
thing peculiar  in  their  habits,  and  think  I  did  not  hear  their  song." 

Tt  is  reported  a  common  resident  in  Costa  Rica,  which  appears  to  mark  the 
sftuthern  boundary  of  its  range  in  Central  America. 

A  set  of  four  eggs  in  the  Ralph  collection,  taken  near  Fort  Rrown,  Texas,  May 
<{,  1h;>2,  is  probably  referable  to  this  subspecies.  They  resemble  the  eggs  of 
the  common  Meadowlark  in  coloration  and  markings,  being  short  ovate  in 
shape,  and  considerably  smaller. 

They  measiue  2r).'!tl  by  20.32,  25.65  by  20.57,  25.40  by  21.34,  and  25.15 
by  20.32  millimetres;  or  l!o2  by  0.80,  1.01  by  0.81,  1  by  0.84,  and  O.'JD  by 
0.80  inches. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  25733  (PI.  6,  Fig.  22),  belongs  to  this  set.  The 
nest  was  found  on  n  prairie,  concealed  by  a  buuch  of  grass,  and  was  composed 
of  dry  grass.     The  eggs  were  fresh. 


i8i.    SturneUa  magna  neglecta  (Aiduhon). 

WESTERN  MEAIxnVLAKK. 

fituniella  neglecta  Audubon,  Birds  uf  America,  VII,  184.3,  .'139,  PI.  487. 
Stiirnella  mayna  Vitr.  neglecta  Allen,  Bulletin  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology,  III,  No.  2, 
July,  1872,  178. 

(B  407,  O  214«,  R  264,  C  322,  U  6016.) 

(}EOOKAPHIOAL  RANGE:  Western  North  America,  iiortli  to  southern  British  Colum- 
bia, southern  Alberta,  southwestern  Saskatchewan,  and  western  Manitoba,  Dominion  of 
('anada;  cast  regularly  to  North  and  South  Dakota,  Nebraska,  Kansas,  western  Indian 
Territory,  and  western  Texas;  irregularly  or  less  regularly  to  Minnesota  and  Iowa, 
sparingly  tu  VVisconsiu  and  Illinois;  south  to  Lower  California  and  nortlieru  Alexico. 

The  breeding  range  of  the  Western  Meadowlark,  a  somewhat  paler  antl 
grayer  bird  than  Stiiniellu  maf/iia,  is  coextensive  with  its  distribution  in  the 
United  States,  excepting  the  lower  Rio  Grande  Valley,  in  Texas,  where  it  is 
re[)laced  by  the  Mexican  Meadowlark.  Along  the  eastern  border  of  its  range 
in  some  localities  it  overlaps  that  of  SturneUa  miufna  for  considerable  distances, 
but  does  not  appear  to  interbreed  with  it.    The  greatest  difference  between  these 


THE  WESTERN  MEADOWLABK. 


463 


two  Jjirds  is  the  entire  dissimilarity  of  their  sonp  and  call  notes.  Oiu'  western 
bird  is  universally  and  apj)ropriately  conceded  to  be  by  far  the  better  songster. 
Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  expresses  these  differences  very  pertinently  Jis  follows: 

"It  [its  song]  differs  from  that  of  the  Meatlowlark  in  the  EiiHtem  States  in 
the  notes  being  louder  and  wilder,  and  at  the  same  time  more  li(juid,  mellower, 
and  far  sweeter.  They  have  a  pensiveness  and  a  general  character  renuirkably 
in  hannony  with  the  half-dreary  wildness  of  the  primitive  prairie,  as  though  the 
bird  had  received  from  its  suiToundings  their  peculiar  impress,  while  if  less 
loud  their  songs  would  hardly  reacih  their  mates  above  the  strong  winds  that 
almost  constantly  sweep  over  the  prairies  in  the  hot  months.  It  differs,  too,  in 
the  less  fretjuency  of  the  hai'sh,  comiilaining  chatter  so  conspicuous  in  the  eastern 
birds,  so  much  so  that  at  first  I  suspecsted  this  to  be  wholly  wanting."' 

It  is  almost  impossible  to  do  justice  on  paper  to  some  of  the  exquisite 
strains  uttered  by  this  bird,  and  being  no  musician  I  shall  not  attempt  it.  1  can 
only  comjjare  it  in  some  respects  to  the  matchless,  clear,  tinkling  utterances  of 
the  finest  of  our  western  songsters,  Townsend's  Solitaire,  and  I  refer  the  reader 
for  further  information  to  Mr.  Charles  N.  Allen's  paper  on  this  subject  in  the 
Bulletin  t.f  the  Nuttall  Ornithological  Club  (Vol.  G,  1881,  pp.  UA-IAO). 

Mr.  R.  II.  Lawrence  sends  me  an  imitation  i»f  one  of  its  songs  iw  noted  by 
him  on  October  25,  1892,  near  Ridgefield,  Clarke  County,  Washington,  which  he 
renders  as  follows:  "Hu-er-hu,  whick-de,  hu-er-hu-wt5er,"  given  with  spirit  and 
ringing  clearness.  One  of  its  commoner  songs  is  said  by  Mr.  Charles  A.  Keeler 
to  resemble  the  syllables  "  twee-twcedle-tee-te-twe." 

The  Western  Meadowlark,  like  its  eastern  relative,  is  a  hardy  bird,  and 
many  winter  in  some  of  the  warmer  valleys  of  Washington  and  Idaho,  but  in  the 
late  fall  the  majority  retire  farther  south  to  California,  Arizona,  and  northern 
Mexico,  usually  returning  to  their  breeding  grounds  during  March. 

In  Colorado  and  Arizona  it  has  been  met  with  in  summer  at  altitudes  of 
from  8,000  to  10,000  feet. 

Its  general  habits  resemble  those  of  the  eastern  Meadowlark,  and,  like  this 
bird,  it  prefei's  rather  open  country,  meadow  and  prairie  lands,  and  especially  tiie 
vicinity  of  streams,  where  a  luxuriant  gr(»wth  of  grass  is  usually  to  be  found. 
In  the  thinly  settled  regions  in  the  West  it  is  exceedingly  tame  and  familiar, 
and  may  frecjuently  be  seen  perched  on  the  roofs  of  houses  and  outbuild- 
ings, pouring  forth  its  clear,  ringing,  and  melodious  notes,  which  can  be  heard 
for  considerable  distances.  One  of  its  most  common  call  notes  sounds  like 
"tchiieck,"  or  "aeck." 

Its  food  consists  principally  of  small  beetles,  grasshoppers  and  their  eggs,  and 
numerous  other  insects;  even  the  large,  repulsive-looking  black  crickets,  which 
are  so  numerous  and  destructive  in  some  seasons  in  the  West,  are  not  rejected 
by  them,  and  only  when  such  food  can  not  be  obtained  does  it  ftjed  on  small 
giains  and  different  wild  seeds.  It  is  unquestionably  one  of  the  best  friends 
the  farmer  has,  and  fully  deserves  his  good  will  and  protection. 


,.( 


III 

ft-!!? 


i::#) 


! 


,    i 


•Memoirs  Uustuu  Society  of  Nuturul  History,  I,  Pt.  IV,  1S6U,  pp.  4tl6,  497. 


4VA 


LIFK  IllHTOUIES  OV  NOUTll  AMKUICAN  lilltDH. 


Dr.  CouoM,  ill  Hinls  of  tho  NorthwoHt,  1874  (p.  l!»2),  writos:  "In  April, 
iMff'oro  puiriii^r,  ItuiidrudH  uhi)<1  to  fro(iu«iit  daily  tlu)  pariidu  ground  of  Fort 
Uundnll,  wlioro,  iim  tli«  griws  was  yot  scarcely  sproutod,  good  opportunity  was 
<  •H'orod  of  observing  tlunr  ciharactcristic  liahit — on«)  not  so  goimndly  known  as  it 
should  bo,  since  it  is  related  to  the  peculiar  shape  of  the  bill.  The  birds  may 
be  seen  s(!attered  all  over  the  ground,  busily  tugging  at  something;  and  on  walk- 
ing over  the  scene  of  their  operations,  the  ground,  newly  softened  by  tho  spring 
thaw,  is  seen  to  bo  riddled  with  thousands  of  little  holes,  which  the  birds  make 
in  search  of  food.  The  holes  are  quite  smooth,  not  a  turning  over  of  the  surface 
of  tho  groun<l,  but  clean  borings,  like  those  made  by  sinking  in  the  end  of  a 
light  walking  stick,  just  as  if  tho  birds  inserted  their  bills  and  then  w<»rked  them 
about  till  the  holes  were  of  sufficient  size.  Whether  they  bored  at  random,  or 
wore  guided  by  s(tme  sense  in  finding  their  jn'oy,  and  what  particular  objects 
they  were  searching  for,  I  did  not  as(;ertain;  l)ut  the  habit  was  so  fixed  and  so 
continually  i)ersevered  in  us  to  attract  general  attention." 

Although  not  ([uite  certain,  I  think  1  can  account  for  the  actions  of  the 
birds  ol)served  l»y  the  Doctor.  They  were  looking  for  and  feeding  on  tho  eggs 
of  the  locust,  which  am  deposited  just  below  tho  surface  of  the  ground.  I  have 
noticed  the  same  thing  at  Camp  Harney,  Oregon,  where  these  hinU  were  like- 
wise very  abundant.  One  or  two  pairs  nested  every  season  (»n  the  edge  of  tho 
parade  ground,  among  bunches  of  dry  grass  growing  beside  the  driveway  around 
it,  and  witliin  a  few  yards  of  the  officera'  quarters. 

In  tlie  more  northern  portions  of  its  breeding  range  nidification  ordinarily 
conunences  about  the  first  week  in  May,  rarely  earlier,  and  it  takes  usually  about 
a  week  to  tH>mplete  tho  nest.  This  is  generally  placed  in  a  slight  natural  depres- 
sion, or  in  one  made  by  the  birds,  at  the  base  of  a  bunch  of  thick  rye  grass,  the 
dry  Jdades  of  the  jirevious  year  hanging  down  from  the  side  and  hiding  the  nest 
naturally,  or  a  nundier  of  blades  are  pulled  down,  covering  the  nest  and  forming 
an  arch  over  it.  Some  of  these  structures  are  exceedingly  well  hidd(?n,  and 
show  considcu'able  ingenuity  on  the  ))art  of  the  builders.  Occasionally  where 
tlu*  grass  is  dense  enough  to  permit  it,  the  nest  is  approached  by  a  covered  wfiy, 
leading  to  tho  nest  proper,  sometimes  fully  4  feet  away.  Tho  entrance  resem- 
bles the  runway  of  some  small  rodent.  The  inner  lining  of  the  nest  consists 
ordinarily  of  thy  grass,  on  which  the  eggs  are  deposited,  and  resembles  that  of 
the  common  Moadowlark  in  every  respect. 

Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony  writes  that  ho  found  a  nest  containing  six  eggs  m  an 
open  field,  near  Beaverton,  Oregon,  May  21,  in  which  incubation  had  conunencod, 
the  nt'st  being  j^laced  in  a  hole  in  the  ground  fully  8  inches  deej);  and  at  San 
(^ucfiitin.  Lower  California,  he  found  it  nesting  in  the  salt  marshes  about  the 
bay,  a  set  of  four  fresh  eggs  being  taken  on  March  21. 

Throughout  the  greater  part  of  its  range  full  sets  of  eggs  are  usually  found 
during  the  last  half  of  May  and  up  to  tho  middle  of  June.  In  western  Texas, 
in  Concho  and  Tom  Green  counties,  Mr.  William  Lloyd  reports  finding  two 
fresh  eggs  of  this  subspecies  on  March  27,  1882,  and  a  full  set  of  five  eggs  ou 
April  lb,  1883. 


THE  WESTERN  MKADOWLABK. 


465 


Tho  oai'lieMt  datcH  :tii  which  eggH  in  the  Unitu«l  StatoH  Nationul  Muhihimi 
coIUtction  have  been  taken,  are  April  13,  1893,  at  8anta  Ywabel,  San  l)iejf<» 
County,  ( 'alilbnxia,  collected  by  Mr.  II.  W.  Henshaw,  and  a  set  of  four  fre»h 
eggH,  taken  by  Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher,  United  States  Uepartnient  of  Agriculture,  at 
Wilcox,  Arizona,  April  22,  1892;  a  set  of  three  wa«  also  taken  by  the  writer 
at  (!anip  Harney,  Oregon,  April  22,  1877,  an  unusually  early  date  for  this 
locality.  Along  our  southern  border  the  Western  I^Ieadowlark  nests  fully  a 
month  earlier  than  farther  north,  and  at  least  two  broods  are  raised  here  in 
a  season;  but  I  believe  that  second  broods  are  not  infrequent  in  favorable 
localities  consideraVdy  farther  north,  where  fresh  eggs  are  soin.'*tinies  found  as 
lat«:  as  the  sectaid  week  in  July.  It  is  one  of  tlie  8peci(»s  oc(;attioually  imposed 
on  by  the  Cowbird. 

Hoth  sexes  assist  in  the  construction  of  the  nest  and  also  in  incubation,  whicrh 
lasts  about  fifteen  days.  An  egg  is  deposited  daily  until  the  set  is  completed. 
The  yt)ung  leave  the  nest  before  they  are  able  to  fly,  depending  for  safety  on 
hiding  themselves  in  the  grass,  and  they  are  cared  for  by  the  piyents  until  they  can 
provide  for  themselves.  When  they  are  able  tt)  do  this  they  gather  into  small 
companies  and  roam  over  the  surrounding  country.  I  do  not  believe  that  any 
of  the  young  of  the  year  remain  in  our  Northwestern  States  through  the  winter; 
they  probably  move  slowly  southward  in  the  late  fall. 

From  three  to  seven  eggs  are  laid  to  a  set,  five  being  most  commoidy 
found.     Sets  of  four  and  six  are  not  infrecjuent,  but  sets  of  seven  are  very  rare. 

I  can  not  detect  any  difference  between  the  eggs  of  this  subspecies  and 
those  of  the  eastern  Meadowlark  excepting  in  size.  The  eggs  of  the  Western 
Meadowlark  apj)ear  to  average  a  trifle  larger  as  a  rule;  otherwise  the  same 
description  will  answer  for  both. 

The  average  measurement  of  two  hundred  and  six  specimens  in  the  United 
States  National  Museum  collection  is  28.33  by  20.60  millimetres,  or  about  1.12 
by  0.81  inches.  The  largest  egg  in  the  series  measures  30.78  by  21.84  milli- 
metres, or  1.21  by  0.86  inches;  the  smallest,  25.65  by  20.07  millimetres,  or  1.01 
by  0.79  inches. 

The  type  specimens,  Nos.  20275  and  20283  (PI.  6,  Figs.  23  and  24),  both 
from  sets  of  five,  were  taken  by  the  writer,  the  first  at  Camp  Hamey,  June  3, 
1876,  the  last  at  Fort  Klamath,  Oregon,  June  7,  1882. 

Fig.  23  rej)resents  a  specimen  with  very  few  fine  markings,  somewhat 
below  the  average  size;  fig.  24,  a  good-sized  egg  of  the  better-marke<l  type  of 
coloration.  There  are  no  eggs  among  the  series  oi'  StunieUa  magna  that  are  as 
lightly  marked  as  fig.  23;  but  there  is  a  still  lighter-marked  set  of  five  eggs 
among  the  series  under  consideration,  taken  near  Ogden,  Utah,  on  June  7,  1871. 
With  these  two  exceptions,  I  can  not  see  any  difference,  as  the  light-green 
ground  color  fouiwl  now  and  then  in  the  eggs  of  Sturnella  maijtui  occurs  likewise, 
though  very  rarely,  in  the  western  form. 

1689i-No.  3 30 


J 


ill 

m 

m 


406 


lAVli  lUMTUUIKH  UF  NOUTU  AMEUICAN  KlitDU. 


i8a.     Icterus  icterus  (Linn.vuh). 

TKOIII'IAL 

Orhlun  ieUruH  Llti'SMVH,  Systemiu  Katiirm,  ed.  12,  I,  176«,  101. 
lettriii  ivterm  RiouwAY,  I'rowiodings  U.  S.  National  Maseuiu,  VIII,  1885,  356. 

{B  408,  C  — ,  It  205,  C  323,  IT  (502).) 

OBO(}RAPHiflAL  RANUU:  Uuast  regions  of  Colombia  and  Venoxnela,  South  Auierioi, 
and  tliu  Island  of  Triiiiditd.  (West  Indies;  introduced.)  Aovidcutal  in  South  Carolina 
(Chui'luHtoi< ). 

Tlie  Troupial,  ii  South  Ainericim  spofins,  van  ttuly  bo  considered  a  Htraf5f,'ler 
in  the  United  States,  and  is  admitted  to  our  fauna  on  the  strength  of  a  single 
specimen  shot  by  Mr.  Jolni  II.  Audubon  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina.  Very 
little  luw  yet  been  written  on  tiie  life  history  of  this  bird.  It  is  said  to  be  a  com- 
mon resident  of  the  coast  districts  of  Colombia  and  Venezuela,  South  America, 
and  of  the  Island  of  Trinidiwl,  and  to  be  an  accidental  visitor  to  some  of  the  West 
India  islands.  Its  eggs,  usually  four  in  number,  are  described  as  having  a 
ground  color  of  reddish  drab,  and  as  being  very  generally  blotched  with  mark- 
ings of  a  deep  claret  brown  and  faint  purple,  the  markings  being  deeper  and 
larger  at  one  end.  The  nest  is  said  to  bo  a  long,  pensile  structure,  suspendecl 
from  slender  limbs  of  trees  and  difficult  to  reach.  There  are  no  eggs  of  this 
species  in  the  United  States  National  Museum  collection. 


flvi 


183.     Icterus  gularis  AVaqleb. 

OULAR  ORIOLE. 

Icterus  gulark  Waoler,  Isis,  1829,  p.  754. 

(B  _,  C  -,  R  -,  C  -,  U  -.) 

OEonRAPnicAL  RANOK;  From  Honduras  and  Guatemala,  Central  America,  through 
southern  Mexico;  north  to  the  State  of  Taniaulipas,  Mexico,  and  southern  Louisiana. 

This  largo  and  handsome  Oriole  claims  a  place  in  our  fauna  from  the  fact 
that  a  specimen  was  obtained  in  southeni  Louisiana,  which  I  recorded  in  "The 
Auk"  (Vol.  X,  pp.  366,  367),  and  which  I  supposed  at  the  time  to  be  referable  to 
IvkiHS  ffidaris yucatancnsis  (Von  Berlepsch),  on  the  strength  of  Mr.  R.  Ridgway's 
identification.  He  has  since  changed  his  opinion  and  writes  as  follows:  "The 
identification  was  made  when  the  series  of  specimens  in  the  National  Museum 
collection  of  both  forms  was  very  meager,  and  was  based  on  color  alone,  the 
intense  orange  being  supposed  to  be  pecidiar  to  the  Yucatan  bird.  A  fine 
series  of  the  latter,  subseejuently  received  from  Dr.  Gaumer,  as  well  as  a  con- 
siderable number  of  true  gularis  fr(»m  eastern  Mexico,  shows  that  the  supposed 
(!olor  diff"erence,  while  in  the  main  reliable,  is  not  a  constant  character,  but  that 
there  is  a  constant  and  very  decided  difference  in  the  proportions  between  the 
two  forms  which  will  serve  to  readily  separate  them.     Tlie  Louisiana  specimeQ 


THE  UULAIC  ORIOLE. 


407 


in  trill!  ifiilHtis  iiH  to  propurtiniirt,  and  roprt^nontH  tlio  iiiaximuin  brijylitiU'rtH." 
Tliuro  \h  a  Hiiiglo  Hpeciinuii  (a  very  highly  colon^d  iiialo)  in  tho  colloction  of  tliu 
Unittxl  Htati's  Department  t»f  Affrieulturo,  taken  on  March  21,  1S!M,  at  Hidalgo, 
TainauIipaH,  wliich,  at*  tar  aH  I  kuuw,  luarkH  the  northern  UniitH  of  ittt  range  in 
Mexico. 

Tiie  foHowing  noten  on  thi»  HpecioH  were  ongnially  puldiahed  by  me  in  the 
aiticle  alwve  ([uoted: 

"  Mr.  K.  A.  Mcllhenny  ret^ently  Hont  me  for  iiU^ntifioation  a  skin  of  a  hand- 
Home  Oriole,  which  proves  to  bo  tliis  subspecies,  and  which  lie  kindly  presented 
to  tlio  collection  of  the  United  States  National  Museum  here.  lie  shot  the  bird 
on  June  3,  1893,  on  Avery's  Island,  New  Iberia  Parish,  Louisiana,  from  a  flock 
of  four;  and  he  writes  that,  although  these  birds  were  (juite  tame,  he  only 
shot  the  one,  in  the  hope  that  the  remaining  ones  woidd  bring  itthers  there. 
His  attention  was  first  called  to  them  by  their  unfamiliar  whistle,  which  is  a 
a  soft,  Hute-like  note,  expressed  by  the  word  'whae'  ab;)ut  as  well  as  anything; 
this  is  repeated  from  time  to  time  as  the  birds  move  from  limb  to  lindj  in 
search  of  food.  On  dissecting  the  specimen  he  found  a  number  of  small  green 
cateqiillars  and  several  spidera,  but  their  princi))al  food  seemed  to  consist  of 
the  small  purple  figs,  which  were  just  ripe.  While  in  search  of  food  they 
move  aboxit  exactly  as  the  Baltimore  Oriole  does,  swinging  from  slender  ^wigs 
head  downward,  looking  luider  limbs  for  insects,  lie  ttbserved  the  remaining 
three  birds  again  on  Juno  5  in  some  fig  trees  in  the  plantati(tn  garden. 

"Although*  this  beautiful  Oriole  may  be  an  irregular,  it  appears  to  be  some- 
times a  counnon  summer  visitor  along  the  Gulf  coast  of  Louisiana,  and  lowt 
frecpiently  perhajjs  of  Mississippi  as  well,  as  the  following  notes  will  show;  and 
it  seems  even  probable  that  it  occasionally  breeds  within  our  borders.  Mr. 
Mcllhenny  had  alrea<ly  obtained  a  specimen  of  this  Oriole  two  years  previously, 
and  sent  me  the  following  extracts,  relating  to  its  occurrence,  copied  from  his 
handbook: 

"'iV/rt.i/  17, 1891. — John  Gofiriey  brought  :no  to-day  a  beautiful  bird  that  he 
killed  in  the  swamj)  back  of  the  sugarhouse.  It  is  undoubtedly  an  Oriole,  but 
one  I  have  never  seen  before.  Owing  to  the  poor  condition  of  the  plumage,  I 
did  not  make  a  skin  of  it.  The  markings  are:  Head,  breast,  under  and  upper 
tail  coverts,  orange;  wings,  black,  with  orange  markings  at  their  base;  back, 
black  from  base  of  neck  to  upper  tail  coverts.  It  is  a  male,  and  much  larger 
than  the  Baltimore  Oriole.  On  dissection  the  only  food  found  was  a  few  insects 
and  three  small  caterpillars. 

^^^ August  3,  1892. — To-day  I  went  out  to  Mr.  Herter's  rice  field  to  try  and 
get  some  of  the  birds  I  hear  feed  there.  I  met  J.  Mason  and  induced  him  to  go 
with  me.  We  arrived  there  quite  early  and  saw  a  flock  of  about  twenty  of  the 
birds  I  was  after;  they  were  feeding  on  the  rice  in  company  with  Bobolinks  and 
Red-winged  Blackbirds.  We  found  them  very  wild,  and  it  was  impossible  to 
get  a  shot.  The  men  who  mind  the  rice  told  nie  they  sometimes  killed  a  few, 
and  they  saw  some  every  year  in  these  fields.  I  went  to  the  house  of  a  negro 
who  had  killed  some  the  day  before  to  see  if  I  could  get  any,  but  found  they 


'■** 


;  » 


1.1 


468 


LIKK  IIIHTUHIKS  OF  NUltTIl  AMHIUOAN  lilUDH. 


IiikI  all  ln'«'ii  iiHcil  fur  food.  1  miiw,  Iiowi'Vit,  tin*  IuouIh,  wiiijfx,  an<l  ft'athorH  of 
Ht*vui'al  spttoiniciiH,  aiitl  think  tliat  tli«>  liirdH  aru  iiii(loiil)te*ily  tliu  HHiim  an  tlut  ono 
liroufrjit  nu)  Ity  .lolm  (Jortnoy  on  May  17  of  hwt  year,  that  it  h  an  ()riol«  I  do 
iiut  doiiht. 

"'On  Hhowin^  th»t  specimen  killed  on  .luno  3,  l«5>3,  to  Mr.  Alien  Mohio,  on 
tho  14th  of  the  Hanio  month,  ho  told  mo  that  u  Hock  of  about  two  hundriMl  of 
tlu'tfo  hirdH  cumo  to  liiH  placo  at  MisHiHHippi  City,  MixHiHHijtpi,  in  thily,  18i)2,  and 
remained  there  for  Hoino  time.  NumberH  of  them  were  killed  and  Hovoral  were 
Hent  to  a  taxidermiHt  in  New  ()r1(>anH,  but  he  did  not  know  hix  name,  lie  Ih 
positive  it  in  the  uame  bird,  and  nn  no  one  knew  what  they  were,  he  had  Home 
mounted.'" 

In  luH  letter  of  Septenil»er  12,  \H',)3,  Mr.  Mellhenny  writeH  me  aw  followH: 
"I  whowod  the  skin  to  ('apt.  .Mm  Hare,  of  the  Trinity  Shoal  light-Hhip,  before  1 
Kent  it  to  you,  and  he  told  me  that  two  biitlH  of  e.xaetly  the  mime  appotiranee 
had  struck  the  light  and  had  been  killed  this  spring,  in  April.  His  Hhip  is  <>0 
miles  out  to  sea  and  duo  south  of  hero.  ('a{)tain  Har<)  tolls  me  that  he  often 
sees  large  flocks  of  small  birds  Hying  high  in  tho  air  during  their  migrations." 

In  a  more  recent  letter  Mr.  E.  A.  Mellhenny  sent  mo  some  additional 
information  on  this  species,  taken  from  his  field  notes.  Under  date  of  Juno  S, 
1H!)4,  ho  says:  "While  in  search  of  nests  to-day  near  the  salt  mine,  I  saw  a 
male  ?  of  the  large  Oriole  I  foinid  here  last  year;  1  had  a  good  view  of  him, 
being  (piite  near,  but  unfortunately  had  n(»  gun."  Under  date  of  June  l(i  ho 
mad(!  the  following  entry:  "Derouin  told  mo  to-day  that  he  had  Been  a))out 
twenty  of  the  large  Orioles  (like  those  he  killed  last  year)  in  a  field,  and  his 
father,  who  had  also  seen  them,  confirmed  his  statement,  but  1  failed  to  find 
them.  I  offered  him  a  reward  then  for  every  one  he  brought  mo  in  good  con- 
diti<m,  but  a  few  days  after  this  I  left  for  (ireenrand.  On  my  return  here, 
Otober  1, 1  found  that  five  of  these  birds  had  been  killed  by  this  l>ai-ty,  an  near 
as  I  could  learn,  about  August  20,  and  were  brought  to  my  house;  but  as  no 
one  there  could  skin  them,  they  were  thrown  away." 

The  fact  that  these  ])irds  have  now  been  seen  regularly  on  Avery's  Island, 
Louisiana,  for  several  seasons  and  throughout  the  sunnner,  certainly  indicates 
that  the)'  are  not  casual  stragglers,  but  regular  sunnner  residents,  and  probably 
breed  there,  and  possibly  also  ahmg  the  flulf  coast  of  Texas. 

Tho  only  description  of  tho  egg  of  this  species  I  have  been  able  to  find  is 
that  published  by  Mr.  H.  Owen  in  "The  Ibis"  (Vol.  Ill,  1861,  pp.  62,  63),  who 
took  a  female  and  ono  egg  near  San  Geronimo,  Guatemala,  on  June  8,  1860. 
The  egg  is  described  as  a  pale  gray,  blotched  aud  streaked  with  very  dark 
brown;  it  measures  1  by  0.70  inch. 

The  nest  probably  resembles  that  of  Audubon's  Oriole,  but  1  have  been 
unable  to  find  a  descriptiou  of  it. 


A(Jl>UUON'8  OUlOIiK. 


4Gi) 


184.     Icterus  audubonii  (iiKAmx 

Ari>rHl)N'H  OKIOl.K.. 

TrteruM  umMmiiii  GiRAim,  Sixteen  TexnH  BiidH,  1H41,  .*). 

(B  4(Mt,  V  'J'M,  It  'Mi,  C  XW,  V  rMi.) 

ORonKAPiiidAi,  RANOK:  Ooiitral  ami  eustvrii  Muxicu,  fVoui  Jnguila,  Ouxiutn,  iiortb 
to  miutliern  TexiiH  (liexitr  County). 

Within  tilt*  bonlom  of  tlio  United  Htatos  tlio  brooding  ranpe  of  AudubonV 
Oriolo  a|)|)oiirri  to  Im  confined  to  tlu'  lower  Uio  (>raiid«>  Valley,  where  it  in  not 
nnconinion  in  xuitablo  localities  and  a  resident  thron<>fhont  the  year.  Mr.  II.  P. 
Attwater,  in  his  List  of  IMvuh  Observed  in  the  Vicinity  of  San  Antonio,  Hexar 
(Jonnty,  Te.xas,  inak(*s  the  ftdlowinj^  remarks: 

"This  s|)e(!ie«  may  perhaps  be  most  pro])orly  described  as  a  rare  winter 
wanderer.  1  first  observed  it  on  March  27,  1K!)(),  when  I  secnred  a  fine  male 
among  the  tall  potman  tindier  on  the  San  Antonio  Kiver,  just  south  of  the  city. 
I  was  attracted  by  the  bird's  note.  I  did  not  observe  it  again  until  18i)l,  when 
I  obtained  three  specimens  out  of  a  flock  of  al)out  eight  or  ten,  at  the  same 
place,  on  February  13.  The  next  day  they  were  all  gone,  and  I  have  never 
come  across  any  since.  Mr.  Toudouze  describes  some  birds  (to  me)  which  were 
new  to  him,  and  which,  ho  noticed  on  the  Medina  River,  alxmt  the  same  time, 
which,  from  his  description,  were  no  doubt  this  sjjecioa." ' 

Dr.  James  C.  Men'ill,  United  States  Army,  in  his  List  of  Birds  Observed  in 
the  Vicinity  of  Fort  lirown,  Texas,  writes  as  follows  about  this  species: 

"This  fine  Oriole  is  found  in  moderate  abundance,  and  is  the  only  species 
that  is  resident.  During  the  summer  months  it  is  usually  found  in  deep  woods, 
at  some  distance  from  houses,  l)ut  during  the  winter  it  is  less  shy  and  retiring. 
They  ar»)  frecpiently  captured  and  otiered  for  sale  by  Mexicans  in  this  vicinity, 
but  several  I  have  kept  woidd  not  sing  at  all  in  cajrfivity.  When  free  their 
usual  song  is  a  {)rolongod  and  rep(*ated  whistle  of  extraordinary  mellowness  and 
sweetness,  each  note  varying  in  jatcli  from  the  preceding.  If  once  lieard,  it  can 
never  be  forgotten." '' 

This  is  one  of  the  sixteen  new  species  of  birds  described  by  Mr.  J.  P.  Giraud 
in  the  Annals  of  the  New  York  Lyceum  of  Natural  History,  in  1841,  from  spec- 
imens collected  in  Texas  in  IH.'JS.  Some  time  aftcsrwards  Jir.  ib»hn  H.  Clark,  the 
naturalist  attached  to  the  Mexican  Boundary  Survey,  obtained  several  specimens 
near  Fort  Ringgold,  Texas.  He  rep(»rted  it  as  not  abundant,  and  its  quiet  man- 
ners and  secluded  habits  j»revented  it  from  bcMug  very  c<)n8i)icuous.  It  was 
most  fre(piently  observed  by  him  feeding  on  the  fruit  of  the  hackberry,  l)ut 
whenever  a])proached  while  thus  feeding  it  always  showed  signs  of  uneasiness, 
and  soon  after  sought  refuge  in  some  place  of  greater  concealment.  Usually 
])airs  were  to  bo  seen  keeping  close  together,  apparently  prtfferring  the  thick 

I  The  Auk,  Vol.  IX,  189-',  p.  2;W. 

"  rroi'imliiiKN  of  tli«  V.  S.  Nntiniml  MiiHnniii,  Vul.  I,  1S7S.  )>.  CM. 


■:\\ 

■ '     'I 


i .  1 


■ill 

;  1  *  ■ 
I  • 

■  C'' 

•I 


I- 


470 


LIFE  HISTORIES  Or  NOKTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


Ri  -^ 


foliage  found  on  the  margins  of  ponds  or  in  the  old  bed  of  the  river.  They  did 
not  eoinniunicate  with  each  otiier  by  any  note,  and  Mr.  Clark  was  struck  by 
their  remarkable  silence.  Their  habits  seemed  to  him  very  dift'erent  from  those 
of  any  other  Oriole  with  wiiich  he  was  acquainted.' 

Like  mo8+  Or;<des,  this  bird  undoubtedly  feeds  to  a  groat  extent  on  various 
insects,  cateii)illars,  etc.,  and  probably  only  occasionally  on  berries. 

The  first  fully  authenticated  nests  and  eggs  of  this  species  were  described 
by  Mr.  George  B.  Sennett,  from  specimens  taken  by  him  near  Lomita,  Texas, 
in  May,  187H;  and  since  then  the  United  States  National  Museum  has  received 
a  fine  series  of  their  eggs  from  Dr.  William  L.  Ralph,  all  taken  ni  tlu»  vicinity 
of  Fort  lirown,  Texas.  The  nest  of  this  Orioh*  is  usually  jdaced  in  me.s(iuite 
trees,  in  thickets  and  open  woods,  from  6  to  14  feet  from  tlio  ground.  It  is  a 
semipensilo  structure,  woven  of  fine,  wire-like  grass  used  while  still  green,  and 
resembles  those  of  the  Hooded  and  Orchard  Orioles,  which  are  nnu-h  better 
known.  The  nest  is  firmly  attached  both  on  the  top  and  sides,  to  small  branches 
and  g!"Owing  twigs,  and,  for  the  size  of  the  bird,  it  aj)pears  rather  small.  One, 
now  before  me  mea.sures  3  inches  in  depth  inside  l)y  ab(mt  the  same  iji  inner 
diameter.  The  rim  of  the  nest  is  somewhat  contracted  to  prevent  the  eggs  from 
being  thrown  out  during  high  winds.  The  inner  lining  consists  of  somewhat 
finer  grass  tops,  whicrh  still  retain  considerable  strength,  and  are  even  now,  when 
perfectly  dry,  difficult  to  break.  Only  a  single  nest  of  tho.se  found  was  placed 
in  a  bunch  of  Spanish  moss,  and  this  was  suspended  within  reach  of  the  ground; 
the  others  were  all  attached  to  small  twigs. 

Audubon's  Oriole  seems  to  be  gi'eatly  imposed  ui)on  by  the  Red-e}ed  Cow- 
bird;  half  of  the  sets  in  the  collection  contain  from  one  to  three  of  these 
parasitic  eggs;  l)ut  none  of  the  equally  common  Dwarf"  Cowbird  have,  as  far  i«3 
I  am  aware,  yet  l)een  foiuid  in  them. 

Nidification  begins  sometimes  early  in  April,  but  usually  about  the  last  week 
in  this  month.  Fresh  eggs  have  been  taken  on  A])ril  23  and  as  late  as  June  S. 
Attempts  are  probably  frequently  nuide  to  rear  two  broods  in  a  season,  but 
many  of  them  are  unquestionaliy  destroyed  each  year  by  the  l?ed-eyed  Cowbird, 
as  well  as  through  other  causes. 

The  nnndjer  of  eggs  to  a  set  varies  from  three  to  five.  Sets  of  one  or  two 
eggs  of  this  Oriole,  with  two  or  three  Cowl)ird.s'  eggs,  seem  to  Im^  most  frocpiently 
found,  some  of  the  first-nameil  eggs  being  thrown  out  t(»  make  room.  Th(*  eggs 
dift'er  somewhat  in  the  t'liaracter  of  their  markings  from  those  of  the  remainder 
of  otu"  ( )rioles;  they  are  ovate  and  elongate  ovate  in  shape,  and  the  shell  is  rather 
frail  and  lusterless.  'I'lie  ground  color  is  either  ))al((  bluish  or  grayish  white,  and 
occasionally  the  egg  is  only  slightly  fiecked  with  fine  markings  and  a  few  hair 
lines  of  different  shades  of  brown  and  dark  pui-jjle,  these  being  nearly  evenly 
distributed  over  the  surface.  In  others  the  ground  c(dor  is  partly  obscured  with 
a  pale  i)ur|)le  suffusion,  and  more  ])rofusely  blotched  and  streaked  with  different 
shades  of  claret  brown,  jmrple,  ferniginous,  and  lavender,  resembling  somewhat 

•  Hi»U>r.v  of  Nt>rth  AmericBii  llirda,  187t,  Vol.  II,  p.  187. 


^ 


Cift'f>>> 


AUDUBON'S  OKIOLE. 


471 


pertain  styles  of  Brewer's  Blackbirds'  efrff",  while  an  occasional  set  is  profus(;ly 
blotclied  with  coarse,  heavy  markings  of  cinnamon  rufous  and  numerous  finer 
spots  of  the  same  tint,  these  almost  completely  hiding  the  giound  color.  The 
markings  are  generally  heaviest  about  the  larger  end  of  the  egg. 

The  average  meiusureinent  of  twenty-eight  specin\ens  in  the  United  States 
National  Museum  collection  is  25.15  by  17.98  millimetres,  or  0.9!)  by  0.71  inch. 
The  largest  egg  of  the  series  measiu'es  26.42  by  18.H0  millimeires,  or  1.04  by 
0.74  inches;  the  smallest,  23.(52  by  17.78  millimetres,  or  O.DiJ  by  0.70  inch. 

The  type  specimens  are  all  from  the  Ralj)!!  collection.  No.  2553(5  (PI.  6, 
Fig.  25),  from  a  set  of  two  eggs  taken  in  Cameron  County,  Texas,  Maj'  7,  1892, 
represents  one  of  the  lighter-marked  styles  of  eggs;  No.  25538  (PI.  (i,  Fig.  2(5), 
from  a  set  of  three  taken,on  the  same  date  and  in  the  same  loi^ality  as  the  former, 
c<»ntaining  also  an  vg^:;  of  the  Red-eyed  Cowbird,  represents  one  of  the  more  com- 
mon types;  and  No.  2(5349  (PI.  (5,  Fig.  27),  from  a  set  of  si\  eggs  (three  eggs 
of  the  owner  and  three  of  the  Red-eyed  Cowbird)  taken  on.  May  i*,  1803  (same 
place  as  above),  represents  one  of  the  heavier-marked  eggs  of  this  species. 


185.     Icterus  parisorum  Bonaparte 

8(;OTT'S  ORIOLK. 

Tcterm  parisorum  Bonapaktk,  Proceedings  Zoological  Society,  1837, 109. 

(li  411,  C  210,  U  268,  C  ;{2<.»,  U  5(t4.) 

(Jkooraphical  kanoe:  Tablelands  of  Mexico,  from  Puehla  and  Vera  Crnz  north 
through  western  Texas,  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  and  southern  ('alifornia  to  southern  Nevada 
and  southwestern  Utah  to  about  latitude  38°  ;  Lower  California. 

Tiie  range  of  Scott's  or  the  Mountain  Oriole  in  the  United  States  has  been 
very  materially  increased  within  tlu*  last  few  year.s.  It  has  been  found  by  Mr. 
E.  W.  Nelson  in  central  New  Mexico,  in  the  vicinity  of  Sjinta  Fe,  in  July,  1890, 
and  by  different  members  of  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam's  exploring  parties  of  the 
Death  Valley  Expedition,  in  southeastern  ('alifornia  and  southern  Nevada,  in 
the  spring  and  sununer  of  1891,  while  Dr.  Meiriam  himself  found  it  in  tlu^ 
Beaverdam  Mountains,  in  southwestern  Utah,  and  it  apjx'ars  to  be  generally 
distributed  throughout  these  regions,  being  fairly  t-onnnim  in,  suitable  localities. 

The  breeding  range  in  the  United  States  is  coincident  with  its  geographical 
distribution. 

In  Texas  it  does  not  ap])ear  to  be  found  in  the  lower  Rio  (Jrande  Valley, 
but  seems  to  l»e  restricted  to  the  extreme  western  parts  of  th<>  State  only.  Dr. 
A.  K.  Fisher,  who  is  familiar  with  this  species,  tells  me  that  ho  saw  an  adult 
niah*  of  Scott's  Oriole  among  th<'  yuccas  at  Eagle  Flat,  15  miles  east  of  Sierra 
Blanca,  El  Paso  Comity,  on  May  8,  1894,  this  being  the  only  positive  Texas 
record  I  know  of 

The  skin  in  the  United  States  National  Museiun  collectitm  on  which  the  older 
Texas  record  is  based  was  taken  by  one  (tf  the  Pacific  Railroad  surveying  j.  irties 


fl 

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.lis 


472 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


I 


V 

: 


in  iSr)(J,  and  is  labeled  simply  "Pecos."  From  my  knowle<lffo  of  the  (!Ountry 
(liaviii^  been  in  New  Mexico  at  the  time)  1  am  satisfied  that  it  really  came  from 
near  the  head  waters  of  the  Pecos  River,  in  central  New  Mexico,  and  in  all 
probability  from  the  vicinity  of  the  place  where  this  species  has  since  been  taken 
by  Mr.  Nelson,  and  not  from  the  lower  Pecos,  in  western  Texas,  as  has  been 
supposed. 

Scott's  Oriole  is  only  a  summer  resident  with  us,  arriving  usually  along  our 
southern  border  about  the  last  half  of  March  or  during  the  first  week  in  April, 
and  moving  slowly  northward  to  its  breeding  grounds. 

Mr.  F.  Stephens  writes:  "In  Arizona  this  species  seems  to.  be  a  rather  rare 
suniuK^r  resident  of  the  foothills  and  lower  part  of  the  mountains,  breeding 
up  to  the  lower  edge  of  the  pines,  but  in  migrating  it  passes  well  up  into  these. 
In  Arizona  I  have  seen  it  nest  in  the  yucca,  sycamore,  oak,  and  pine  trees;  one 
nest  found  in  an  oak  was  not  even  semij)en8ile,  being  supported  at  the  sides  and 
below  by  the  upright  branches  between  which  it  was  placed.  June  and  July 
appear  to  be  the  j)rincipal  breeding  months.  In  California  Scott's  Oriole  is  a 
rather  rare  summer  resident  of  th(*  deserts,  j)rincipally  the  borders  of  the  Mohave 
Desert.  I  founil  an  old  nest  in  a  jjalm  tree  on  the  border  of  the  Colorado  Desert 
that  I  believe  to  have  been  built  by  this  species.  In  the  sjjring  migration  a 
few  birds  wander  into  the  mountains,  and  occasionally  they  cross  over  the  divide 
into  the  drainage  toward  the  Pacific.  In  California  the  migration  commences 
near  the  end  of  March,  when  this  bird  may  be  found  in  the  foothills  bordering 
the  Colorado  Desert.  It  is  shy  and  restless;  its  song  is  clear,  loud,  and,  to  my 
ear,  very  musical;  its  greatest  defect  is  its  briefness,  being  about  the  shortest 
Oriole  song  I  know." 

Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony,  in  a  letter  dated  July  8,  1894,  says:  '^Icterus  parinorum 
was  often  seen  about  my  camp  south  of  San  Quentin,  Lower  California,  and 
it  is  rather  common  at  the  Mission  of  San  Fernando.  I  shot  one  just  below  the 
United  States  boundary,  and  saw  several  others  within  3  or  4  miles  of  the  line, 
thus  practically  adding  it  to  the  list  of  San  Diego  County  west  of  the  range." 

Pei*s(mally  I  first  met  with  Scott's  Oriole  in  the  spring  of  1872,  and  found 
it  rather  rare  in  the  foothills  along  the  southwestern  slopes  of  the  Santa  Catalina 
Mountains,  in  the  vicinity  of  my  c^anip  on  Rillito  Creek,  near  Tucson,  Arizona. 
In  1884  Mr.  W.  E.  D.  Scott  was  more  fortunate  and  found  this  Oriole  fairly 
common  on  the  opposite  slopes  of  the  same  mountains,  some  50  miles  northeast 
from  where  I  had  been  located  in  1872.  He  published  a  very  interesting  account 
of  the  breeding  habits  of  this  bird  in  "The  Auk"  (Vol.  11.  188r),  pp.  1-7),  to 
which  I  refer  readers  for  further  information.  In  this  vicinity  he  met  with  it  at 
altitudes  of  from  3,000  to  8,000  feet. 

Mr.  Scott  says:  "Few  birds  sing  more  incessantly,  and,  in  fact,  I  do  not 
recall  a  species  in  the  Eastern  and  Middle  States  that  is  to  be  heard  so  frecpiently. 
The  males  are,  of  course,  the  chief  jierformers,  but  now  and  again,  near  a  nest, 
while  watching  the  birds,  I  would  detect  a  female  singing  the  same  glad  song, 
t)nly  more  softly.     At  the  earliest  da}'break  and  all  day  long,  even  when  tlic 


SCOTT'S  ORIOLE. 


478 


M\ 


8U11  is  at  its  liif^liest,  and  «]urin<»'  tlio  ^eut  lieat  of  tho  afternoon,  its  very  musical 
whistlo  is  ono  of  the  few  bird  son<rs  that  are  ever  present," 

Tlieir  food  consists  mainly  of  grasshoppers,  8inall  beetles,  caterjjillars,  but- 
terflies, larviu,  etc.,  as  well  as  of  berries  and  fruits.  In  Suharita  Pass,  lM!tW(*en 
the  Santa  (Jatalina  and  liincon  mountains,  near  Tucson.  Arizona  1  have  seen 
them  eatiufif  the  ripe  fig-like  fruit  of  the  giant  cactus. 

I  found  my  first  occupied  nest  of  Scott's  Oriole  on  June  4,  1H72,  on  the 
dry  jdains  southeast  of  my  camp  on  Killito  Creek,  fully  8  miles  frftm  the  nearest 
water.  1  had  j)reviously  observed  sonte  old  nests  attached  to  the  tops  of  some 
tall  tree  yuccas,  an<l  passing  a  clump  of  these  at  this  time,  I  noticed  u  fresh 
nest  fastened  to  the  leaves  of  one  of  the  tallest  trees.  It  was  jdaced  fidly 
10  feet  from  the  ground,  and  the  only  way  I  could  reach  it  was  to  stan<l  on 
my  horse,  which  I  did,  and  secured  the  eggs,  three  in  number,  in  which  incu- 
bation had  commenced.  The  nest  was  so  securely  fastened  to  the  surroxmding 
bayonet-8haj)ed  leaves  that  I  could  not  ])ull  it  away,  and  only  succeeded  in  cut- 
ting my  hand  severely  in  trying  to  do  so.  The  nest  was  composed  of  yiu'i'ii 
fibers,  sacaton,  and  grama  grsuss,  and  lined  with  a  little  horsehair.  The  upjter 
rim  of  the  nest  was  not  contracted,  and  it  was  a  strong,  well-built  structure. 

A  well-preserved  nest,  now  before  me,  taken  by  Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher,  United 
States  Dejiartment  of  Agriculture,  near  Shepherd's  (Canyon,  Coso  Valley,  Cali- 
fornia, on  May  11,  1891,  was  situated  on  the  under  side  of  a  horizontal  limb  of 
a  giant  }ucca  ( Yucca  arhorcsccits),  about  (i  feet  from  the  groimd.  The  edges 
of  the  leaves  to  which  the  nest  was  attached  were  hacked  and  lacerated  so  as 
to  receive  the  threads  and  horsehair  suspending  it.  The  structure  itself  is  sub- 
stantially built  of  green  gi-ass  and  dry  yucca  fiber,  and  it  is  lined  with  finer 
hemp-like  materials  from  the  core  of  this  j)lant.  The  walls  and  bottom  of  the 
nest  are  far  thicker  than  in  most  Orioles'  nests.  Externally  the  nest  measures 
3.J  inches  in  depth  by  A  inches  in  its  longer  diameter  and  4  inches  at  the  nar- 
rowest point.  The  inner  cup  is  oval  in  shape,  2.J  inches  deep  and  3'|  by  3  i'lches 
wide.  This  nest,  when  first  found,  on  May  7,  contained  two  eggs;  on  a  snbsc- 
(pient  visit,  May  11,  they  had  disappeared,  and  the  nest  was  j)artly  pulled  down. 

Caj)t.  W.  L.  Carpenter,  United  States  Army,  found  a  nest  and  two  eggs  of 
this  species  near  Prescott,  Arizona,  on  May  22,  1891,  in  a  low,  bushy  i)ine,  about 
8  feet  from  the  ground,  fastened  securely  to  a  lot  of  pine  needles  among  which 
it  was  built;  while  Mr.  G.  P.  Wilc(».K  found  anotlier,  on  June  28,  1892,  containing 
three  eggs,  suspended  from  a  limb  of  a  small  oak,  near  Fort  Iluachuca,  Arizona. 

While  the  difierent  kinds  of  large  tree  yuccas  untpiestionably  furnish  tlie 
favorite  nesting  sites  for  this  species  within  the  bordei*s  of  the  United  States,  low 
trees  of  other  species,  as  already  stated,  including  junipers,  are  also  used  to  a 
considerable  extent.  In  Lower  California,  according  to  Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony,  it 
nests  also  in  the  thorny  branches  of  the  candlewood  (Fouqnicia  ciihdiiitiiris),  and 
Mr.  Xantus  reports  it  l)reeding  there  in  bunches  of  moss  and  in  hop  and  other 
vines  suspended  from  cacti.  He  mentions  finding  one  nest  in  a  bimcli  of  weeds 
growing  out  of  a  crevice  in  a  perpendicular  rock.  According  to  Mr.  L.  IJelding, 
it  is  known  as  the  Mountain  Oriole  in  Lower  California. 


ntr 


.:i 


474 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NOUTII  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


r 


From  two  to  four  ej»gH  are  laid  (usually  three),  and  probably  two  broods  are 
raised  in  the  more  southern  ]>arts  of  their  range  in  a  season.  They  are  ovate  and 
elongate  ovate  in  shape.  The  shell  is  thin,  rather  close  grained,  and  without 
luster. 

The  ground  color  is  pale  blue,  which  fades  considerably  in  the  course  of 
time,  and  this  is  blotched,  streaked,  an<l  spotted,  i)rincipally  about  the  larger 
end  of  the  e<rg,  with  different  shades  of  black,  mouse,  and  i)earl  gray  in  some 
specimens,  and  with  fine  claret  brown,  russet,  ferruginous,  ancl  laveniler  dots  and 
specks  in  othere. 

The  average  measurement  of  twenty-five  specimens  in  the  United  States 
National  Museum  collection  is  23.86  by  16.98  millimetres,  or  about  0.94  by 
0.67  inch.  The  largest  egg  in  this  series  measures  26.67  by  17.27  millimetres, 
or  1.0.5  by  0.68  inches;  the  smallest,  23.11  by  15.41)  millimetres,  or  0.!>1  by 
0.61  inch. 

Of  the  type  specimens.  No.  20228  (PI.  6,  Fig.  28),  from  a  set  of  three 
eggs,  Bendire  collection,  was  taken  by  the  writer,  as  already  stated;  and  No. 
2r)22.')  (PI.  6.  Fig.  2!t),  also  from  a  set  of  three,  was  taken  by  Mr.  G.  P.  Wilcox, 
near  Fort  Huachuca,  Arizona,  on  Juno  28,  1892. 


x86.    Icterus  cucullatus  Swainson. 

HOODED  OKIOLE. 

letertut  cucullatun  Sw/  xnhon,  IMiilosopliical  Magazine,  I,  1837,  436. 

(B  413,  C  218,  R  26»,  0  328,  U  505.) 

Oeooraph'JAL  RANnB:  Southern  and  eastern  Mexico,  nortk  to  the  lower  Rio 
Grande  Valley,  lU  Texas;  south  to  Honduras,  Central  America. 

The  breading  range  of  the  Hooded  Oriole  within  the  United  States  is  rather 
a  restricted  (me,  being  confined  to  the  lower  Ilio  Grande  Va^'ey  of  Texas,  where 
it  is  an  abundant  summer  resident. 

Dr.  James  C.  Merrill,  United  States  Army,  in  his  Notes  on  the  Ornithology 
of  Texas,  ])ublished  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  United  States  National  Museum 
(Vol.  I,  1878,  pp.  134,  135),  says:  '^ Icterus  niiullatm  is  usually  found  in  woods. 
The  nests  of  this  bird  found  here  are  perfectly  characteristic,  and  can  not  be 
confounded  with  those  of  any  allied  species.  They  are  usually  found  in  one  of 
the  two  following  situations:  The  first  and  most  frequent  is  in  a  bunch  of  hanging 
moss,  u.sually  at  no  great  height  from  the  gi'ound ;  when  so  placed,  the  nests 
are  formed  almost  entirely  l)y  hollowing  out  and  matting  the  moss,  with  a 
few  Tilaments  of  a  dark,  hair-like  moss  as  lining;  the  second  situation  is  in  a 
bush  (the  name  of  which  I  do  not  know)  growing  to  a  height  of  about  (i  feet, 
a  iiearb-  tem,  throwing  out  two  or  three  irregular  masses  of  leaves  at  the 

top.  1  -"  launches  of  dark-green  leaves  conceal  the  nest  admirably.  It  is 
constructed  of  filaments  of  the  hair-like  moss  just  referred  to,  with  a  litth^  Sjianish 
moss,  wool,  or  a  few  feathers  for  the  lining.     They  are  rather  wide  and  shallow 


THE  HOODED  OKIOLB. 


475 


for  Oiiolcs'  ncstH,  and  though  strong  they  appear  thin  and  delicate.  A  few  ])air8 
build  in  Spanish  bayonets  Q/iwca)  growing  on  sand  ridges  in  the  salt  prairies; 
here  the  nests  are  l)uilt  cliiefly  of  the  dry,  tough  fibers  of  this  plant,  with  a  little 
wool  or  thistle  down  as  lining;  they  are  placed  among  the  dead  and  ilepressed 
leaves,  two  or  three  of  which  are  used  as  supports." 

Mr.  George  B.  Sennett  likewise  reports  this  as  the  most  abundant  of  all  the 
Orioles  on  the  lower  Rio  Grande.  He  says:  "They  were  continually  i)eering 
about  the  thatched  roof  of  our  house  and  the  arbors  adjoining  for  insects;  tliey 
were  more  familiar  than  any  of  the  other  Orioles  about  the  ranch;  the  birds  are 
very  active  and  so  full  of  song  that  the  woods  are  filled  with  music  all  day 
h>ng.'" 

Their  food,  like  that  of  the  other  species  of  this  genus,  consists  mainly  of 
insects  and  their  larva*.  Tiie  nests  are  mostly  placed  from  (I  to  12  feet  from  tiie 
ground,  rarely  farther  up,  but  Mr.  Sennett  reports  having  found  some  fully  .HO 
feet  high.  They  are  most  frequently  placed  in  the  hanging  moss  in  various 
kinds  of  trees,  mesquite  predominating.  The  nests  built  in  yuccas  are  usually 
entirely  constructed  of  the  fiber  obtained  from  the  dry  leaves  of  this  plant, 
which  are  exceedingly  well  adapted  for  this  pui-jjose,  and  such  nests  retain  their 
sluqie  nmch  better  than  those  built  of  moss.  One  now  before  me,  in  an  excellent 
state  of  preservation,  measures  exteriorly  3J  inches  in  depth  by  3  inches  in 
wi<lth;  the  inner  cup  is  2^  inches  wide  by  2  inches  deep.  It  is  built  throughout 
of  yucca  fiber  and  contains  no  lining. 

Nidification  begins  in  April,  and  the  earliest  record  of  a  full  clutch  of  eggs 
having  been  taken  is  April  17,  a  set  of  five;  the  latest  was  July  5;  probal)ly  two 
broods  are  raised  in  a  season.  The  Hooded  Oriole  is  considerably  imposed  upon 
by  both  the  Red-eyed  and  Dwari'  Cowl)irds,  and  in  a  few  instances  parasitic  eggs 
of  both  species  are  foiuid  in  the  same  nest.  It  would  be  interesting  to  ascertain 
which  of  the  Cowbirds  survived.  Probably  the  young  Red-eyed  Cowbird  proves 
to  be  too  nmch  for  the  smaller  Dwarf  Cowbird  and  gradually  starves  it  to  death. 
None  of  these  birds  winter  with  us;  they  retire  farther  south  in  October. 

The  number  of  eggs  laid  to  a  set  varies  from  three  to  five,  sets  of  four 
being  most  common,  and  an  egg  is  deposited  <laily.  They  are  mostly  ovate  in 
shape;  the  shell  is  delicate,  ratiier  frail,  and  without  luster.  Tlui  ground  color 
is  dull  white,  occasionally  tliis  has  a  pale  buify  and  again  a  faint  bluisli  tint. 
The  eggs  are  blotdied  and  spotted,  princijjally  about  the  larger  end,  wit]>  iiTcg- 
ularly  sha])ed  markings  ranging  from  dark  seal  i)rown  to  claret  l)rown,  purple, 
mixed  with  ochraceous,  mouse,  and  pearl  gray,  and  these  rarely  run  into  lines 
and  tracings,  so  prevalent  in  the  eggs  of  most  of  our  Orioles.  Some  eggs  are 
fairly  well  marked,  others  only  faintly;  the  lighter  shades  menti<iiu'd  largely 
predominate  over  the  darker  ones,  and  in  some  the  latter  are  entirely  wanting. 

The  average  measurement  of  ninety-three  specimens  in  tiie  United  States 
National  Museum  collection  is  21.r)J)  by  ir).24  millimetres,  or  0.85  by  O.JiO  inch. 
The  largest  egg  in  the  series  measures  22.H(i  l)y  Hi  millimetres,  or  0.90  by  0.63 
inch;  the  smallest,  18.H0  by  15.24  millimetre.^,  or  0.74  by  O.fiO  inch. 


^^1 


■  "1: 


'11 


1 


ti'i 
m 


I  Hnlliitin  of  the  IT.  S.  tieoloRiciil  iind  OciKrupliicnl  Survey,  187!t,  Vol.  V.  No.  3,  ]>,  .198. 


476 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OP  NOKTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


Of  tho  type  specimens,  No.  209 lf»  (PI.  (»,  Fig.  30),  from  a  set  of  five,  taken 
by  Dr.  James  C.  Morrill,  United  States  Army,  near  Fort  Brown,  Texiw,  on  June 
16,  1877,  sliows  the  most  common  style  of  mar'Jngs,  but  these  are  usually 
heaviest  about  the  larger  end,  while  in  this  specimen,  the  only  one  1  have  seen 
so  marked,  they  are  concentrated  about  the  smaller  end  of  the  egg.  l^he  shaj)e 
of  this  egg  is  also  rather  peculiar,  and  it  is  tho  smallest  in  tho  series.  N(».  2r)343, 
(PI.  (5,  Fig.  31),  from  a  set  of  four,  taken  May  13,  1889,  near  Hidalgo,  Texas, 
represents  a  rather  o(hl  and  unusual  style  of  markings;  while  No.  2.'").')47  (PI.  6, 
Fig.  32),  from  a  set  of  five,  taken  near  Brownsville,  Texas,  (m  May  3,  1 892, 
represents  an  egg  above  the  average  size  and  shows  some  of  the  darker  colors 
referred  to  above.  The  last  two  are  from  the  Ralph  collection.  The  eggs 
figured  of  the  Arizona  Hoctded  Oriole  will  also  answer  for  extremely  hsuvily 
colored  specnnions  of  this  race. 


187.     Icterus  cucullatus  nelsoni  Ridgway. 

ARIZONA  HOODED  ORIOLE. 

IcteruK  cHcuUatm  nelsoni  Uidoway,  Proceedings  U.  S.  National  Museum,  VIII,  No.  2, 
April  li(>,  1885,  10. 

(B  — ,  0  — ,  R  — ,  C  — ,  U  50r)rt.) 

(lEOOBAi'HicAL  BANGE:  Xorthwas.'em  Mexico  (Mill  Lower  California;  north  to  south- 
western New  Mexico,  Arizona,  and  the  southern  hsilf  of  California,  west  of  the  Sierra 
Nevmlas  only. 

The  breeding  range  of  the  Arizona  Hooded  Oi-iole,  also  locally  known  in 
southern  California  as  tlie  " Palmleaf  Oriole,"  is  coextinsive  with  its  geograph- 
cal  distribution  within  tho  United  States,  and  is  restricted  to  our  soutliwesteni 
border  from  the  extremt!  southwestern  corner  of  New  Mexico  (whei'o  Dr.  Edgar 
A.  Mcanis,  united  States  Ai.uy,  obtained  a  single  specimen  in  tiie  Guadaluj)e 
Canyon,  near  the  Mexican  boundary  line,  on  October  4,  1893),  which  marks 
the  eastern  limit  of  its  known  range  in  this  direction,  through  southern  Arizona 
and  California,  north  in  this  State  to  about  latitude  38°  4.')',  where  it  is  known 
to  occur  si)aringly  as  far  north  as  Aubuni,  i'lacer  County.  While  the  range  of 
Scott's  Oriole  in  California  seems  to  be  confined  to  the  eastern  or  desert  slope 
of  the  mountains,  that  of  the  Arizona  Hooded  Oriole  apjiears  to  be  strictly 
limited  to  the  western  slope,  and  it  has  not  yet  been  found  anywhere  in  tlie 
Colorado  and  adjoining  deserts. 

According  to  Mr.  Walter  E.  Bryant,  it  is  generally  distributed  ovoi-  the 
Peni.isula  of  Lower  California,  particularly  in  the  vicinit\-  of  water  and  o{ 
human  habitations.  He  ftmnd  tliem  on  Santa  Margarita  Island  in  January.  At 
Comondu  they  wore  nesting  in  the  palm  trees.  A  young  one,  caged,  at  San  Fei'- 
nando,  was  fed  by  the  male  j)arent. ' 

'  liirilH  of  Liiwvr  California,  ('iilil'oriiia  Acailoniy  of  8ci»noeH,  Vol.  II,  1S89,  p.  ZKk 


THE  ARIZONA  UOODED  ORIOLE. 


477 


Within  our  IxtnlcrH  it  is  more  coinmon  in  Houtheni  Arizona  tlmn  imywliero 
oIho,  Jintl  I  fountl  about  twenty  of  its  nesta  hero  (hiring'  th«}  Mpriufj  and  HUinnier 
of  1872.  I  first  noticed  this  liandsome  Oriole  on  April  5,  when  I  saw  several 
males.  My  attention  was  drawn  to  tlie  bird  by  its  peculiar,  sharp,  gruting-  call, 
Uttered  while  flitting  through  the  cottonwoods  and  shrubbery  in  the  Rillito  ( 'reek 
bottom,  and  I  rarely  saw  one  far  away  from  water  at  any  season  of  tiie  yeai*. 
The  dense,  shady  groves  of  cottonwood  and  mesquite  trees  in  the  creek  bottoms 
appeared  to  be  its  favorite  haunts.  It  is  a  shy,  restless  creature,  nearly  always 
on  the  move,  looking  for  insects  of  various  kinds  and  their  larvai,  including 
hairless  caterpillars,  and  small  grasshopjiers.  During  the  mating  season,  begin- 
ning about  the  latter  part  of  April,  sevciid  ma.es  may  sometimes  be  .seen  chasing 
a  female  and  scolding  and  fighting  each  otiier  for  the  coveted  i)rize. 

In  southern  Arizona  nidification  begins  rather  late,  rarely  before  May  20, 
jind  sometimes  later.  In  southern  California,  however,  it  commences  fully  a 
month  earlier,  and  a  full  set  of  cjgs  was  taken  by  Mr.  Theodore  1).  jiurd,  near 
Riverside,  Califoniia,  on  April  23.  Mr.  W.  E.  D.  Scott  found  ten  nests  of  this 
Oriole  in  a  canyon  in  the  Santa  Catalina  Mountains  in  1884,  v/hich  are  fully 
described  in  "The  Auk"  (Vol.  II,  1885,  ])p.  \M-\r,b).  Thi:-  paper  gives  an 
excellent  account  of  its  breeding  habits  as  observed  by  him.  His  earliest  nest 
was  found  on  May  28  ivud  contained  three  fresh  eggs. 

Although  I  searched  carefully  for  nests  of  the  Ar.zona  Hooded  Oriole  during 
the  entire  month  of  May,  I  failed  to  find  any  until  June  .'>,  when  I  took  the  first 
nest,  ontaining  three  fresh  eggs.  It  was  suspended  from  j  liunch  of  niistlett)e 
growing  on  a  limb  of  a  cottonwood  tree,  about  40  feet  from  the  ground,  and  was 
hard  to  get  at.  This,  like  nearly  all  the  nests  found  by  me,  was  woven  of  a  sj)ecies 
of  slender  wiry  grass  gi'owing  in  moist  places,  which  was  used  in  a  green  state.  It 
contained  a  little  cottonwood  down  for  lining.  Its  green  color,  closely  resembling 
the  suiTounding  foliage,  made  it  very  difficult  to  see.  It  was  securely  fastened 
to  several  mistletoe  twigs  among  which  it  was  placed.  Fully  three-fifths  of  the 
nests  found  by  me  were  ])laced  in  similar  situations;  the  others  were  suspended 
in  mesquite  (excepting  one  found  in  an  ash  tree),  at  vaiious  heights  from  12  to 
45  feet  from  the  ground.  The#majority  of  these  nests  were  woven  of  this  green 
wire  grass,  which  seems  admirably  adapted  for  this  pini)ose,  and  a  few  oivly  were 
made  of  dry  yucca  fillers;  the  latter  were  much  more  easily  seen.  In  some 
instances  this  material  was  also  used  for  the  inner  lining,  mixed  with  willow 
down  or  a  little  wool,  rm'ely  with  a  few  feathers,  or  a  small  quantity  of  hoi-sehair. 

While  some  of  the  nests  were  semipensile  and  slung  somewhat  like  a  ham- 
mock, so  that  they  rocked  like  a  cradle  with  every  breeze,  in  the  majority  some  of 
the  surrounding  slender  twigs  among  which  the  nest  was  placetl  were  incorpo- 
rated into  its  walls  and  sides,  securing  it  almost  immovably  in  position.  None 
of  the  nests  seen  by  me  in  any  way  resembled  those  of  Bullock's  Oriole,  which 
was  also  common  here.  They  were  always  nmch  brighter  colored,  not  nearly 
so  deep,  and  wen^  constructed  of  entirely  different  materials.  Neither  do  the 
gi'ass-woven  nests  of  the  Arizona  Hooded  Oriole  resemble  the  common  type  of 
its  near  relative  found  in  Texas.     I  refer  to  the  nests  built  of  tree  moss,  which 


■  i.  1. 
ill' 


■'I 


i  I),  i  ,; 


■^1 


478 


LIFK  IliaXOKIES  OF  NOllTH  AMEllICAN  HIUDS. 


')i 


KM 


lire  usuiilly  located  in  hunchuH  of  tliu  miuiiu  niaturial.  Hut  tlioHt^  of  either  form 
of  tlio  Hooded  Oriole,  wlioii  Imilt  of  yucca  filters,  mif^lit  1)«)  readily  luiMtaken  for 
each  other.  Hesides  the  trees  already  mentioned,  Mr.  Scott  found  it  breediiifj  in 
sycamores,  and  in  C-alifoniia  it  nests  in  walnut,  willow,  (^yj)ress,  {ftnn,  and  fan 
palms  {Wasliint/tonid  Jilicrm),  the  fibers  of  which,  accordinjr  to  Mr.  Then.  ]). 
Ilurd,  are  almost  exclusively  used  as  nestinj^  material  in  that  locality. 

Mr.  llurd  jmhlishod  the  foHowinji;  interestinj"-  notes  on  the  nesting  habits  of 
this  Oriole,  as  observed  by  him  in  that  vicinity:  "For  the  rearin};  of  the  first 
brood  the  nests  are  usually  suspended  in  overhanging!:  branches  of  the  blue  gum 
(^Kncaljiittu.s  iilobulus),  but  it  is  a  nctticeablo  fact  that  the  second  nests  are  more 
conniionly  attached  to  the  leaves  of  the  j)alm  tree.  Why  this  is  I  do  not  know, 
unless  they  want  to  begin  laying  as  soon  as  possilde,  and  therefore  build  where 
material  is  mt)st  easily  obtained.  When  in  i)alms  the  nests  are  fastened  directly 
to  the  under  side  of  a  large  leaf,  leaving  a  small  opening  on  one  or  more  often 
on  either  side,  for  the  bird  to  enter.'" 

Mr.  11.  11.  Lawrence  took  a  nest  of  this  (V  >le  containing  four  eggs  near 
Monrovia,  California,  on  May  lit,  1893;  this  i.eitt,  vhich  he  kindly  sent  to  me, 
was  attached  to  the  under  side  of  a  banana  leaf,  about  9J  feet  from  the  ground. 
Two  other  nests  were  subsecpiently  met  with  in  similar  situations,  one  of  these 
probably  bel(»nging  to  the  pair  whose  eggs  had  been  previously  taken. 

Two  and  possibl}'^  even  three  broods  are  sometimes  raised  in  a  season.  I 
found  slightly  incubated  eggs  in  Arizona  on  August  25.  From  three  to  five  eggs 
are  laid  to  a  set:  in  Arizona  xisually  only  three  or  four;  but  Mr.  Ilurd  rei^rts 
taking  a  set  of  seven  ftn  May  (i,  IHitO.  An  egg  is  depo,sited  daily  until  the  set  is 
comj»leted.  The  Arizona  Hooded  Oriole  is  imposed  upon  to  a  c(msiderable  extent 
by  the  Dwarf  C\>wbird,  and  I  found  several  nests  containing  one  and  two  eggs  of 
this  ])ara.site  with  one  or  two  only  of  the  rightful  owner. 

Incubation  lasts  from  twelve  to  fourteen  days.  I  do  not  know  whether  the 
male  assists  in  this  duty,  but  have  seen  him  carrying  nesting  materials.  The  nest 
is  well  built,  it  is  basket  or  cup  shaped,  with  a  very  thick  bottom  and  strong 
sides.  It  averages  about  4  inches  in  height  externally.  The  inner  cup  is  oval, 
about  2^  inches  <lee|)  and  'A  by  2  inches  wide,  and  it  takes  about  four  or  five 
days  to  com])lete  it. 

Tlu*  eggs  resemble  those  of  the  Hooded  Oriole  in  general  shajie  and  ground 
color,  but  a  few  approach  a  decided  elongate  ovate;  as  a  rule  they  are  better 
marked,  and  the  darker  shades  predominate  over  the  lighten  ones;  they  also 
show  more  of  a  tendency  to  run  into  zigzag  mm'kings,  as  do  the  majority  of 
Oriole's  eggs. 

Tlie  average  measurement  of  thirty  specimens  in  the  United  iStates  National 
Musemn  collectiim  is  21.09  by  \h.'Al  millimetres,  or  about  O.Hf)  by  (>.(!1  incii. 
The  largest  egg  in  the  series  measures  24.13  by  l.'j.24  millimetres,  or  O.lio  by 
O.OOinch;  the  smallest,  1H.03  by  13.21  millimetres,  or  0.71  by  (».r)2  iiu'li. 

'Ornithologist  and  Colonist,  Vol.  XV,  ISiW,  p.  13. 


11 


THE  AKIZONA  HOODKD  ORIOLE. 


479 


The  ty|)o  Hpeoimen,  No.  20220  (PI.  7,  V\\r.  1),  from  a  Hot  of  tlireo  eggs, 
Bendire  collection,  was  taken  by  the  writer  on  Uillito  Creek,  near  TucHon, 
Arizona,  on  July  17,  1872,  and  representH  a  well-marked  Hpecimen;  while  No. 
20227  (PI.  7,  Fig.  2),  also  from  a  Het  of  three,  taken  by  the  writer  in  the  same 
vifinity,  on  AugUHt  25,  1872,  rejjresentH  u  handsome  and  peculiar  style  of  color- 
ation, which  is  alHO  occasionally  found  among  the  eggs  of  the  Hooded  Oriole, 
but  not  often  among  either. 


z88.    Icterus  spurius  (Linn.«us). 

OKrHARU  OKIOLK. 

OrioluH  upHrhin  LiNNiKUS,  Syatema  Natunp,  etl.  12,  1, 1706, 102, 
Ivterm  gpuriHn  Bonapartk,  .loiirual  Academy  Natural  Sciences,  Phila.,  Ill,  1823,  'MXi. 

(B  414,  0  215,  B  270,  0  324,  U  600.) 

GEoaRAPHiCAli  BANGr:  Eastern  United  States;  north  to  the  Houthern  border  of  the 
nonunion  of  Canada,  regularly  to  southern  Ontario,  casually  to  Houthern  New  Brunswick; 
west  to  eastern  North  and  South  Dakota,  Nebraska,  eastern  Colorado,  Kansas,  the  Indian 
Territory,  and  Texas;  south  in  winter  through  Central  America  to  Panama. 

'J^he  breeding  range  of  the  Orchard  Oriole  is  confined  to  the  eastern  and 
central  parts  of  the  United  States,  reaching  from  northern  Florida  along  the 
Gulf  cojist  west  to  the  lower  Kio  Grande  Valley,  in  Texas;  thence  north  (except- 
ing the  northwestern  parts  of  this  State)  through  the  Indian  Teiritory,  Kansas, 
and  Nebraska,  to  eastern  South  and  North  Dakota.  In  the  Mississippi  Valley  it 
reaches  about  the  northern  limits  of  its  range  in  Minnesota  and  southern  North 
l)aki>ta,  in  about  latitude  4(>'^,  while  along  the  Atlantic  coast,  in  the  New  Eng- 
land States  and  in  New  York,  it  is  rarely  met  with  north  of  latitude  42°.  It 
breeds  sparingly  in  southern  Ontario,  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  and  undoubt- 
<>dly  also  to  some  extent,  in  favorable  localities,  somewhat  farther  north  than  the 
points  indicated  above,  especially  so  in  Minnesota;  it  may  also  breed  in  small 
numbers  in  eastern  Colorado.  Mr.  Frank  M.  Chapman  reports  it  as  a  rare 
summei"  resident  at  Gainesville,  Florida.  Its  center  of  abundance  is  to  be  found 
in  the  States  bordering  the  Mississippi  Valley. 

Throughout  irs  range  in  tlie  United  States  it  is  only  a  sunnner  visitor,  and 
none  remain  with  us  dming  the  winter.  It  reenters  our  southern  border  about 
April  1,  moving  leisurely  northward  and  reaching  its  more  northern  breeding 
grouiuls  from  a  mouth  to  six  weeks  later,  according  to  the  season,  the  nuiles 
usually  preceding  the  females  by  several  days. 

Tiie  Orchard  Oriole,  though  far  less  brilliantly  colored  than  its  eastern 
congener,  the  Baltimore  ( )riole,  is  equally  well  known  though  not  quite  as  con- 
s|)icuous.  It  is  a  restless,  impidsive,  but  well-dispositioned  bird,  on  good  terms 
with  its  neighbors,  and,  though  not  particidarly  shy,  it  is  nevertheless  difficult  to 
observe  closely,  as  it  generally  conceals  itself  in  the  densest  foliage  while  at  rest, 
or  else  flits  quickly  al)out  from  twig  to  twig  in  search  of  insects,  on  which  it 
lives  almost  exclusively  tlu-oughout  the  summer  months. 


Hi 


n> 


m. 


1 


Pi 


4H() 


lAVK  llI»TOUIE8  OF  NOUTU  AMKllICAN  lUKDS. 


its  t'livorit*'  liiiunts,  an  itx  iiaiiui  iiiipliiw,  aru  nrcliarils,  and  w)u<ii  tho  applo 
and  |H-ar  tn-cH  ar«<  in  hlooni  and  tlit^  trtn-H  hav(*  connnfm  cd  to  loaf  oiiu  may  look 
tor  tlu'  On-liard  Oriole.  It  is  genorally  found  in  ratiicr  open  country,  intur- 
Hpi'iftod  lu'rc  and  tlu^ro  with  small  jfroven;  also  amon^if  tlio  Hliadt*  tri'tm  alonjf 
country  roads,  and  in  tlu*  prairio  States  among  the  trtM's  aiul  shruhlu-ry  along 
Htrcams,  preferring  such  localities  to  hoavier-tindtered  sections  luiil  forest  n'gionw. 

Its  song,  most  often  heard  in  the  earlier  spring,  is  uttered  in  a  (piick,  hurried 
manner.  Its  loud,  clear  strains,  indicating  its  impulsive  nat(U'e,  are  ]ioured  forth 
with  sucii  rai)idity  as  to  he  diHicult  to  descrihe,  and  I  shall  not  attemjtt  it;  hut 
they  remind  me  somewhat  of  those  of  the  VVarhling  \'ireo,  only  sounding  louder 
and  clearer.  A  chattering,  (pu'rulous  note,  when  disturbed  or  alarmed  from  any 
causi;,  is  also  uttered. 

Few  l)irds  do  more  good  and  less  harm  than  our  Orchard  Oriole,  especially 
to  the  fruit  grower.  The  bulk  of  its  food  consists  of  small  beetles,  plant  lice, 
tlies,  hairless  i-aterpillars,  cabbage  worms,  grassh(»ppers,  rose  bugs,  an<l  larvjv  of 
all  kinds,  while  the  few  berries  it  may  help  itself  to  during  the  short  time  they 
last  are  many  times  ])aid  for  by  the  great  uund)er  of  noxious  insects  destroyed, 
and  it  certainly  deserves  the  fullest  protection. 

Excepting  in  the  extreme  souttieni  parts  of  its  range  nest  building  does 
not  begin  much  before  May  10,  and  even  there  it  is  often  protracted  till  after 
the  middle  of  the  month.  In  southern  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  southern 
Michigan,  and  ^linne.sota  full  sets  of  fresh  eggs  may  onlinarily  be  looked  for 
from  Ma\'  "io  to  .June  10,  while  on  the  htwer  Hio  (}rande,  in  Texas,  fresh  sets 
are  occasionally  taken  during  the  first  week  in  May,  but  more  fre»|Uently  not 
until  i.!>Mut  the  :::i<ldle  (f  this  m(>ntli.  Hotli  sexe-!  assist  in  nest  l)uilding,  and 
generally  finish  <tne  in  from  three  to  fbin*  days.  The  nests  are  placed  in  trees 
or  bushes,  from  (J  to  40  feet  from  the  ground,  usually  from  12  to  20  feet,  in  a 
great  variety  of  trees,  less  often  in  conifers  than  in  deciduous  kinds.  Apple, 
l)ear,  swet^t  giun,  ditt'erent  kinds  of  oaks,  sycamore,  elm,  cot^onwood,  nuiple, 
walnut,  mesiiuite,  hackbeny,  prickly  ash,  cedar,  and  pine  are  a  few  of  the  many 
selected  as  nesting  sites.  In  the  South  the  Orchard  Oriole  nests  occasionally  in 
the  gray  moss  {TiUandsia  mncouk's)  so  commonly  found  hanging  from  many  of 
the  trees  there.  The  late  Dr.  William  ('.  Avery,  of  (ireensltoro,  Alabama,  sent 
me  a  beautiful  nest  of  this  sjieeies,  built  in  a  bunch  of  such  moss,  pending  from 
a  post  oak,  about  2r)  feet  from  the  grouml,  and  taken  on  May  27,  1«!>1.  A  huit- 
able  cavity  wa.s  fashioned  in  the  moss,  and  this  is  well  lined  with  the  wiry  green 
grass  which  is  nearly  always  used  by  the  Orchard  Ori<>le  in  the  construction  of 
its  nests.  The  inside  is  si)anngly  lined  with  plant  down.  To  what  extent  this 
mode  of  building  prevails  I  am  unable  to  tell,  but  1  believe  it  is  rather  unusual, 
even  in  localities  where  this  moss  is  abundant. 

The  location  and  manner  of  attaching  its  ingeinously  woven,  basket-like 
nests  vary  gn^atly.  Some  are  set  in  a  crotch  formed  by  several  small  twigs;  the 
b(»ttom  of  the  nest  occasi<»nally  rests  on  and  is  supj)orted  by  these,  and  again 
in  similar  locations  it  is  unsujjpoi-ted,  but  the  sides  are  securely  fastened  to 
several  of  the  twigs  among  which  it  is  placed;  then  again  some  are  built  in  a 


.  lip  . 


I 


TUK  OUCilAUD  OltlOLBS. 


481 


fork  of  H  liori/.iiiitiil  liiiil),  liko  tlio  iioHt  of  an  Acailian  KlycatcluT  or  a  Viroo, 
both  Hi)k'H  of  flat  iicHt.  I)ciu<r  fastened  to  tlut  fork  in  which  it  is  phieed;  a^ain  it 
may  ho  fasteiUHl  to  soniu  snitahht  twi^s  hy  the  rini  only,  in  the  manner  of  ti 
lianinioek.  Coini)aratively  few,  ex<'ei>tinf(  those  of  tiie  hist  styhi  and  those  hniU 
in  moss,  ean  really  he  ealled  pensile  or  even  seniiponsilo  nests.  They  also  vary 
^rreatly  in  ))nlk  and  deptli. 

A  well-preserved  nest  from  the  Ralph  collection.  No.  25347,  taken  on  Shelter 
Island,  Sntfolk  (Jonnty,  New  York,  on  dnne  ;{,  IHSO,  contained  six  e}^<>s  when 
found.  It  was  placed  in  an  iipri^dit  fork  of  a  small  branch  in  a  thorn  pear  tree, 
about  1(J  feet  from  the  fj^ronn<l,  and  is  composed  of  wiry  jrrass  used  while  frrcon, 
and  is  lady  slightly  HiumI  with  ]ilant  down.  The  outer  diameter  at  the  widest 
part,  a  little  below  the  middle  of  the  nest,  is  4^  inches;  the  outside  depth  is  4 
inches.  The  upper  rim  of  the  ncfst  is  sonu'what  contracted;  the  inner  cup  is 
3  inches  de«'p  by  2.^  iiu'hes  in  diameter.  T!ie  sides  are  thick  and  secin'ely 
fastened  to  .neveral  branches,  but  the  Itottom  does  not  come  within  2  inches 
of  the  f(a'k  of  the  crotch  in  which  it  is  placed.  Another  nest,  No.  202m,  taken 
l»y  Mr.  II.  P.  Attwater,  on  the  St.  diaries  I'eninsula,  near  Kockport,  Aransas 
County,  Texas,  on  May  10,  IH\K\,  contained  six  efi'},'s,  and  was  placed  in  an  upri;^ht 
crot«'h  of  a  mes(piite  tree,  H  feet  from  the  ffroniid,  and  only  25  yards  from  salt 
water.  This  is  much  slifj^hter  built,  and  measiu'es  oidy  3  by  3  inches  in  outer 
diameter;  the  inner  cup  is  2.J  inches  din-p  and  2  inches  wide;  tlitt  ujiper  rim 
of  the  ne.st  is  also  somewhat  contracted.  This  is  likewise  constructed  of  line, 
wiry  f>ras8,  and  is  ap|»arently  lined  with  a  little  thistle  down.  The  ni-sts  taken 
in  tlm  South  appear  to  bo  nmeh  less  bulky  than  those  from  the  northern  parts 
of  its  l>reedin;>'  ranf^e. 

Many  of  these  nests  retain  their  bri}»'ht  pea-^j^reen  color  for  yeai"s.  Mr.  1). 
H.  Burrows  writes  mo  that  some  nests  of  this  species,  whi<'h  he  foiuid  in  Starr 
( 'ounty,  Texas,  were  so  well  lined  with  cotton  that  the  interior  had  a  beautiful, 
smooth,  pure  white  appearancie.  In  the  northern  parts  of  its  rani.fe  the  Orchard 
Oriolo  is  more  or  less  imposed  upon  by  the  ( -owbird;  and  Mr.  Ihirrows  informs 
mo  that  on  the  lower  Hio  Grande,  in  Texas,  its  nests  oftener  contain  parasitic 
e^r^s  of  both  tlie  Ked-eyed  and  Dwarf  (!owbirds  than  any  other  species  noticed 
l»y  him.  The  Orchard  Oriole  is  a  very  social  l)ird  and  does  not  object  to  other 
species  nestiu}''  in  the  same  tree  with  it;  it  seems  to  be  on  esjiecially  f^ood 
terms  with  the  Kin<>;bird.  Most  of  its  time  is  spent  in  trees,  and  it  is  rarely  seen 
on  the  {ground.     Its  tlij^ht  is  swift,  easy,  and  j^raceful. 

Krom  four  to  six  egfjs  are  usually  laid  to  u  set  (mostly  iivo)  and  ono  is 
doi)osited  dai^y.  Incul)ation  lasts  about  twelve  days,  and  I  am  of  tho  opinion 
tiiat  this  duty  is  exclusively  performed  by  the  female.  I  have  never  seen  tho 
male  on  tlie  ne.st,  but  have  seen  him  feed  his  mate  while  incubating.  I  believe 
as  a  rule  <»nly  one  brood  is  raised  in  a  season.  Both  parents  show  ecjual  solici- 
tude and  devotion  in  the  care  and  defen.se  of  their  young  from  jtrowling  enemies, 
and  will  boldly  and  furiously  attack  any  intruder.  In  the  northern  parts  of  its 
range  the  fall  mijiration  begins  sometimes  in  the  latter  part  of  July,  usually  in 


!  >  ! 
,  I 

;1 


16896— No.  ; 


-31 


482 


lilKK  IliUTOKlliH  OK  NORTH  AMKKM^VN  lilUDH. 


til*)  lH<^iiiniii^'  of  Aii<>:iiHt,  <'i>iii|iiirativi*ly  t'«\v   liinlH  rfiiiiiiiiiii^  iit  tlin  cidI  nf  tliirt 
iiiiiiitli. 

'Plio  vnnx  iii'ti  iiiimtly  ovalit  in  hIiii|ii',  Imt  ocrtiHioiiiilly  a  ni^t  \h  rmiiiil  wliirli 
\h  *l«M'i<lu«lly  I'liiiipitt*  ovat*'.  TIm*  h\\v\\  '\h  iMoilfrattOy  Hti'dii^;,  rlom*  paiii<'<|,  aial 
without  ^loHH.     'I'lif  ^roiinii  tolor  is  iiHiially  |ialt*  hliiisli  wiiit**,  and  tliiH  \h  homk*- 


tnnt'H 


t'ainti 


V  ovci'laK 


I  witi 


I  |taio  |M'ari  ;i:i'ay  or  jrrayiHJi  wintc 


Tlu' 


niarkni;>H, 


wliicli  lU'ti  n«*arly  alwavH  lit-avifst  aliout  tlu>  lar^rcr  cml  of"  tlm  cj^n',  consiKt  of 
lilott-lics,  H|)ots,  HcrawlK,  and  tracin^fs  of  miveral  sliadt'H  of  brown,  |)ur|ili>,  lav- 
(Midcr,  and  pcari  ilf^y,  varyin;r  in  ainoinit  and  intensity  in  ditlcn-iit  HptTiincnK. 
In  tilt'  niajority  of  tiitt  t'lmn  lirforit  iii«  tli«  darkxr  iiiarkiii^s  |ii't'doiiiinat«',  hut 
tim  lij,'htt'i-rolon'd  and  more  neutral  tints  an*  nearly  always  present  to  a  f,'reater 
or  less  extent. 

'I'he  averau-e  iii<*asiireinent  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-thret*  specimens  in 
thw  United  States  National  Miiseimi  collection  is  20.47  hy  I  l.'>4  niillinietreK,  or 
aliout  (t.Hl  hy  0.57  inch.  The  larjfest  ejfj;;  in  the  series  measures  '2'2,lMt  liy  iri.'24 
milliinetres,  or  0.S8  hy  0.(>0  inch;  tlut  sinallust,  IH.OiJ  hy  14.2"J  millinu'ties,  or 
0.71  hy  0.r>(;  inch. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  21(i70  (IM.  7,  Kig.  !<)>  I*«'iidi"e  collection,  from  an 
incomplettt  set  taken  hy  Mr.  A.  .1.  Dayan,  near  New  Haven,  ( "oimecticut.  is  a 
vei\  peculiarly  and  oddly  marked  e^ij;-,  and  is  Hjrured  on  this  accoimt.  No. 
•J4H()4  (IM.  7,  Fif^.  4),  from  a  set  of  five  taken  in  Chatham  ('ounty,  (Jeorj^'ia,  May 
21,  ISDO,  and  presentetl  hy  Mr.  W.  \'\  Wehh,  represents  a  rather  heavily  marked 
specimen;  while  No.  2r)r»riO  (IM.  7,  Vifx.  5),  Ralph  collection,  from  a  set  of  ftau', 
taken  in  Cameron  (bounty,  Texas,  Ma)-  10,  IH!)2,  represents  a  rather  light- 
colored  and  an  averago-niarkod  oyg. 


l8g.     Icterus  galbula  (Linn.1':uh). 

llAl/riMOUK  OKIOLK. 

<'<>vnvi(t»  UitlhuUi  I/INN/Klis,  Hystoiiia  Natinii-,  ed.  10,  \lTtH,  lOS. 
Ivtvrim  yalbiila  (JoUK«,  bulletin  Niittall  Oriiitliological  Club,  V,  IStM).  l»S. 

(U  4ir.,  <J  L'lO,  l{  271,  C  3L'0,  U  507.) 

(iKodUAi'HK'AL  itANOE:  I'lastcrii  North  America;  iiortli  to  the  sdiithern  Iwider  of 
the  Doiniiiiiai  ot'Caiiiida,  I'roia  Nova  .Scotia  aiul  southorii  New  liruiiswick  westward  through 
Ontario  ami  .Manitoba  to  iSasliatcliewan,  where  it  roaches  the  iiorthuru  known  limits  of  its 
range  in  hititiule  .")5'^;  west  to  eastern  Assiniboin,  tlio  eastern  parts  of  Montana,  NV.vo- 
iiiiiig(T),  Culuiado,  and  Texas;  south  in  winter  througli  eastern  Mexico  and  Central 
America  to  l*aiiama.  Accidental  at  York  Kitctury,  Koewatiii,  Dominion  of  Canada,  the 
Island  of  Cuba,  and  the  Shetland  Islands,  Kuropo. 

Within  the  htirders  of  tho  United  States  tho  breeding  range  of  the  Haiti- 
more  Oriole,  also  variously  known  as  "Golden  Robin,"  "  Kire-bird,"  "I'ea-hird," 
"Hanging-bird,"  and  "Ilang-nest,"  is  riuarly  coextensive  with  its  geographical 
distribution,  with  tho  excejitions  that  it  does  not  ajijiear  to  breed  at  all  in  southern 
Florida  and  is  generally  rare  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  (Julf  coast. 


iilti- 
inl," 
liciil 
hori) 


TlIK  HAI/riM    Iti:  OUIOLK. 


483 


II  ToxiiH,  (luring;  tlM<  !ii-t>tMliii;r  hcuhoii,  it  in  t'liiiini  mily  in  tlio  innrt*  fiiHtnii 
portinim  of  till)  Still**,  iiiiil  ii|i|i«<iirH  to  ho  nun  dvcii  tlicrc,  cxcoptiiijf  in  tlic  ntntli- 
fUHtuni  |iui-t.  It  iM  II  i-uniiiion  Miiniiiutr  rcHiiii-nt  in  tlio  Inilian  'rumtmy  iiiul 
KiiiiHiis,  wliilo  ill  ('iiHtoiii  Colurmlo  and  Montana  it  iniiHt  \hi  cuiiHiilcnMl  as  lari'. 
It  |iaHH0H  lioyoial  uiir  iHtrtlcr  into  ftisti  rn  AHHinilmia,  ami  is  cuniniDn  in  Manitnlni, 
iviicliiii^r  tilt)  tiorthfin  limits  ol'  its  ran^ro  in  the  iiitfiiur  in  Saskatilutwaii,  wIk-i-d 
('apt.  T.  Hlakistiin  iimt  witli  it  in  latitmlo  r>ri"  N.  TlK'Ufi)  to  tli«>  fastwiinl  it  is 
I'oiinnoii  in  Ontario,  lint  lu'coiiifs  raror  tofvanl  tint  Atlantif  coast,  ami  is  only 
im)t  with  in  small  niimlicrs  in  soiithorn  New  Itninswick,  wlitTi-  it  is  n>port*M|  to 
luffd  rt'ffiilarly  near  Woodstot-k,  on  tlm  St.  .lolin's  Uiver,  and  it  lias  ht'cn  taken 
in-iir  ilalit'iix,  Nova  Scotia,  and  also  prohahly  nests  here  to  a  limited  extent. 

In  northern  Maine  the  Italtimoro  Oriole  is  rather  rare.  .Mr.  Manly  Hardy, 
of  Hrewer,  writes  iin<ler  (hito  ot"  April  2!l,  IHDI:  "We  tind  many  species  ot" 
birds  hero  now  wliit^h  wore  not  fonnd  thirty  years  ayfo,  and  othei-H  ai*o  slowly 
inovin^f  this  way.  I  find  that  certain  species  do  not  advance  eastward  faster 
than  from  2  to  fi  miles  a  year.  The  Haltimore  Oriole  reached  here  thirty-odd 
years  a^jfo,  lint  was  fonnd  on  the  Kennohoo  Miver,  fit)  miles  west,  tweuty-livo  years 
provimisly,  and  I  am  certain  that  it  was  in  IJaiifii'or  three  years  Itefore  it  crossed 
tho  river  to  Brovver,  and,  althon<,di  a  ro}^ular  visitor  horo  now,  I  have  not  soon 
it  oven  a  inilo  oast  of  here  as  yet." 

The  Maltiinoro  Oriolo  is  a  common  and  well-known  Itinl  throntjhout  our 
Fiiistern,  Middle,  and  Northern  States.  In  the  lJ|iper  Mississippi  Valley  it  has 
jfreatly  increased  in  niimhers  within  tho  last  thirty  years,  siiict*  the  country 
has  been  settled,  and  it  appears  to  he  holdinj^  its  own  in  the  Kast  where  many 
other  species  aro  slowly  <lecreasinf,^  This  is  undoubtedly  due  to  its  {^-reat  popu- 
larity in  our  rural  distrii^ts,  where  its  beiu'ticial  ipialities  are  jiretty  jieneriilly 
uiuh'rstood.  Aside  from  its  showy  )»lunia;>e,  its  .spri{i|;htly  and  pleasiii";-  ways,  its 
familiarity  with  man,  and  the  immense  amount  of  good  it  does  by  tho  destruction 
<»f  many  noxious  insects  an<l  their  larviv,  including  hairless  caterpillars,  spicUns, 
cocoons,  etc.,  it  naturally  and  dosorvedly  endears  itself  to  every  true  lover  of  tliu 
beautiful  in  nature,  and  uidy  a  short-sighted  churl  or  an  ignorant  fool  would 
bogmdge  one  tho  few  green  peas  and  berries  it  may  li(?lp  itself  to  while  in  season. 
It  fully  earns  all  it  takes,  and  more  too,  and  osuocially  deserves  tho  fullest  pro- 
tuctiun  of  every  agriculturist. 

The  l?altimore  ()ri(do  usually  arrives  in  tho  southern  Now  England  State.s, 
in  central  New  York,  and  Minnesota,  with  almost  invariable  regularity,  about 
May  10,  rarely  \arying  a  week  from  this  date;  it  arrives  correspondingly  earlior 
or  later  farther  south  or  north.  About  this  time  the  trees  havv;  commenced  t(» 
leaf,  and  many  of  tho  orchards  are  in  bloom,  .so  that  their  arrival  coincides 
with  tho  loveliest  time  of  the  year.  The  males  usually  iirecedo  the  females 
by  two  or  three  days  to  their  breeding  grounds,  and  tho  .siiiiie  site  is  fro((uently 
occupied  for  several  seasons,  and  nt»t  infreciuontly  tho  same  nest.  It  is  very 
ram.';  attachecl  to  a  locality  when  once  chosen  for  a  home,  and  is  loath  to  leave 
it.  Few  birds  are  more  devoted  to  each  other  than  these  Orioles,  and  1  am  of 
the  opiuiou  that  thoy  romaiu  mutod  through  lifo.     Thou-  favorito  huuuts  iu  our 


•II 


I  Mi 


11 


•  I 


M 


1 

1 

1 

■ 

I 

i 

.M 

In 

1 

L 

,f  d 

n 

t  1 

1 

-.   1 

II 

-r 

I 


' 


ij'h; 


m' 


484 


LIFE  FIISTOUIE8  OF  NOKTII  AMEUICAN  JUUDS. 


Eastern  States  are  t'ouiul  in  ratlier  open  country,  alonjj  roads  bonlered  with  sliade 
trees,  creek  bottoms,  orchards,  and  the  borders  of  small  thnbered  tracts.  It  is 
e(|ually  at  home  in  villages  or  cities  of  consideraljle  size,  as  lonj^  as  they  fiu'- 
nish  suitable  trees  for  nesting  sites.  It  shuns  swampy  and  marshy  trai-ts  and 
extensive  forests. 

A  very  peculiar  note,  a  long-drawn-out,  chattering  "chae,  chac,  chat;,"  is  apt 
to  draw  one's  attention  to  it  on  its  first  arrival,  and  this  is  more  or  less  fre(iuently 
uttered  throughout  the  season.  This  note  is  difficult  to  rejtroduce  exactly,  and 
I  Hnd  its  songs  still  more  so.  One  sounds  somewhat  like  "hioh,  hioh,  tweet, 
tweet;"  anothei  something  like  "whee-he-he,  whee-he-he,  oh  whee-he-he-woy- 
wov."  This  last  is  nuich  more  softly  uttered  than  the  first.  Mr.  T.  Nuttall 
describes  one  of  their  songs  as  "tshij)pe-tshayia-too-too-tshippe-tshippa-too-too," 
and  there  are  others  impossible  to  render.  The  young,  after  leaving  the  nest, 
utter  a  note  like  "he-he-hiie,"  and  another  like  "heek-heek-he,"  varied  occasion- 
allv  bv  a  low  twittering.  Shortly  after  their  arrival  they  sing  almost  incessantly 
when  not  eating;  but  later  in  the  season,  when  they  have  their  always  hungry 
family  to  provide  for,  they  are  more  silent.  Their  fligiit  is  strong,  swift,  anil 
graceful,  and  they  are  far  more  at  home  on  the  wing  tiian  on  the  ground,  when^ 
they  are  seldom  seen  exce})t  when  picking  up  some  insect  or  in  search  of  nesting 
material. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  nidification  commences 
about  the  middle  of  May,  and  full  sets  of  eggs  may  be  looked  for  the  last  week 
in  this  month,  while  in  central  New  York,  Connecticut,  Wisconsin,  southern 
Minnesota,  etc.,  they  usually  nest  from  eight  to  fourteen  days  late". 

Few  of  our  native  birds  build  a  more  ingeniimsly  constructed  nest  than  tin; 
Baltimore  Oriole,  and  it  nuist  always  be  considered  a  most  interesting  exani|»le 
of  bird  architecture,  taking  time,  hitelligence,  and  good  judgment  to  construct, 
and  from  five  to  eight  days  are  usually  required  for  its  comj)letion. 

Some  nests  show  a  great  superiority  over  others  in  general  make-uj)  and 
workmanship,  and  are  perhajjs  the  product  of  old  and  experienced  Itirds,  wliile 
the  younger  ones,  from  lack  of  judgment,  often  select  })oor  sit«'s,  or  else  seciu'e 
their  nests  (sarelessly  to  the  sujjporting  twigs,  so  that  many  are  destroyed  before 
the  young  reach  maturity. 

Ordinarily  the  nest  of  the  Baltimore  Oriole  is  j)ensile,  and  is  usually  sus- 
pended by  the  rim  from  the  extremities  of  several  slender  branches,  to  which  it 
is  attacheil.  Others,  besides  being  fastened  by  the  rim,  which  is  always  neat 
and  smoothly  finished,  are  attached  to  some  perpendicuhu'  fork  or  limb  by  one 
of  the  sides,  thus  steadying  the  nest  and  preventhig  it  from  swinging  too  much 
during  heavy  winds.  In  a  truly  jiensile  nest  simie  of  tlie  eggs  are  occasionally 
cracked  by  the  violent  swaying  of  the  slender  twigs  to  which  it  is  attached, 
while  if  fastened  at  the  side  this  occiu's  very  rarely,  ludess  the  entire  lind)  is 
torn  off.  Both  sexes  assist  in  nest  building.  The  materials  used  for  the  frame- 
work consist  })rincipally  of  decayed  fibers,  such  as  those  of  the  Indian  hemp 
(^Apoci/iiHia  an(fro.s(cmi/oUum),  the  silk  of  milkweed  (Asclrpia.s),  nettles  (l^rtira), 
aud,  when  located  near  human  habitations,  of  horsehair,  bits  of  twine,  yarn, 


m 


'.v. 


THE  BALTIMORE  ORIOLE. 


485 


strips  of  grapovine  hark,  etc.  Witli  hucIi  materials  a  strong  purse  or  poiich- 
•sliaped  nest  is  woven  and  firmly  attached  to  one  or  more  forked  twifys  hy  the 
slif^htly  contracted  rin;,  and  it  is  usually  placed  in  such  a  position  that  the  entrance 
is  well  shaded  hy  leiify  twills  above.  All  sorts  of  materials  are  used  in  linin<f  the 
bottom  and  sides  of  the  nest — cotton,  wool,  tow,  ra<^s,  cattle  hair,  fur,  fine  strips 
of  bark,  tree  moss,  fine  •'•rass,  and  jilant  down.  They  readily  avail  themselves  of 
any  suitable  materials,  such  as  yam,  which  may  be  thrown  out  to  them,  bnt 
l»r(*f('r  plain  to  {raudy  colored  stuffs.  I  have  a  nest  before  me  which  has  a  couple 
of  tassels,  made  of  white  cotton  twine,  pending  loosely  from  the  side  of  the  nest. 
This  jie.st.  No.  2.'')112,  was  taken  b}-  Mr.  II.  P.  Attwater,  near  Chatham,  Ontario, 
in  June,  IHSfi.  It  is  firndy  attached  to  and  jjendant  from  three  small  twigs,  and 
is  composed  of  twine,  horsehair,  and  plant  fibers;  the  walls,  although  rather  thin, 
are  greatly  strengthened  by  the  quantity  of  horsehair  iised.  It  is  externally  fi 
inches  deej),  and  the  entrance,  which  is  oval  in  shape,  mea-sun^s  i\\  by  2  inches  in 
diameter.  The  cup  is  4  J  inches  deep  by  2.J  inches  wide.  This  is  a  truly  pensile 
nest.  Anothei,  No.  2r)904,  taken  bv  Mr.  Otto  Widmann,  near  St.  Lom's,  Missouri, 
on  May  31,  1884,  an  excciedingly  well-built  example,  was  suspended  from  some 
small  twigs  growing  out  of  an  upright  fork  of  an  elm  branch  about  half  an  inch 
tiiickand  some  2.')  feet  from  the  groimd,  it  was  also  fnstened  to  one  branch  of  the 
fork  for  nearly  the  entire  depth  of  the  nest.  It  measures  !l  inches  in  length 
by  r>  inches  in  external  diameter,  and  is  nearly  cylindrical  in  shape.  It  is  fully 
T)  inches  deep  .and  3  inches  wide  inside.  The  o])ening  of  the  nest  was  well  pro- 
tecti'd  from  above  bj'  several  small,  leafy  twigs;  a  few  long  streamers  of  hemp-like 
fibers  hang  down  from  the  sides  and  bottom.  Tlu^  inside  is  lined  with  horsehair 
and  plant  down.  Although  rather  slovenly  looking  from  tlu^  outside,  this  is  by 
far  the  best  built  nest  of  this  species  I  have  seen.  The  color  of  some  of  the 
nests  varies  considerably  according  to  the  materials  used;  some  look  almost 
white,  others  a  pale  straw  color,  and  the  majority  smoke  gray.  In  the  South  the 
lialtimore  Oriole,  like  the  preceding  species,  builds  occasittn.ally  in  bunches  of 
the  gray  moss  (^TiUaiidsia  usncoidcs). 

The  nests  are  usually  suspended  from  long,  slender,  droopinji'  branches  of 
elm,  ma]»le,  birch,  weeping  willow,  buttonwofid,  sycamore,  oak,  aspen,  pojdar, 
Norway  spruce,  a])}»le,  pear,  and  wild  cherry  trees;  bnt  in  .some  localities  they 
are  frequently  built  in  the  very  top  and  center  of  a  tree,  where  it  is  almost  inqtos- 
sible  to  see  them.  They  are  ])laced  at  various  heights  from  the  gnmnd,  from 
8  to  .'')0  feet  and  more,  and  frequently  in  utterly  inaccessible  positions.  '^Dk^ 
Baltimore  Oriole  is  tolerant  and  amiably  disj)osed  tow.ard  its  smaller  neighbors, 
and  such  are  often  allowed  to  ne.st  in  the  same  tree,  and  occasionally  within  a 
few  feet  of  its  own  nest. 

Incubation  lasts  about  fiun-teen  days,  and  I  think  the  female  attends  to  this 
duty  almost  e.xclusively.  Hoth  sexes  are  extrenu'ly  devoted  to  each  otiier,  as 
well  as  to  their  eggs  and  young,  defending  these  bravely  against  all  intruders. 
?>om  four  to  six  eggs  are  laid  to  a  set,  most  frequently  four,  though  sets  of  (ivi^ 
are  not  miconnnon,  while  sets  of  six  are  rather  rare.  One  is  dejiosited  daily,  and 
only  one  brood  is  raised  in  a  season.    The  young  are  able  to  leave  the  nest  when 


-.|i 


7-i 


i' 


486 


LIFI-:  HISTORlP]S  OF  NOUTH  AMEUIOAN  BIRDS. 


about  two  weeks  old,  uiul  may  then  bo  seen  sitting  on  some  of  the  branches 
(ilose  by  and  clamoring  for  food.  They  are  fed  entirely  on  insects,  etc.,  and  are 
faitlifnlly  cared  for  by  the  parents  until  able  to  provide  for  themselves.  The 
migration  from  the  northern  sections  of  their  breeding  range  to  their  winter 
homes  in  Central  America  begins  usually  in  August,  but  oc(^asionally  some  birds 
linger  until  September.  This  species  is  rarely  imposed  on  by  theCowbird.  The 
eggs  of  the  Baltimore  Oriole  are  usually  elongate  ovate  in  shajie,  more  rarely 
ovate.     The  shell  is  tine  grainiid,  nuxlerately  .strong,  and  shows  but  little  gloss. 

The  ground  color  is  ordinarily  pale  grayish  white,  one  of  those  subtle  tints 
which  is  ditHcult  to  describe;  in  a  few  cases  it  is  pale  blui.sh  white,  and  less  oft(<n 
the  ground  color  is  clouded  over  in  places  with  a  faint,  pale  ferruginous  suffusion. 
The  ogg  is  streaked,  blotcluMl,  and  cDvcred  with  irregularly  shaped  liiu's  and 
tracings,  generally  heaviest  about  the  larger  e'ld  of  tlu*  v<rf!:,  with  different  shades 
of  black  and  brown,  and  more  sparingly  with  lighter  tints  of  smoke,  lavender, 
and  pearl  gray.  In  a  few  instances  the  markings  form  an  irregular  wreath,  and 
occasionally  a  set  is  found  entirely  unmarked. 

The  av(>rage  measurenuMit  of  fifty -six  eggs  In  the  United  States  National 
Mu.seiim  collection  is  23.(>;{  l»y  ir».4r>  millimetres,  or  about  O.Ul  by  ().(!l  inch. 
The  largest  o^m  of  tiu^  series  measures  'iri.id  by  1(J.7<>  millimetres,  or  1.02  by 
().()(;  inches;  the  smallest,  'H).Hl\  by  14.!»!l  millimetres,  or  ().S2  l»y  i).M  inch. 

Of  the  type  specimens.  No.  22(144  (PI.  7,  Fig.  (1),  from  a  set  of  fom-,  taken 
by  th(i  late  Caj)t.  H.  F.  (Joss,  near  I'ewaiikcH',  Wisconsin,  on  June  7,  1H72,  shows 
a  rather  unusual  type  of  markings;  No.  2r)r)r)7  (PI.  7,  Fig.  7),  from  a  set  of  five, 
Halj)!)  collection,  taken  on  Shelter  Island,  New  York,  .Innc  10,  1882,  rc'im'sents 
one  of  the  finer  and  more  )>rofusely  marked  examples;  No.  '2')')^  (PI.  7,  Fig.  8), 
also  from  a  set  of  five,  taken  l»y  Dr.  William  L  Hal}»li,  near  Holland  i'atenf. 
New  York,  ,^nuv  3,  1887,  .shows  the  coarser  style  of  markings  and  a  rather  dark 
ground  color;  and  No.  2584(1  (PI.  7,  Fig.  it),  from  a  set  of  lour,  taken  on  Jiuie 
7,  1887,  by  the  same  collector  and  at  the  same  place  as  the  last,  shows  a  speci- 
men ill  which  the  markings  are  maiidy  confined  to  the  center  of  the  egg. 


igo.     Icterus  bullocki  (Swainson). 

lUILLOCK'H  OKIOI.R. 

XdHthorniiH  hulloeki  SwATN  iON,  Pliilosopliicftl  Magazine,  1,  1827,  436. 
Ictfriis  hiillocki  Honai'Arti  ,  (Icofjrapliical  and  doinpaiativo  List,  1838,  2!>. 

(B  IKi,  0  217,  11  272,  C  327,  U  508.) 

("lEOOTJArmrAi,  ijanok:  Wpstmn  North  America;  north  t^  sonlliorn  British  Colum- 
bia, sontlicrn  AllxMta,  and  Assiniboia,  Dominion  of  Canada;  oast  to  western  North  and 
South  Dakota,  western  Nebraska,  ea.stern  Colorado,  and  western  Texas;  fxiwer  California; 
south  in  winter  into  the  valley  of  Mexieo  and  to  Puebla.    Accidental  in  Maine. 

Ihdlock's  Oriole,  a,  s))ecies  as  handsome*  and  cons])icnous  as  the  ])rec,eding 
one,  replaces  it  in  the  western  portions  of  the  United  States,  and  i.-  likewise 
widel)-  distributed.    Its  breeding  rang«*  within  our  borders  eorrespomls  to  its  dis- 


m 


BULLOCK'S  ORIOLE. 


487 


tribwtion.  It  is  only  a  summer  resident  with  us,  urrivinj^  usually  troin  its  winter 
haunts  in  Mexico  duriufr  the  last  half  of  ALandi,  an<l  niovinjf  slowly  north- 
ward, reaches  the  more  northern  j)arts  f>f  its  breedinj^  ran<;e  from  a  month  to 
six  weeks  later.  It  appears  to  be  nuich  rarer  in  th(»  immediatt!  vicinity  of  the 
scacoast  than  in  the  Great  Basin  regions,  when*  it  is  common  nearly  everywhere, 
«*spe»Mally  if  suHicient  water  is  found  to  sui)port  a  few  stunted  cottonwodds  and 
willows.  I)inMn;r  my  extensive  wanderinrja  throuj^h  nearly  all  of  the  States  west 
of  the  liocky  Mountains,  and  extending  from  the  i\[exican  to  the  Hritish  borders, 
I  have  m(*t  with  this  species  almost  everywhere  in  th(*  lowlands,  and  in  some 
localiti(*s  have  found  it  very  abundant.  Like  the  Baltimore  Oriole,  it  avoids 
densely  wooded  rc^gions  and  the  higher  mountains.  It  is  es])ecially  abundant 
in  the  rolling  prairie  country,  traversed  here  and  there  by  small  streams  having 
their  sources  in  some  of  tlu*  many  minor  mountain  ranges  which  are  such  promi- 
nent features  of  the  landscape*  in  portions  of  Idaho,  Wasiiington,  and  Oregon. 
These  strciams  are  fringed  with  groves  of  cottonwood,  mixed  with  liirch,  willow, 
and  alder  bushes,  which  are  the  favorite  resorts  of  this  Oriole  during  the 
bn^eding  season.  Tlie  immediate*  vicinity  of  water  is,  however,  not  considered 
al)Solut(*ly  necessary,  as  I  have  found  it  nesting  fidiv  a  mih*  or  more  away 
from  it  on  iiillsides,  tlie  eilgc^s  of  tal)le-lands,  and  in  isolated  trees  or  even  in 
bushes.  In  Oolonido  it  is  siiiil  to  lie  found  at  altitudes  of  over  S.OOO  feet,  itut 
as  a  rul(*  it  prefers  much  low(*r  cdevations.  I  also  met  witli  it  iit  Fort  Ouster, 
Montana,  where,  iiow(*\«*r,  it  was  not  connnon,  and  along  the  eastern  border  of 
its  range  it  overlaps  that  of  the  Maltimore  ( )rioIe  for  considerable  distances.  In 
western  Texas  it  is  conmioM  and  breecls  as  far  sontii  iis  the  mouth  of  the  IJio 
(Irande.  It  also  Itreeds  in  northern  Lower  fJalifoi-nia  and  northern  .Mexico.  In 
rioiith(>rn  .Vrizona  and  Xew  iMexi(^o  I  found  it  not  unconnnon,  but  not  nearlv  as 
aliundant  as  in  (*astern  ( h'egon  and  in  Idaho,  where  it  was  present  everywliere 
in  suitiible  localities.  In  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Lapwai,  Idaho,  it  was  especiallv 
abundant,  nnd,  although  snital)lt*  ncstn.g  sites  were*  by  no  means  .scarce,  I  have 
seen  thrct*  occupied  nests  of  tliis  OrioU  in  a,  sinidl  l»irch  tree*  close  to  a  nest  of 
the  Arkansas  Flyciitclier,  sliowing  tliem  to  lie  very  so<'iabie  liirds.  Near  ("amp 
Ilarney,  Oregon,  a  Swainson's  Hawk,  an  Arkansas  Flycatcher,  and  a  jiair  of 
this  species  iiestc(l  in  th(>  siime  tree,  a  good-sized  pine.  Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher  tells 
me  that  lu*  saw  Inmdreds  of  tliest*  nests  in  a  large  row  of  cottonwoods,  east  of 
IMuenix,  Arizona,  in  .June,  1H!)2. 

The  call  notes  of  Bullock's  Oriole  are  very  similar  to  those  of  the  Baltimore, 
but  its  song  is  neither  as  jileasing  to  th(*  enr  nor  as  cleiu-  and  melodious  as 
that  of  tla*  latter.  Its  food  is  similar,  and  consists  principally  of  insects  and 
a  few  wild  berries.  Niditication  Itegins  lat(*  in  May,  and  fresh  eggs  may  be 
looked  tor  throughout  the  greater  ))art  of  its  nmg(  during  the  first  week  in  .bme. 
In  southern  Oalifornia,  Arizona,  and  southwestern  Texas  a  few  breed  some- 
times by  May  lA,  but  rarely  earlier. 

Tlu*  nest  reseu\bles  that  of  the  Baltimore  Oriole,  but  as  n  rule  it  is  not 
(piite  as  ])ensile,  and  many  are  more  or  less  securely  fastened  Itv  the  sides  as 
well  as  by  the  rim  to  at)me  of  the  a<ljoining  twigs.     Tlie  general  make-up  is 


:*■  ■? 


m 


I  ill 


H 


ii 


if 

r 


488 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


similar.  As  iiiiiny  sections  where  Bullock's  Oriole  breeds  are  still  rather 
8i)ar8ely  settled,  less  twine  and  such  other  material  as  may  bo  j)icke(l  nj)  about 
human  habitations  enter  into  its  composition.  Shreds  of  wild  flax  and  other 
fiber-bearing  ])lants  and  the  inner  bark  of  the  juniper  and  willow  an*  more 
extensively  utilized;  these  with  horsehair  and  the  down  of  ])lants,  wool,  and 
fine  moss,  furnish  the  inner  linin<f  of  the  nests.  Accordinj;  to  my  observations, 
the  birch,  alder,  cottonwood.  eucalyptus,  willow,  sj-camore,  oak,  i)ine,  and  juni- 
jier  furnish  the  favorite  nestinj;'  sites;  and  in  southern  Arizona  and  western 
Texas  it  builds  frequently  in  bunches  of  mistletoe  <rrowiny'  on  cottonwood  and 
mesipiite  trees. 

The  nests  are  nsually  jdaced  in  low  situations,  from  (i  to  If)  feet  from  the 
jfround,  but  occasionally  one  is  found  fully  AO  feet  up.  A  very  handsome  'lest, 
now  before  nu;,  taken  by  Dr.  Kdji^ar  A.  Jlearns,  United  States  Anny,  near  Fcjrt 
Hancock,  Texas,  on  June  30,  1X1)3,  just  after  the  yoiuif?  had  left  it,  is  placed 
amon<f  six  twif^s  of  mi.stletoe,  several  oi'  these  bein<;  incorporated  in  the  sides  of 
the  ne.st,  which  is  woven  entirely  of  hor.sehair  and  white  cotton  thread,  makinji!;' 
a  very  pretty  combination.  The  l)ottom  of  the  nest  is  lined  with  wool.  Out- 
wardly it  is  ()  inches  deep;  inside,  4.^  inches.  'I'lie  entrance,  at  the  top,  is  oval 
in  shape,  somewhat  contracted,  and  4  by  2.J  inches  wide.  Another  jjccidiar 
specimen  before  me,  taken  near  Yreka,  California,  May  2!),  18(!(),  is  woven 
aniouff  and  fastened  to  a  bunch  of  needles  of  the  Ion<^-leafed  })ine;  this  nest 
resembles  an  inverted  ctiue,  and  is  quite  nnicpie  in  structure.  I  have  also  seen 
double  nests,  one  placed  beside  and  fastened  to  one  jn'oviously  built  that  had 
for  some  unknown  reason  been  abandoned. 

The  number  of  e<^gs  to  a  set  varies  from  three  to  six;  sots  of  five  and  four 
aro  perhaps  most  conuuon,  while  those  of  six  ant  not  very  rare.  Ihdlock's 
Oriole  is  occasionally  imposed  upon  by  the  Dwnrf  Cowbird  in  Arizona,  and  by 
this  as  well  as  the  Red-eyed  Cowbird  in  southern  Texas.  Only  one  brood  is 
raised  in  a  season,  and  the  duties  of  incubation,  which  are  ]ierformed  almost 
exclusively  by  the  female,  last  about  fourteen  days.  I  have  often  watched  the 
sitting  bird,  and  have  never  seen  the  male  on  the  nest.  At  Camp  Ilanioy  a 
nmnber  bred  at  the  Post,  within  a  few  yards  of  the  houses,  and  when  not 
molested  they  .soon  became  as  familiar  as  the  Biiltimore  Oriole.  The  sexes  are 
extremely  devoted  to  e..ch  other,  find  valiantly  defend  their  eggs  and  young. 
I  once  saw  a  pair  vigorously  attack  a  Richardson's  scpiiiTel  {Sciurus  richardsoni), 
which  evidently  wa,s  intent  on  mischief,  and  drive  it  out  of  the  tree  in  which 
they  had  their  nest.  Both  birds  acted  with  the  greatest  courage  and  dashed  at  it 
repeatedly  with  fury,  the  squirrel  lieating  a  hasty  retreat  from  the  (;ond>ined 
attack,  'i^he  young  are  large  enough  to  leave  the  nest  in  about  two  weeks,  and 
are  diligently  guarded  and  cared  for  by  both  parents  until  able  to  pi'ovide  for 
themselves.  Tiie  return  migration  in  the  more  northern  portions  of  tiieir  range* 
to  their  winter  homes  in  Mexico  liegins  u.sually  in  the  first  half  of  August,  and 
bj'  the  end  of  this  numth  nearly  all  have  departed. 

The  eggs  aro  mostly  elongiite  ovate  in  shape,  a  few  are  ovate,  and  an  occa- 
sional .sot  is  almost  wodge-.shaped  or  cuneiform.     Tho  shell  is  close  grained  and 


■('■•1!, 


ill-" 


BULLOCK'S  ORIOLE. 


489 


only  slightly  glossy.  Tlie  <^rouu(l  color  is  fifcnerally  of  tho  samo  suhtlo  jyrayiah- 
wliite  tint  as  that  soon  in  tho  oj^j^s  ot"  tho  Haltiinoro  Oriole,  l)Ut  tiu*  proportion 
of  tlio  palo  l)luish  whito  e<f<frt  is  greater  than  with  tho  latter.  Occasionally  tlie 
gronnd  color  is  pah*  vinaceons  butt".  The  markings  are  similar  in  color  to  those 
I'ountl  on  the  eggs  of  the  preceding  species,  but  as  a  ruh^  they  are  not  so  coarse, 
and  the  fine  hair  lines  running  in  irregular  tracings  around  tiie  larger  a.\is  of 
the  egg  are  more  prevalent;  they  are  also  a  tritte  lai-ger. 

Tlie  average  measurement  of  one  hundred  and  forty-four  specimens  in  the 
United  States  National  Museum  collection  is  2.'{..S0  by  ir>.!<3  millimetres,  or 
about  0.114  by  O.diJ  inch.  The  largest  0}X'^  in  tlu*  series  measiu-es  25.40  l)y  1().7(! 
millimetres,  or  1  by  O.GfJ  inch;  the  smallest,  21.34  by  15.24  millimetres,  or  ().S4 
by  O.GO  inch. 

Of  the  ty[>e  specimens.  No.  2020.S  (PI.  7,  Fig.  10),  from  a  sot  of  four,  Bondire 
collection,  taken  by  the  writer  at  Fort  Lapwai,  Idaho,  on  .June  (!,  1X71,  .shows 
the  peculiar  vinaceons  butt"  ground  color  n^forrod  to  idxive;  No.  20211  (i'l.  7, 
Fig.  11),  from  a  set  of  thv':".-,  in  which  incubaticin  was  iidvinu-ed,  from  the  same 
colh^ctor  and  place,  tak(Mi  .Turn*  15,  1S71,  represents  a  peculiarly  shaped  and 
very  handsomely  markcMl  egg;  No.  20218  (1*1.  7,  Fig.  12),  from  a  set  of  live, 
tak<fn  by  the  writcn*  at  C;iinp  Ilarnoy,  Oregon,  on  June  10,  1877,  shows  souu? 
unusually  heavy  markings;  while  No.  25551  (1*1.  7,  Fig.  liJ),  from  a  set  of  four, 
in  the  Ralph  collection,  taken  near  Hrownsvillo,  Te.xa.s,  May  27,  1891,  represents 
about  an  average-marked  egg  and  a  rather  doar  gnumd  color. 


i' 

if 
'.1 


ii 


:| 


igi.     Scolecophagus  carolinus  (JIullek). 

RUSTY  KLACKJIIRI). 

Turdun  carolinus  Mi'rLLKR,  Systcina  NaturiT>,  Supplement,  1770,  MO. 
Scolecophagus  curolinuH  UiDcavAv,  freceedings  V.  S.  Natioiiiil  .Musenin,  VIII,  1.SS5.  .'?."i((. 

(li  417,  C  221,  It  273,  0  .331,  U  500.) 

GEOOBAPniOAL  BANOE:  Mainly  Eastern  North  America;  <'roni  Florida  and  the  (inlf 
coast  north  throujjh  tlie.  Eastern  United  States  and  tho  Dominion  of  IJaniuIa  to  Labrador, 
Keewatin,  thc^  Northwest  Territory  and  northern  Alaska  to  the  shores  of  Iterinj;'  Sea: 
west  in  tho  United  States  to  Texas  and  the  (Sreat  Plains,  and  occasionally  to  the  east«M'n 
slopes  of  tho  Rocky  Mountains.    Accidental  in  Lower  Califtn-nia  and  ia  Cireenland. 

The  breeding  range  of  the  Hustj-  Blackbird,  also  conuuonly  known  as 
the  "Rusty  Grackle,"  is  a  rather  limited  one  within  our  borders.  As  far  as 
known  it  ])roeds  only  in  i)ortioi  *  o(' Vennont,  New  Hampshire,  and  ^raine,  and 
in  the  Adirondack  wilderness,  riMciiing  the  most  southerly  point  of  its  breeiling 
range  in  Herkimer  Oounty,  New  York,  in  about  latitude  43^,  whore  it  is  strictly 
confined  to  the  mountainous  regions  and  is  rather  rare.  .Somewhat  farther 
north,  in  the  vicinity  of  Rig  Moose*  Lake,  Dr.  (1  Ha.t  Morriam  rejiorts  it  as  a 
connnou  suumior  resident.  It  may  ])ossibly  brood  on  the  west  shore*  of  Lake* 
Suja-rior,  in  northeastern  Minnesota,  but  there  are  no  records  at  hand  from 
there.     As  one  advances  north  into  the  Dominion  of  Canada  it  becomes  more 


490 


LIFK  JIISTOUIKS  OF  NOUTU  AMERICAN  UIRDB. 


I 


common  in  Htiital)l(*  lociiIitioH,  (iiul  its  center  of  almndance  durinjy  tlio  brood- 
injjf  HCiiaon  nnist  ho  lookt^l  for  nortli  of  latitude  M°,  and  it  extends  tlienco 
to  the  ti'oo  limit.  Tho  most  northeni  point  at  which  it  has  yet  been  found  is 
Putnam  River,  xMaska,  whore  specimens  were  taken  l»y  Iii<'nt.  CI.  M.  Ston(*y, 
United  States  Navy.  Its  l)reedin<r  ran^j^e  is  known  to  extend  from  T.,abrador  in 
a  northwesterly  direction  clear  across  the  con'.i-.icui,  i<>  tlu*  shores  of  Herin;^ 
Sea,  and  as  it  covers  such  an  innn(M>so  tmct  of  cotmtry,  I  doubt  if  it  is  very 


common  anywhere. 

rir 


riut  llusty  (Jrackle  is  much  more  of  a  forest-lovin<f  s])ecies  than  the  other 
Hlackbirdh,  and  durinjf  tiie  breedinj^  season  it  ai)])ears  to  be  far  less  <;r(^<rari- 
ous.  Its  favorite  haunts  in  tlu*  Adirondacks  an?  the  swampy  and  heavily 
wood(id  shores  of  tlu^  many  little  mountain  lakes  and  ponds  found  i^'ervwliert* 
in  this  re<>ion,  and  here  it  spends  the  season  of  rej)roduction  in  cumjtarativo 
solitude.  I  can  .statt*  from  p(>r.sonal  experience  that  tlie  o<">ln;^ist  who  desirtfw 
to  study  this  sjtecies  on  its  breedin<^-  };rnunds  nmst  mak((  up  his  mind  to  endurt* 
all  sorts  of  discomforts;  millions  of  Idack  flies,  <>'nats,  and  mosipiitoes  make 
life  a  burden  duriu<;  his  stay,  while  tlie  bo}>s  and  swamps  thi'oii<>h  which  one  is 
compelled  to  flounder  in  search  of  the  nest  render  walkin<>-  anythinj;-  lait  pleasrnt, 
and  I  am  not  at  all  surprised  thai  f^enuiim  e}'<;s  of  this  species  are  still  desideraf" 
in  most  collections. 

The  Rusty  Hlackbird  s])ends  its  winters  mostly  in  tlu!  Middh*  and  Southern 
States,  and  is  oiu^  of  tlu^  earliest  mij^rants  to  return  to  its  brt^'diu}''  j^'rounds.  It 
arriv(^s  in  the  more  southern  portions  of  its  breeding-  raM<;-e  usually  lai(^  in  Marcii 
or  early  in  April,  Iteforti  the  ice  in  tin*  lakes  has  l)roken  up  and  tlm  trees  havtt 
commenced  to  sprout;  and  even  on  the  Yukon  River,  Alaska,  it  has  been  seen  as 
early  as  April  10.  Its  food  durinj;'  the  summer  moiitlis  consists  principally  of 
inse«'ts  of  various  kinds,  such  as  caterpillars,  moths,  grasshoppers,  etc.,  small 
mollnsks,  worms,  wild  berries,  and  small  seeds.  In  winter  this  species  feeds 
more  on  {jrrain  and  may  bti  seen  occasionally  about  barns  and  stock  yanls  and 
in  corn  and  rice  fields,  usually  in  small  flocks  by  themselves,  liut  sonmtinies  in 
company  with  other  Blackbirds.  Their  mode  of  flifjht  restMiibles  that  of  tla* 
Red-winyed  Blackbirds,  and  when  feedinjj',  while  movinjr  alon^',  flu*  rearmost  fly 
over  the  others  and  alij^ht  aj^ain  in  the  front  ranks.  Tlieir  notes  arc;  much  more 
uuisical  than  those  of  the  (irackles  or  other  Blackbirds.  'I'luf  ordinary  call  note 
sounds  like  "tchiick,  tchiick,"  several  times  repeated;  another  is  lik(f  "turulee, 
turulee,  turule(i,"  ntttired  in  a  clear  tone,  and  varied  occasionalK  to  "trallahee, 
trallahee." 

Mr.  J.  W.  Preston  writes:  "(^n  an  early  sprinfj  day,  while  I  was  Wfiitin}^ 
in  a  sheltered  wood,  a,  jjoofl-sized  flock  of  Rusty  Blackbirds  settl(>d  in  sonu^  low 
trees  about  me,  and  as  1  was  standin};(piietly  by  a  larj;(f  tvvx-.  they  did  not  see  me. 
'i'Jie  wind  whistled  loudly  thr<iu}rh  the  branches  above,  but  these  lively  fellows 
))e<j^an  a  serenade  so  joyous  and  full  of  j,d(Ufful  aban<lon  that  I  linj^ered  ]on<r  to  hear 
them.  In  sinjiinj^-  they  o))ened  the  bill  widely  and  the  throat  s\velle<l  with  mel- 
ody.    Their  notes  are  rich,  varietl,  and  energetic.     They  are  almost  constantly  in 


TITK  UUSTY  BLACIKIURD. 


491 


motion,  oliasin<>'  ciich  otlior  or  Hyiiif^  I'loiu  porcli  to  purc.h,  sinjyiii<i'  iiunTily  iiumt 
of  tlio  tinio." 

In  tluMuoro  soutluTU  portions  of  its  breeding'  ruiiffc,  in  Tlorkiincr  (!onnty, 
New  York,  nidification  connnenct's  (is  curly  uh  tlio  last  wiu-k  in  April.  I)r. 
William  L.  Ralph  found  a  nest  containinff  four  fivsli  c^ffs  on  May  7,  ^SH^',,  ]nit 
it  nsnally  commcnct's  layin}^  lion*  aliodt  tiic  middic  of  this  montli,  and  if  tho 
first  set  of  »'};f;s  is  taken,  ii  second  on(f  may  lie  looked  for  alxint  two  weeks  later. 
With  )i  set  of  five  ejf<fs  in  tlui  l{al]ih  colltM'tion,  taken  on  May  27,  1H!)2,  in 
which  incubation  had  sli^fhtly  aih  anced,  tlu*  foliowinj;'  remarks  are  entered  on 
tlio  data,  blank  beloiif^inj;'  to  it:  "When  I  reached  the  nest  1  foiird  the  fenude 
bird  dallyiiifj  with  two  males,  Hutterin;''  her  winjjs,  raisin;,''  her  tail  al)ove  her 
back,  and  caliin;;-  to  tliein.  All  three  finally  flew  to  the  nest  and  nia<h'  a  ;;Teat 
deal  of  noise  in  the  chimi)  of  trees  in  which  it  was  situated  and  on  the  mossy 
^Tonnd  l)eiieath.  At  first  the  female  ajijieared  to  care  more  for  tli«>  attentions  of 
the  males  tlian  slie  did  for  her  nest,  but  as  soon  as  I  be^an  taking-  the  ei^ys  she 
and  one*  of  the  males  mad«*  a  ^reat  fuss  and  attempted  to  scan;  me  away.  I 
think  th(!  otlusr  male  was  one  of  a  pair  to  wliitli  a  deserted  nest  belon^'ecl,  found 
May  12,  containing'  two  cold,  wet  e;i';;s;  the  female  had  probalily  been  killed." 

'riirou^h  the  kindness  (if  Dr.  {{alpli  I  had  aiHipiiortiinity  of  tibservin^' a  pair 
of  these  liirils,  and  alsn  their  nest  and  e;>-^'s,  in  the  spring'  of  1H1»3,  the  only  ones 
nesting'  in  that  vicinity. 

i>r.  (!.  Hart  Merriani  found  it  breeding'  on  tla^  north  lirancli  of  Moose 
i{iver,  near  Hi^'  Abiose  j.ake,  New  ^'ork,  im  .Fime  I'l,  18S.'{,  and  |ii'esented  me 
a.  hand.some  set  of  four  e^'^^s  taken  liy  him  there.  Tiu^  nest  was  placed  in  a 
winterlierry  or  black  elder  liiisli  {f/r.r  rntiiilliitti),  .'5  feet  from  the  <;'niniid,  near 
the  ed^-e  of  a  stream. 

Mr.  W.  (i.  Winton  took  a  nest  and  e^'^s  near  tlie  Stewiacke  iviver,  Nova 
Scotia,  in  lS(iO,  and  these  e^-j^s  are  now  in  the  United  States  National  Museimi 
collectifiii. 

Mr.  W.  Ii.  iiishop,  <if  Kentville,  Nova  Scotia,  informs  me  that  Im  found  the 
Kusty  lilackbiril  breeding'  tiiere  as  early  as  May  5,  and  tliat  he  thinks  only  one 
brood  is  raise(l  in  a  sciison. 

Messrs.  K.  W.  Ncdson  and  L.  M.  Turner  liotli  rejiort  it  comnKui  on  the 
^'ukon  Hiver,  Alaska,  anil  several  e;;'^s  taken  near  Fort  ^'nkon  are  now  in 
tlu^  collection  iiere.  'The  latter  natundist  also  ttiok  yoims'  birds  near  Fort 
(liimo,  IJn^ava,  on  duly  10,  1S84.  Ileye  they  frecpieiited  swamiiy  tracts  in 
wiiich  a  few  isolated  spruce  and  larch  trees  ^rew. 

I'rof.  Winfrtd  A.  Stearns  says  that  in  Labrador  "the  Wusty  Mlackbird  had  a 
siinimer  brooding  ran^'e  all  along  the  coast  line,  at  least  as  far  north  as  l/.Vii.so 
an  Loii]ie,  at  which  place  it  was  a  summer  resident.  Mv.  Fred.  Davis  informs 
me  that  the  bird  occasionally  built  its  nest  in  a  wood  jiile."' 

Mr.  ]{.  MacFarlane  found  it  breeding  < in  tlie  Anderson  Wiver,  British  North 
.America;    Mr.  dames  Lockhart,  on  the  Yukon,  near  the  nioutli  of  llie  Porcupine 

'  lliril  Lil'i' ill  l.alirnilor,  18!K),ii.r>;). 


I      !l, 


::     i' 


i. 

! 

[ 

,1 

[ 

1 

I 

l" 

' 

1 

Pli 

'  if 


492 


LIFE  HIHTORIKH  OF  NOUT  £  AMERICAN  lilRDS. 


River,  Alaska;  and  ofrpH  from  botli  of  tlicHO  localities  nro  now  in  tho  Unitod 
States  National  Musemn  collection. 

The  RuHt}'  Hlackltird  has  also  been  reported  by  several  observers  as  breed- 
ing commonly  in  Manitoba,  but  it  is  questionable  if  it  nests  there,  or  even  in 
Saskatchewan — certainly  not  (m  the  open  pla'ns  and  on  the  ground,  as  stated. 
All  such  records  ap})ly  to  Brewer's  iilackbird,  which  was  wrongly  iduntiiied  as 
this  species. 

The  nest  of  tho  Rusty  Hlackbird  is  a  substantial  and  bulky  one.  It  is 
usually  placed  in  swampy  jjlaces,  near  water,  in  small  spruce  saplings,  from  3  to 
9  feet  from  the  gT(»und,  and  occasionally  in  other  low  busiies.  The  base  is  ja-in- 
cipally  compose<l  of  sjdiagnum  moss  and  earth,  forming  a  firm,  hard  platform  on 
which  the  nest  proper  is  built.  This  is  thickly  covered  on  tlu^  outsichi  with 
small  tamarack  and  sj)ruco  twigs,  mixed  with  a  few  l»lades  of  grass,  pieces  nt 
fern,  and  hmg,  gi-een  moss,  especially  at  tlm  })ase,  and  the  iimer  cup  is  thickly 
and  neatly  lined  with  tine  bright-green  grass. 

A  nest  now  Itefore  me,  taken  in  Herkimer  ('ounty,  New  Yorl:,  on  ^^ay  14, 
1891,  measures  7  inches  in  outer  diameter  b\-  o.J  inches  in  dejith;  tho  inner  cup 
is  3 A  inches  wide  1)>  2.J  inches  deep.  One  of  these  nests  will  last  for  several 
seasons,  but  a  frosh  one  is  usually  built  every  year.  These  birds  are  very  nuich 
attached  to  their  summer  homes,  nsturning  to  them  from  year  t»»  year,  ami 
rarely  more  than  two  or  throe  pairs  nest  in  one  locality;  in  fact,  they  are  as  often 
found  singly.  The  eggs  number  four  or  five  to  a  set,  and  one  is  de])osited  each 
day.  Incubation  lasts  about  two  weeks,  and  tlu*  young  are  abh*  to  leave  the 
nest  in  about  sixteen  days.  They  are  mouse  colored  at  first,  and  are  carefullv 
attended  to  by  both  parents,  who  are  devoted  to  them. 

The  fiill  migration  from  the  more  northern  portions  of  their  summer  range 
begins  in  the  early  part  of  September,  iuid  the  s])ecies  usually  makes  its  ap)»ear- 
ance  in  the  Upper  Mississippi  Valley  in  the  last  half  of  October. 

The  eggs  of  the  Rusty  Blackbird  are  mo.stly  ovate  in  shape.  '^Phe  shell  is 
strong,  finely  grsinulated,  and  slightly  glossy.  The  ground  color  is  a  light 
blui.sh  green,  which  fades  somewhat  with  age;  this  is  blotched  and  spotted 
more  or  less  profusely,  and  generally  heaviest  about  the  larger  end  of  the  i'i>;>!;, 
with  different  shades  of  chocolate  and  chestnut  brown  and  lighter  shades  of 
ecru,  drab,  and  pearl  gray.  The  peculiar  scrawls  so  often  met  with  an\ong  tlu^ 
eggs  of  our  Blackbirds  are  rarely  seen  on  these  eggs,  which  are  readily  distin- 
guishable from  those  of  the  other  species. 

The  average  mea.surement  of  twenty-eight  specimens  in  the  United  States 
National  Museum  collecticm  is  24.!)5  by  IS.37  millimetres,  or  about  O.fIS  by 
0.72  inch.  The  largest  egg  in  the  series  measures  2(!.(i7  by  2().()7  millimetres, 
or  1.05  by  0.7!)  inches;  the  smallest,  23.11  by  17.78  millimetres,  or  0.91  l)y  0.70 
inch. 

Of  the  type  specimens.  No.  202()(!  (PI.  7,  Fig.  14),  from  a  set  of  four, 
Bendire  collectio:  ,  was  taken  by  Dr.  f'.  Hart  Meiriam,  near  Big  Moose  Lake, 
New  York,  June  If),  1883,  and  reja-esents  a  coarsely  blotched  specinu'u;  No. 
2r)r)y8  (Pl.  7,  Fig.  15),  from  a  set  of  fiv((  eggs,  Ralph  cttllection,  taken  May  27, 


l!V 


T 


THE  ItUBTY  BLACKUIRD. 


493 


Ih;»2,  ropn-HoiitH  «»iic  of  tho  ((nliiiarily  "mrkcd  typos;  luid  No.  2«i!>20  (I'l.  7,  Fi|,'. 
Ki),  from  !i  wet  of  four,  iilso  in  tlio  Ualpli  collotttioii,  tiiktMi  May  2;{,  iK'ja,  n-pro- 
scutM  still  aiiotlicr  style  of  niarkiiifjs,  which  is  not  as  miimion  us  tho  two  former; 
the  last  two  vgi^n  wuru  taken  in  Herkimer  Comity,  Now  York. 


192.     Scolecophagus  cyanocephalus  (Waoi.rk). 

HKEWKU'S   IILACKUIKO. 

PKaiooiiUiiH  tiifiinofiphalus  Waoi.KK,  I  sis,  \S'2'.t,  758. 
SoolfroiihujiiiH  (■iiiinove2>lutlHii  CuwsiH,  Musuuiii  lltMiiosiiiuin,  \M\,  IIKJ. 

(H  41H,  (3  UUa,  It  274,  C  M'J,  L  510.) 

(ri!oaitAi'iiic\i>  itANOK:  Wosteni  Xortli  AmcrHiii;  north  to  Itritisli  (loliinibitiaiiU  the 
I'loviiiecs  of  Alliortii  imd  S!iskiit<;li<'Wiiii,  in  the  hiiminloii  of  CiniiMhi;  ciist  to  Miiiiit4)bit, 
Minnesota,  Xeln'iiska,  Kansas,  tho  Imiian  Territory,  and  Texas;  soutli  to  Lower  ('tilifornia 
ami  over  the  Mexican  taldelands  to  Oaxaca.  Oenisionaliy  in  winter  tu  Iowa,  WisconHin, 
Missouri,  and  lllinuis;  casually  to  Louisiana  and  iSouth  Carolina. 

Hrewer's  lilackltird,  or  the  Hhie-headed  (Jruckle,  is  tho  western  represent- 
ative of  the  jjrecedinff  species,  and  its  hreedinj^  ranff«(  is  coextensive  with  its 
j;(H><rrapliical  distribution,  exceptinj^  alon<r  its  eastern  border,  where  it  is  limited 
to  northwestern  Minnesota,  the  western  parts  of  Nebraska,  Kansas,  tin*  Indian 
'i'erritory,  and  to  nearly  all  of  Texas,  excluiliuff  only  tho  extreme  eastern  por- 
tions and  tlu*  innnediate  vicinity  of  tlie  (lulf  coast. 

Hrewer's  Blackbird  is  conunon  and  is  well  known  throughout  the  West;  is 
foiuul  almost  everywhere,  in  suitable  localities,  from  the  eastern  slopes  of  the 
K'ock;  j\IountaIns  to  the  I'a;  itic  coast.  It  is  eipudly  almndant  on  the  Great 
IMaiiis,  and  breeds  in  lar<,''e  .ininl»ers  in  Manitoba  and  portions  of  Saskatchewan, 
when*  it  reaches  tin-  northern  limits  of  its  ranf>e  in  about  latitude  54°  north 
liOUfi-ituih^  !M;'^  west  from  (Jreenwich  marks  about  the  eastern  limits  of  its  breed- 
iufi'  ranji'e  in  the  United  States.  Mr.  Henry  Nehrlin<f  reports  it  as  breediuff  near 
Spriu};-  Creek,  some  iJO  miles  north  of  Houston,  Texas,  on  May  T),  IHMl;  and 
Dr.  I*.  I,.  Hatch,  in  his  "liirds  of  Minnesota,"  records  it  as  an  abundant  sunnner 
resident  alon^-  the  Hed  Wiver,  in  northwestern  Minnesota.  It  is  only  partly 
ini}>ratory  in  the  western  United  States,  where  some  of  tlie.se  birds  can  bo  .seen 
throuf^hout  the  year.  I  have;  met  with  it  in  Jaiuiarv,  at  Fort  Colville,  Wash- 
iuf^on;  and  at  Fort  Walla  Walla  a  large  flock,  numbering  fully  five  hundred 
birds,  wintered  regularly  within  the  limits  of  the  Post,  feeding  in  the  daytime 
on  the  refuse  grain  foun<l  about  the  (tavalry  stables,  and  roosting  in  the  cotton- 
woods  in  the  innnediate  vicinity  at  night.  Tliey  were  exceedingly  tame  and 
familiar  while  feeding,  and  although  fre(juently  shot  for  food  and  harassed 
<laily  by  Prairie  Kalcims,  Richardson's  and  Suckle} '"  Merlins,  and  Pigeon 
Hawks,  which  subsisted  almost  entirely  on  them,  they  persisted  in  remaining, 
allowing  a  ])erson  to  approach  within  a  few  feet  of  them  while  on  the  ground. 
I  consider  it  the  most  confiding  of  all  oin*  Hlackbirds.  Mr.  \{.  H.  Lawrence 
writes  that  he  saw  a  large  flock  at  Seattle  in  December,  1891,  and  one  <»r  more 


■•!!i 


t 

*" 

:! 

i 

494 


LIFK  IIISTOIMKS  Ol'  NOKTII  AMKIUCAN  HIUIKS. 


I 


HiM'ks  in  .liiiiiiiiry,  iit-ar  N'mu'iiiivt'i-,  Wiisliiii^rtoii;  iiioHt  ut'  tlumr  hinls  ii|)|if)irtMl 
to  Im-  iiiJilcH.  Am  a  nil<>  Itrcwci-'s  lUjukltiril  likes  rtitlit-r  opi'ii  coiiiitiy  and  is 
nut  Hcfii  in  t'Xttinsivt!  lon-st  rc^iions,  and  (liirin;;;  tini  linu'din;,''  season  it  shuns 
the  swain|»y  and  tnlc-lMtidcrt'd  sImii'cs  of  tlie  lar^rcr  inland  lakes,  which  aro  the 
home  of  thousands  of  Vello\v-heau>  il  and  lted-\vin;red  Itlaekhirds  at  that  time 
of  year.  Dr.  K.  \.  .Mearn.s,  Ignited  States  Army,  met  with  it  in  the  pine  helt  in 
Ari/.ona,  and  foimd  it  connnon  at  the  hasu  of  the  San  Kraneisco  Mountains  in 
.Inne.  I8S7,  where  it  was  hreedinir. 

In  «'olorado  it  has  lieeii  oliseived  up  to  1(),()()()  feet,  and  in  tlu*  San  I'edro 
Martir  .Mountains,  in  Lower  ( 'alifornia,  Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony  fotuitl  it  iiestin<>'  in 
the  pines  at  an  altitude  «tf  altoiit  S,-_'()(l  feet  on  Afay  l.'J,  iH!t.'{;  wliile  in  the  San 
Vineent*^  N'alley  they  nested  in  olivo  trees,  and  full  s«!ts  of  ejf};s  were  taken  liy 
him  here  on  April  '2H.  In  western  ( >ref;on,  he  informs  me,  they  often  n«'.sted  in 
old  Woodpeckei-  lades,  souM'tinu'S  more  than  lOtI  feet  from  the  {•round. 

Kr«'wer's  Hlackliird  is  a  restless  creatui'e,  and  is  ne\cr  still  t'ur  any  len<;th 
of  time.  Its  manner  of  Hifiht  is  swift,  and  when  in  florks  they  ••■eiierally  MM>ve  in 
a  eompact  liody;   when  on(f  biril  takes  wiufjf  all  tlu*  othwrs  follow,  and  a   Hock 


makes  eoMsiderahle  noise  as   it   pas.ses   li\'. 


On  til 


e  uroiiml,  whih*  in  sean 


•h  of 


food,  its  walk  is  easy  and  ;;raceful,  and  in  walkiii},'  ahout  while  feedin;;'  th« 
birds  in  the  rear  take  occasional  sluu't  tli;{lits  and  settle  down  just  ahead  of 
the  foremost  ones;  such  movements  are  constantly  takiiifi"  place  until  startled 
by  sonu'thiii}!:,  when  they  all  take  wii 


iji'  and  settle  in  the  nearest  treei 
Their  food  diiriuj;'  the  summer  consists  mostU'  of  caterpillars,  jjrasshoppers, 
larj""*}  black  cricketK,  woi'ias,  slugs,  etc.,  varied  with  small  seeds,  and  diu'iii};'  the 
winter  mostly  of  <jTains  of  ditt'erent  kinds,  jjeiierally  refuse  picked  up  about 
the  stock  yards  and  farmhou.ses.  In  the  spriiij^  they  may  often  bo  seen  follow- 
ing' the  farmer's  plow,  picking  up  beetles,  larviv,  etc.,  as  they  aro  uncovered,  or 
following-  cattle,  like  C'owbird.s.  In  the  Santa  Clara  Valley,  in  ("alitornia,  Mr. 
K.  II.  Heck  writes,  a  species  of  nieasurinjf  worm  attacked  the  apricot  and  prune 
trees  in  certain  orchards,  and  had  denuded  many  of  them.  When  the  birds  dis- 
covered these  worms  tlu^y  could  be  seen  all  day  gatheriu};  them  and  feeding- 
their  \'oung  therewith,  destro\ing  enormous  iiiiml)ers;    but  during-  cherry  tinuf 


tl 


icy 


•Iped   tl 


lemselves   also   to   some   clu-rries. 


Alth 


iou};ii    this   species    may 


di'stroy  some  fruit  at   times,  it  certainly  does  far  more  good  than  harm,  and 
deserves  ])rotectioii. 

Their  ordinary  call  note  is  a  sharp  "tchiick,  tchiick,"  and  in  the  spring  of 
the  year  they  are  full  of  song,  which  it  is  utterly  impossible  to  describe.  A 
number  of  birds  are  usually  .singing,  if  it  can  be  so  called,  at  the  same  time,  and 


su« 


h  a  concert,  consisting  of  all  sorts  of  sounds,  must  Ih;  h(!ard  to  j-et  a  satis^ 


factory  idea  of  it.  Tlicy  aro  amiable  and  sociable  birtls,  and  where  not  nudested 
will  readil)'  alight  in  the  yards  of  houses  and  pick  up  food  from  the  doorsteps. 
Such  birds  as  migrate  nsually  retiu-n  to  their  more  northern  broedin<^ 
jjnainds  early  in  April,  and  shortly  afterwards  they  begin  to  scatter  in  small 
colonies  over  the  surrounding-  country  to  suitable  localities   to  breed,  thouyh 


T 


nUliVVlitt'a  llLAL'KliiUl). 


495 


nuiiiy  iMiiiH  iicst  Niii^ily.  Urcwcr's  Hliukliirds  do  not  ticst  in  siicli  lurj,Mi  ImmIIch 
lis  (III  tlu'  l{t'il\vin),'M  mill  otlicr  sperii-H,  tinil  ciildnicM  ut'  fifli'cn  fu  twenty  pairM 
me  nini'li  less  t'lciiuently  fiuiml  lirci'ilinj;'  lu^ii'tlitT  tlitiM  sniiillcr  nni'sot'  tVuni  (ivi' 
to  ti'M  pairs;  iiiTasiiinally  siiveral  pairn  nest  in  tlic  same  tree.  1  liavu  met  with 
it  almost  every  wlicii'  in  the  West,  (rom  the  Hritish  line  to  southern  Arizona, 
lint  in  the  latter  'rerritory  only  in  winter.  Inasiniich  as  it  lireeds  in  southern 
( 'alit'ornia,  it  prolialily  lireeils  also  in  Ari/.ona,  lint  I  iliil  not  look  tor  its  nests. 

Nidilieatioii  throii^hont  the  jfreater  portion  of  its  raii^e  usually  lieifins  aliont 
May  I;  in  .sonthern  ("alitornia  It  is  sometimes  fnlly  a  inontli  earlier,  and  the 
nest,  in  this  loiality  at  least,  is  <fenenilly  placed  in  low  Imshes  or  in  trees,  I'roin 
2  to;{(»  feet  fniin  thep-iiinid,  rarely  lii<ilier.  It  nests  mainly  in  oak,  lir,  cypress, 
juniper,  pine,  willow,  and  apple  trees,  and  in  wild-rose,  service  lierry,  and  sajie- 
lirnsli  thickets.  Oidinarily  the  nests  are  placed  not  over  H  feet  from  the  {iionnil, 
and  in  certain  localities,  as  near  Camp  Harney,  in  sontheastern  Orefi'on,  tiiey  are 
mure  freipu'iitly  placed  on  \W  (rrunnil,  or  rather  in  the  ground,  the  rim  of  the 
nest  lieiiij;-  Hush  with  the  surface.  I  found  ipiite  a  numlier  there  in  snch  situa- 
tions, even  when  snitalile  trees  and  linsiies  were  ava'lalile  close  liy,  and  in  every 
HUch  case  the  nest  was  placed  close  to  or  directly  on  tin*  edj^'e  of  a.  perpen- 
dicular liank  of  some  small  creek  which  might  lieciime  dry  liy  .Inly,  and  never 
liy  any  chance  as  much  as  a  foot  away  from  the  liank.  1  did  not  find  a  siiigh^ 
exception  where  the  nest  was  placed  on  the  ground,  and  I  examined  more  than 
Hfty.  It  puzzled  me  for  a  time  to  account  for  this,  hut  I  lielieve  I  can  give  the 
reason  for  it  now.  Cattle  and  Indian  ponies  graze  clo.se  to  streams  in  the  early 
spring,  liecause  the  grass  there  is  gi'iierally  greener  and  more  aliundaut,  and  if 
the  nests  were  not  pliuM-d  in  the  jiositions  thoy  are,  many  would  unihiuliti'dly 
lie  stepped  on  and  the  eggs  or  young  destroyed.  The  birds  have  learned  this 
and  place  them  where  animals  will  not  williugly  walk,  that  is,  close  to  a  perpeu- 
ilicular  liank,  be  it  ever  so  low. 

The  nest  is  a  rather  bulky  structure  when  jilacod  in  trees  or  bushes,  consist- 
ing of  a  loo.se  platform  of  small  sticks,  mixed  with  weed  and  gra.ss  stalks,  slireils 
of  bark,  riiotlets,  dry  grass,  and  moss,  and  tlu;se  materials  are  generally,  but  not 
always,  cemented  together  with  earth,  or  with  cow  and  horse  nuuiure.  Sonu^ 
nests  are  much  more  .solidly  built  than  others;  in  these  well-built  nests  the  bulk 
of  the  materials  is  used  Wi't,  and  those  built  on  the  ground  are  apparently  always 
fashioned  in  this  way.  The  inner  cup  of  the  nest  is  neatly  lined  with  line  root- 
lets, decayed  shreds  of  bark,  or  horsehair,  more  rarely  with  dry  grass.  A  nest 
now  before  me,  taken  near  Camp  Harney,  Oregon,  Mny  '2'2,  ISTfi,  and  sunk  into 
the  ground,  measures  6  inches  in  outer  diameter  by  .'5  inches  in  dejitli;  the  inner 
oup  is  4  inches  wide  by  2  J  inches  dee}).  Nests  luiilt  in  trees  are  bulkier  and 
deeper  on  the  out.side,  but  the  inner  cup  measures  about  the  same.  It  takes 
about  a  week  to  comjilete  the  ne.st,  and  both  sexes  assist  in  its  construction. 

Throughout  the  greater  jiortion  of  its  range  niditication  is  at  its  height 
during  the  last  half  of  May,  and  occasionally  it  is  protracted  into  July.  In 
California  it  l)reeds  ordinarily  dining  the  last  two  weeks  of  April.  Capt.  W.  L. 
Carpenter,  United  States  Army,  took  a  set  of  live  eggs  on  July  (i,  1874,  near 


I  'I 


i  ill 


i 


i  m\ 


4U6 


LlFi:  IIIUTOUIIOU  OF  NOUTII  AMKltK!AN  lUUDH. 


Luniiiiif,  Wyiiiiiiii)^,  wliicli  in  tlio  latt'Ht  lirccdiiij;  ri'ciiril  I  Imvtt  of  t'  "  H|itri('H. 
llHually  only  one  lirnod  Ih  rainoil  in  a  H*>aHiin,  at  IcuMt  in  tlic  nurtlu'in  portions 
of  itH  ran|^^*.     It  \h  occasionally  iniposcd  npon  Ity  tlic  Cowhinl. 

The  ninnltcr  of  cjr^rs  laid  to  a  net  varies  from  fonr  to  eifylit.  Sets  of  tive 
aro  most  often  found;  sets  of  six  are  not  ininsual,  tlioii^li  larjjer  ones  are  rare. 
In  over  two  Immlred  ncstH  hcoii  by  ine,  only  a  Hin^:le  ono  contained  seven  ef(^M. 
An  e^'^  is  deposited  daily  tnitil  tlie  set  is  completed.  Incubation  lasts  about 
fourteen  days,  and  tliis  duty  is  performed  ainutst  excdusively  by  the  female. 
The  youn;.(  are  larjfe  enoujrh  to  h-ave  tin-  nest  in  about  si.xteeii  days,  and  aft«'r 
tlu'V  are  able  to  care  for  themselves  they  c<dlect  into  small  Hocks  and  rove  about 
the  coimtry  until  the  fall  mi<>'ration  be;riii,s,  vvheii  they  (collect  into  lar^>'(*  assem- 
blies, and  about  the  latter  part  of  September  be;ri>i  to  move  southward.  Birds 
winterin^j;  alon<>;  our  northern  border  apjtear  to  bo  nearly  all  adult  males. 

The  ejiffs  of  Hrewer's  HIackbird  are  mostly  ovate,  less  often  short  ovate,  and 
rarely  elliptical  ovate  in  shape.  The  shell  is  stronjr,  not  as  (inely  jfranulated  as 
in  the  precetlinji'  sjiecies,  and  when  fresh  the  ejr;;.s  are  rather  ;;lossy.  ('ompared 
with  those  of  the  Husty  (Jrackle,  they  show  very  litth^  resenddance,  both  j;round 
color  and  markinifs  bein;;  very  dill'erent,  and  the  majority  are  nmch  darker.  The 
ground  c(dor,  when  plainly  visible,  is  usually  pale  {j^ray  white,  less  often  pale 
ffreenish  white,  a  color  that  is  diflictdt  to  exactly  describe.  This  is  mostly 
profusely  Idotched,  marbled,  streakeil,  and  spotted,  with  irre<,''ularly  shaped 
maikinj^s  of  seal,  walnut,  liver,  and  (love  brown,  mixed  with  li^i-hter  shades  of 
russet,  cinnamon  rufous,  fawn  ctdor,  and  lavender.  Some  sp«'ciinens  aie  more 
or  less  streaked  with  irrejiular  lines  and  traciufrs,  resemblin<r  tho.sc  found  on 
some  e>f<rs  of  the  b'ed-winfjjcd  lUackbird,  while  in  others  the  markinj:;s  are  heavy 
a  id  so  uniformly  distributed  that  the  };round  cidor  is  entirely  hidden.  In  a  U-w 
they  are  fine  and  minute,  resenddinj,''  those  found  on  the  ejfpsof  our  well-known 
Urown  Thrasher.  In  fact,  there  is  an  endless  variety  of  styles  of  niarkiufjs,  and 
two  sets  are  rarely  found  which  are  marked  exactly  alike. 

The*  axcraf^e  measurement  of  two  hiuidred  and  forty-five  s])OcimonH  in  the 
United  States  National  Museum  c(dlection  is  25.49  by  1S.(!()  millimetres,  or  about 
1  by  O.T.'i  inch.  Tlu;  larj^-est  v/n  in  this  s'-ries  nu-asures  27.!)4  by  20.07  milli- 
metres, or  1.10  by  0.7D  inches;  the  smalles  20.h;{  by  IT).-!!*  millinietres,  or  0.S2 
by  O.Ol  inch. 

Of  the  type;  specimens.  No.  20243  (I'l.  7,  Fip.  17),  from  a  set  of  four  Ofrfxn, 
represents  one  of  the  heavily  marked  and  smaller-sized  specimens;  No.  20246 
(I'l.  7,  Fi<jf.  18),  from  a  set  of  five,  represents  one  of  the  lifihter-marked  e<jf;,>'8,  in 
which  the  f^round  color  is  i»laiidy  visible;  No.  20252  (IM.  7,  Fi<f.  l!l),  also  from 
a  set  of  five,  shows  another  style  of  markiufis;  and  No.  202(i4  (IM.  7,  Fi^r  20), 
likewis(i  from  a  set  of  five,  represents  still  another  ty])e.  These  ej><rs  are  all  in 
tht!  Hendire  collection.  The  first  three  were  taken  by  the  writer  near  Camp  Har- 
ney, (h-e<i-on,  on  May  23,  1875,  May  23,  1H76,  and  May  If!,  1H77,  respectively, 
and  an^  selected  out  of  a  lar<ie  nmnber  of  nests  examined.  The  last  was  taken 
by  me  near  Fort  Klamath,  Oregon,  on  May  22,  1883,  and  represents  one  of  the 
more  conimou  styles  of  markings. 


1 


TUE  rUUl'LE  GUAUKLE. 


4U7 


193.    Quiscalus  quiscula  (LiNNitut*). 

I'lIKl'I.K  OKAt'KLK. 

<Jriiculii  iiuUiula  lAtftiMVH,  SyHtema  Natiirii',  e<l.  10,  I'M,  1(H). 
(^itUialun  iiuUvulu  iluitDAN,  Muniutl  of  tlie  \'ort«*brut<'H,  oil.  I,  188^1,  D.'i. 

(B  421,  V  225,  It  278,  (J  SM,  U  511.) 

nRooKAtMliOAL  RANdK:  Atlitiitic  coaHt  n'KioiiH  of  the  L'liitcd  Stat«>M;  fiiiiii  Himtlierii 
OoiiiM'uliciit  ttiitl  HoiitlittuMturii  Nvw  York  w)iitli  to  Hoiitliurii  Suiitli  Cuiuliiia;  wuHt  to  lliu 
fUHterii  hIo|K)h  uf  tliu  AlleKlntny  MouiitniiiH.    In  wiiitiT  to  Florltlii.' 

Tim  I'urplo  Orackh',  »1ho  callod  tlic  "I'uritlo  Crow  Hlarkbinl,"  or  miiiply 
"Crow  Hliickhird,"  Im  oho  of"  tlio  hi'st  known  and  most  familiar  birdu  of  tiu) 
localitiuH  which  it  inhabits  In  tho  northern  parts  of  its  ranj,'if  it  is  migratory, 
d('|)arting  usually  in  tho  boginning  of  October  for  its  winter  home  in  our  Soutji- 
ern  States,  where  it  congregates  in  innnonsu  tlocks  in  suital)le  localities,  whilo 
in  the  more  southern  sections  it  is  a  resident  throughout  the  year  and  breeds 
wherever  found.  The  birds  that  migrate  usually  return  to  their  bnu'ding 
grounds  early  in  March,  and  a  few  even  in  the  latter  part  of  February,  when 
their  arrival  is  readily  noticed.  Their  jjeculiar,  scjueaky  n«»tes,  <'onsisting  of  a 
variety  (»f  mostly  indescribable  sounds,  such  as  "dweekli,  dweekh,  tchiih,  tchiih, 
(piiik,  (iuiik,"or  "da",  djv,"  which  seem  to  be  uttered  with  considerable  diHiculty, 
and  are  invariably  accompanied  by  the  opening  of  the  wings  and  tail,  may  bo 
heard  any  morning  in  early  spring  from  tho  tree  tops  in  rather  open  country,  in 
pastures,  as  well  as  in  city  parks. 

At  this  time  of  the  year  small  companies,  consisting  of  from  twelv(*  to  fifteen 
birds,  are  usually  seen  together,  roving  from  place  to  place  and  chasing  each 
other  about,  in  search  of  mates.  Unfortunately,  as  in  tlu;  case  of  many  other 
species,  tho  Puiide  Gracklo  is  not  looked  upon  with  favt>r  by  the  average  farmer, 
and  they  are  often  shot  in  large  nmnbers  because  they  help  themselves  to  a  little 
corii  when  other  food  is  scarce.  Considered  from  an  economic  jtoint  of  view 
and  judged  by  careful  examinations  made  by  the  United  States  Department 
(»f  Agi'iculture  of  a  nund)er  oi"  stomachs  of  these  birds  killed  during  every 
month  of  the  year,  it  is  shown  tliat  their  food  consi.sts  largely  of  animal  matter, 
such  as  grasshoppers,  caterpillars,  spiders,  lieetles,  luitworms,  larva'  of  dill'erent 
insects,  remains  of  small  manunals,  frogs,  newts,  crawfish,  small  mollusks,  and 
fish.  Whilo  it  nuist  be  admitted  that  Indian  corn,  oats,  and  wheat  are  also 
eaten  to  .some  extent,  much  of  the  vegetable  matter  found  in  their  stomachs 
consists  of  tho  seeds  of  noxious  weeds,  such  as  the  ragweed  (Aiiilifusia),  smart- 
weed  (roli/i/oiiiini),  and  others.  Fruit  is  used  but  .sparingly,  and  consists  usually 
of  mulberries,  blackberries,  and  occasionally  of  chenies.     One  of  the  gravest 

'In  dfliiiiiif;  tho  geoKrnphicikl  raiigoH  uf  our  Grackles  uf  tho.BiiliKoniis  QuheuluH  I  liuvii  inaiiily  f(>Ili>W(>(l 
Mr  I'niuk  M.  Clmpiiiiui'H  iililv  papcr>oii  tliiH  subject,  piililislioil  iu  tlio  "  llullclin  <it'  tlui  Ainoricaii  Musnini  of 
Niituntl  History,''  New  York  (Vol.  IV,  No.  1),  F«l>ruary,  18112,  which  coiitiiiiiH  the  latest  iiilbrnmtioii  cm 
this  suhjoct.  Tliis  is  ou«  of  tho  cases  wlicre  it  is  iiiiposHilih'  to  iletluo  the  rangcH  niori-  closely,  as  tlie  difTer- 
out  Bubspocies  iutorgrudo  to  u  conslderablu  oxtcut  where  the  broodiug  raiigo  of  ouo  rucu  overlaps  that  of  one 
of  tho  others. 

KiS'JO— No.  3 32 


"tfr 


'M\\ 


lit'  -, 


;  * 


?! 

(I 

I 


i 


M: 


11 


498 


LIFE  1118T01ilES  Ol'  I40UTU  AM^:l:lCA^•   "ilUDS. 


»'Ii!irgf!i  a^'iiinst  them  is  tho  destructitm  of  the  youiiff  aiiil  cjigs  of  HinalU'r  birds, 
especially  those  of  the  Wobin.  (Jriintiii;^  that  remains  of  ef>'gshells  are  some- 
times foim<l  in  their  stomachs,  which  seems  to  bo  tho  case  about  once  in  twenty- 
five  times,  it  does  not  fully  ju'ove  that  all  of  these  birds  are  f^uilty  of  such  an 
olmoxiouH  habit,  and  on  the  whole  it  cau  be  safely  asserted  that  the  Purple 
Grackle  doos  far  more  j^-ood  thai)  harm,  and  deserves  to  l)o  protected,  excejjtiiifif 
in  localities  where  they  winter,  and  where,  from  their  immense  numbers,  they 
may  become  a  serious  nuisance. 

They  spend  nuu-h  of  their  time  on  the  jfround,  beiufr  essentially  jrround 
feeders;  they  walk  along  (dose  to  the  heels  of  the  farmer  while  plowing,  picking 
uj)  beetles,  grubs,  etc.,  as  they  are  turiu'd  uj)  by  the  plow,  or  search  the  meadows 
and  pastures  for  worms,  gnisshoiipcrs,  and  other  insects  suitable  for  food.  They 
are  at  all  times,  eminenii_,  social  birds,  even  during  the  breeding  season;  a  num- 
ber of  pairs  generally  nest  together,  and  frequently  several  nests  will  be  found 
in  one  tree.  Small  colonies  of  Purple  Grackles  breed  regularly  in  the  public 
parks  of  Washington,  District  of  Columbia.  They  also  nest  sometimes  in  com- 
paii)'  with  other  species,  being  ai)parently  on  good  terms  with  their  neighbors. 

In  the  selection  of  nesting  sites,  thick,  busliy  coniferous  trees,  such  as  cedars, 
pines,  and  firs,  seeui  to  be  preferred,  but  many  other  kinds  are  likewise  used, 
notably  such  as  are  oveiTun  with  vines.  VV^hore  suitable  trees  are  not  available, 
thick  bushes,  especially  such  as  overhang  water,  are  also  made  use  of,  where  the 
nests  are  occasionally  jilaced  scarcely  4  feet  from  the  ground.  Sometimes  natural 
cavities  in  trees  or  hollow  stubs,  as  well  as  the  excavations  of  tho  larger  Wood- 
peckers, are  also  used,  and  along  the  seashore,  where  the  Fishhawk  is  common, 
they  often  place  their  nests  in  the  interstices  of  these  bidky  structures,  notably 
so  on  Plum  Island,  New  York.  Speaking  of  tliis  locality,  the  late  Dr.  Charles 
S.  Allen  says:  "In  every  Fishhawk's  nest,  except  those  on  the  ground,  I  always 
found  from  two  to  eight  or  ten  nests  of  the  Purjjle  Grackle.  They  were  situ- 
ated in  crevices  among  the  sticks,  under  the  edges  of  tlie  nest,  or  even  beneath 
the  nest  itself,  so  as  to  seciu'c  ])rotecti()n  from  rain  and  bad  weather.  They  wore 
very  bold  in  collecting  fragments  from  the  table  of  their  j)owerliil  neighbor."' 

Mr.  J.  II.  Pleasant,  jr.,  of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  writes  asioUows:  "On  May 
19,  1888,  I  discovered  a  colony  of  Purple  Grackles  nesting  under  the  eaves  and 
rafters  of  a  hay  barn.  In  some  instances  the  entrance  to  the  nest  was  so  small 
that  it  was  extremely  diflicult  to  obtain  the  eggs.  The  crevices  in  which  tho 
nests  were  built  were  very  nuu'h  of  tlie  sanu;  character  as  those  frecpiently  chosen 
by  the  i"inglish  Sparrow,  and  were  situated  at  an  average  height  of  25  feet  from 
the  ground;  over  a  df)zeu  nests  were  observed." 

Mr.  Theodore  W.  Kichards,  of  Washington,  District  of  Coluni])ia,  found  a 
colony  of  these  birds  in  Northampton  Comity,  ^'irginia,  in  May,  185)1,  breeding 
in  a  grove  of  small  second-growth  pines,  some  20  feet  in  height,  in  company 
witli  (rreen  Ilenms.  The  Grackles' ne.sts  were  invariably  placed  in  the  very  top 
of  the  trees,  while  their  less  assuming  comi)anions  were  content  to  dwell  in  the 

'  Till!  Auk,  Vol.  IX,  1X!I2,  II.  31!). 


TIIH  PUIU'LE  GKACKLE. 


49'J 


Miiy 
autl 

siuiiU 
tlio 

tioiu 


lower  story,  so  to  speak,  their  platforms  seldom  hmv^  over  10  feet  from  the  {ground, 
and  loosely  balaneed  on  the  top  of  a  horizontal  branch. ' 

The  nests  are  rather  loosely  constructed  and  bulky.  The  materials  used 
vary  greatly  according  to  locality;  the  outer  walls  are  usually  composed  of 
(joarse  grass,  weed  stalks,  eelgrass,  or  seaweed,  sometimes  with  a  foundation 
of  mud,  and  again  without  it.  The  imier  cup  of  the  nest  is  composed  of  simi- 
lar but  finer  nuiterials,  and  is  generally  lined  with  dry  grass,  among  which 
occasionally  a  few  feathers,  bits  of  paj)er,  strings,  and  rags  may  be  scattered;  in 
fact  anything  suitable  and  readily  obtained  is  liable  to  be  utilized.  Exteriorly 
the  nests  vary  from  5  to  8  inches  in  height,  and  from  7  to  ;>.inch'!s  in  diameter, 
according  to  location.  They  are  ordinarily  about  iJ  inches  deep  by  4  inches  wide 
inside.  The  nests  are  j)laced  at  various  distances  from  the  ground,  some  as  low 
as  ;3  feet,  and  others  in  the  extreme  tops  of  trees,  or  on  horizontal  limbs  from  20 
to  30  feet  up,  or  occasionally  even  higher.  At  Washington,  l)i.strict  of  Colum- 
bia, the  Purple  Grackle  begins  to  build,  or  to  repair  the  old  site,  about  the 
beginning  of  Auril,  and  in  favorable  seasons  full  sets  of  eggs  may  be  looked 
for  about  the  middle  of  this  month,  usually,  however,  not  before  the  first  week 
in  May,  about  which  time  they  begin  laying  generall)'  throughout  their  range. 
Incubation,  in  which  both  parents  assist,  lasts  ab(  ut  two  weeks,  and  they  are 
ecjually  solicitous  in  the  defense  of  their  eggs  or  young;  the  latter  are  able  to 
leave  the  nest  in  about  eighteen  days,  and  sometimes  a  second  brood  is  raised. 
They  are  fed  almost  entirely  on  insects  while  in  the  nest. 

The  number  t  ?ggs  to  a  set  varies  from  four  to  six,  very  rarely  seven,  and 
sets  of  five  are  most  often  found.  The  shell  is  sti'ong,  fine  grained,  and  slightly 
glossy. 

The  groiuid  color  of  the  Purple  (irackle's  egg  varies  from  a  pale  greenish 
white  to  a  light  rusty  l>rown;  they  are  generally  blotched  or  streaked  with  irreg- 
uliu"  lines  and  dashes  of  various  shades  of  dark  brown,  and  in  an  occasional  set 
different  tints  of  lavender  markings  are  also  noticeable.  Only  in  rare  instances 
are  these  markings  so  profuse  and  evenly  distributed  over  the  entire  egg  as  to 
hide  the  ground  color.     They  vary  greatly  in  style. and  character  in  different  sets. 

The  average  measurement  of  eighty-five  specimens  is  28..')3  by  20.81)  milli- 
metres, or  about  1.12  by  0.H2  inchos.  Tlie  largest  vixg  of  the  series  measures 
32.7*;  l)y  23.11  millimetres,  or  1.2!l  by  O.ill  inches;  tiie  smallest,  25f>fi  by  20.51 
millimetres,  or  1.01  by  0.81  inches.  I  am  aware  that  this  does  not  agree  with  the 
average  measurements  generally  given  forthese  eggs,  but  it  is  nevertheless  correct. 

The  type  specimens.  No.  2331(4  (1*1.  7,  Fig.  21),  from  a  set  of  six  eggs  taken 
by  Mr.  Charles  W.  Richmond  on  April  17,  18S7;  Nt).  24775  (PI.  7,  Fig.  22), 
from  a  set  of  five  eggs,  and  No.  24776  (PI.  7,  Fig.  23),  from  a  set  of  four  eggs, 
l)otli  taken  by  Mr.  Guy  K.  Mitchell  on  May  it,  1887,  were  all  ol)tain('d  naw 
Washington,  District  of  Columbia.  These  eggs,  as  well  as  those  figured  for  the 
two  subspecies,  (^uiscdhts  iiiiiscula  at/hciis  and  Qiiiscaliis  qu'innda  (rncits,  represent 
some  of  the  different  styles  of  coloration  found  among  the  three  recognized 
races  of  this  CJrackle. 


'I        r 


>  Oulogist,  Vol.  VIII,  .lune,  1891,  p.  1828. 


500 


LIFK  IllSTOlilES  OF  NOltTU  AMERICA^'  lilKDS. 


194.     Quiscalus  quiscula  aglseus  (Baiuu). 


FLOKIUA  (iUACKLE. 


I    ^ 


'!   I 


ill     ! 


W^ 

p 

I 

1     : 

li 

i     ' 

M. 

M 

Quinatluii  aylwiiH  Baibu,  Aiiioricaii  Juurnal  uf  iSciciico  and  Arts,  18C(i,  84. 
Quisvidus  quiscula  aglaius  Stkjneukb,  Auk,  il,  .laii.,  1885,  43,  footuotu. 

(B  422,  O  — ,  li  278«,  0  330,  U  511a.) 

(iKuUBAPUic'AL  UANUE :  Froiu  HoiitLerii  Soutli  Carolina  (Charletstuii)  Houtli  thi'oii)rh 
the  Florida  iieniiisula;  west  through  Houtberii  Georgia  aud  the  Gull'  coast  of  Florida  to 
Bouthciifiteru  Louisiana  (Now  Orleans). 

The  Florida  Grackle,  or  Florida  Crow  Blackbird,  a  slightly  smaller  race 
than  the  preceding,  is  generally  resident  and  breeds  wherever  found.  Its  gen- 
eral habits  are  similar  to  those  of  the  Purple  Grackle  in  neai'ly  every  respect. 
It  breeds  both  in  swamps  and  on  higher  grounds,  in  pine  woods  and  orsuige 
groves,  etc. ;  the  nesting  season  begins  sometimes  in  the  latter  i)art  of  March,  but 
usually  about  the  lirst  week  in  April,  and  occasionally  as  late  as  May. 

Dr.  William  L.  Raljih  finds  this  subspecies  connnon  in  Putnaui  Ct)inity, 
Florida,  and  the  United  States  National  Museum  is  indebted  to  him  for  nearly 
all  the  eggs  of  this  race  in  the  collection,  as  well  as  for  the  nests  and  skins. 
The  nests  vary  somewhat  in  composition;  some  are  made  of  coarse  grass,  leaves, 
etc.,  taken  from  the  ground  in  swamps,  pressed  finnly  together,  and  thic;kly  cov- 
ered on  the  outside  with  Spanish  moss,  with  which  a  few  pieces  of  grass,  twigs, 
etc.,  are  mixed,  and  they  are  lined  with  finer  dry  grass.  In  other  nests  the  outer 
walls  are  mainly  composed  of  coarse  grass,  weeds,  and  but  little  Spanish  moss; 
these  materials  are  cemented  together  with  cow  maniu'e  aud  nmd,  and  the  nests 
are  lined  with  wire  grass  (^Arintidu);  again  flags,  wet  sphagnum  moss,  pine  nee- 
dles, and  small  twigs  are  used  to  a  considerable  extent  in  these  structures.  Such 
substances  as  are  most  readily  obtained  near  the  nesting  site  are  generally 
utilized,  and  this  accounts  for  the  variable  luiture  of  the  materials  used. 

A  nest  now  before  me,  built  in  an  orange  tree,  about  H  feet  from  the  ground, 
measures  o.i  inches  in  height  and  S  inches  in  outer  diameter.  The  inner  cup  of 
the  nest  is  li'j  inches  deejt  by  A\  inches  in  diameter.  Most  of  the  nests  found 
by  Dr.  Ralph  were  placed  in  low  bushes,  from  2  to  7  feet  above  the  water  iu 
cypress  swamps;  others  were  found  in  orange  trees  and  small  ))ines,  at  no  great 
distance  from  the  ground.  One  nest,  containing  four  eggs,  in  which  incubation 
was  about  one-fourtii  advanced,  taken  by  him  March  30,  had  been  placed 
directly  inider  an  occupied  nest  of  the  (irreeu  Heron,  with  an  interval  of  about  6 
inches  between  them.  It  was  in  a  bush  in  a  cyjwess  swamj),  about  5  feet  from 
the  ground. 

The  number  of  eggs  to  a  set  varies  from  three  to  five,  and  these  show  about 
tlie  same  variations  in  color  and  markings  as  those  of  the  I'urjde  Grackle,  aud 
can  not  be  distinguislied  from  them,  excepting  that  they  are  somewhat  larger. 

The  average  measurement  of  twenty-three  eggs,  all  from  Florida,  is  ,'{(1.48 
by  20.'J7  millimetres,  or  1.20  by  0.82  inches.     The  largest  egg  measures  'M.'ii2  by 


THE  FLORIDA  (JRACKriK. 


501 


21.34  niilliinotres,  or  1.43  by  (».S4  indies;  the  siiiiiUcst,  2«;.f>2  by  1!».3()  inilli- 
metrca,  or  LOG  })y  0.76  inclu's.  As  will  ho  seen,  these  effj^s  measure  considerably 
more  on  an  average  than  do  those  of  its  lar<,fer  relative,  the  l^urple  CJrackle. 

Tiie  tyjie  speeimens,  N<.s.  2r).S24  and  20X2,")  (IM.  7,  Fig:s.  24  and  25),  lialph 
collection,  from  sets  of  iive  and  four  ej^gs,  respec^tively,  were  both  taken  near 
San  iVIateo,  Florida,  on  April  25,  ISHf),  and  April  14,  1,S88,  by  Dr.  William  L. 
Ralph,  and  represent  th(*  btitter-cohired  phases  found  among  tlie  eggs  of  this 
subspecies. 

195.     Quiscalus  quiscula  aeneus  (Ridoway) 

imOXZEI)  GKACKLK. 

QuincahiK  wncus  IIidoway,  I'roceediiiffs  A(!iul('iiiy  Xatnnil  Sciencos,  riiilndclpliiii,  .luue, 

ISO!*,  l.U. 
(fuiHCiilHH  quiscula  <riiei(ii  Ste.tneoek,  Auk,  II,  Jan.,  lcS.sr>,  i:i,  footnote. 

(IJ  — ,  C  22rm,  K  L'TSft,  O  ;{37,  U  rtVb.) 

(iKOOKAPiiieAL  UANOE:  Froiii  iKnthcrn  Hritisli  North  Aiiioiica,  vicinity  of  Great 
Slave  Lake  and  tlio  country  bordering  tlic,  southern  half  of  Hudson  Bay;  southern  Lab- 
rador and  southern  Newfoundland,  soutiiward  tlirough  tlie  Dominion  of  (^aiuula  and  tlie. 
United  States;  west  tothe  eastern  shjpes  of  tiu^  Kooky  Mountains;  soutli  to  theKiodrando 
Valley,  in  Texas,  and  the  (iulf  coast,  to  the  nio'ith  of  the  Mississippi,  and  thence  north- 
easterly through  Mississipi)i,  Alabama,  northern  (ieorgia,  along  the  western  slopes  of  the 
Alleghanies,  reaching  the  Atlantic  seacoast  again  in  Massachusetts  and  following  it  to 
Nova  Scotia.  In  winter,  passing,  to  some  extent,  into  Mexico,  and  casually  to  (he  eastern 
8h>i>es  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains. 

'Die  Bronzed  (Jracklc,  also  known  as  the  "Western  Crow  Blackbird,"  is  far 
more  numerous  than  tuther  of  tlie  two  preceding  sjtccies,  and  breeds  throughout 
its  extensive  range.  Altliough  only  considered  as  a  race  in  the  "American 
Ornithologists'  Union  Check  List,"  in  my  ojtinion  it  is  a  perfectly  good  species 
and  I'lititled  to  specific  rank. 

Withiti  the  Unitetl  States  it  is  especially  abundant;  throughout  the  valleys 
of  the  AFississippi  River  and  its  larger  tributaries,  and  ])articidarly  so  along  our 
northern  border  and  hi  southern  Uritish  North  America,  east  of  the  Kocky 
]\I(mntains,  where  it  1)reeds  in  large  colonies  in  favoralde  localities.  WhilcMiot 
so  common  in  our  prairie  States,  it  is  generally  distributed  throughout  tlie  region 
and  is  recorded  from  all  of  them. 

Li  the  northern  ])ortions  of  its  range  it  is  oidy  a  summer  visitor,  usually 
migrating  southward  in  inuuense  nmnbers  in  the  i-arly  fall,  passing  through  our 
NiU'thern  States  diu'ing  the  latter  part  of  October,  and  remaim'ng  there  in  favor- 
able seasons  sometimes  well  into  November,  and  returning  from  its  winter  haunts 
in  our  Southern  States  and  eastern  Mexico  diu-ing  Februaiy  and  March.  The 
niiijority  of  these  birds  winter  south  of  latitude  37°  N. 

Mr.  W.  Fi.  Loucks,  of  I'eoria,  Illinois,  says:  "'riiousands  of  these  birds  are 
to  b(^  found  here  in  the  s])ring,  and  whih*  many  of  them  ]iass  north,  others 
remain  to  lireed.     At  this  time  of  the  year  they  make  tlu!  bottom  lamls  their 


i 


li 


■  :li; 


502 


LIKK  HISTOUIKS  OF  NOltTll  AMEKKiAN  lilKDS. 


rendezvous.  ()u  tlieir  first  iirrival  tliey  keej)  in  Hocks  for  a  few  \ve(*ks,  roosting 
in  the  willows,  and,  together  witli  the  Red-winged  Blackbirds,  make  a  deafening 
noise,  forming  a  general  roost  in  which  all  the  flocks  from  the  surrounding 
country  join,  and  so  great  are  their  numbers  that  tlu^  trees  apj)ear  black.  In  the 
fall  they  ag.ain  gather  in  large  flocks,  but  betake  themselves  to  the  highlands, 
where  they  remain  until  their  dejiarture  for  the  south.  Oak  woods  and  orchards 
are  now  theit  resorts,  whence  an  occasional  visit  is  nia<le  to  the  flelds  for  food. 
In  the  vicinity  of  I'eoria  they  nest  in  uplands,  where  an  orchard  or  a  clump 
of  pines  or  occasionally  a  soft  maple  is  selected  for  this  jmrjiose;  but  if  one 
wants  to  see  them  in  greater  abundance  he  should  take  a  boat  and  row  into  the 
willow  swamps,  where  they  nest  in  large  numl)ers,  the  nests  genta'ally  being 
j)laced  in  willow  trees,  at  various  distances  from  the  water  level,  say  from  4 
to  2!)  feet,  and  occasionally  higher." 

The  general  habits  of  tlu*  Bronzed  Grackle  do  not  vary  greatly  from  those 
of  the  preceding  species,  and  their  food  is  very  similar.  During  the  l)reeding 
season  this  consists  almost  entirely  of  in.sects  of  various  kinds,  while  later  in 
the  sunmier  corn  is  eaten  to  a  cttnsideralde  extent.  In  the  north,  where  wild 
rice  is  abundant,  this,  as  well  as  other  small  seeds,  forms  a  considerable  portion 
of  their  <laily  fare.  Beechnuts  are  also  eaten  by  them,  and  they  have  been 
observed  catching  bees. 

There  are  two  sides  to  every  (juestion,  and  while  there  is  no  doul)t  that 
the  Bronzed  (irackle  does  some  harm  to  the  matured  corn  crops  in  certain 
sections  in  the  fall,  due  mainly  to  the  enormous  miml)ers  of  these  birds  that  con- 
gregate in  some  localities  during  their  migration,  it  is  etpially  true  that  at  all 
other  times,  especially  during  the  breeding  season,  they  do  cimsiderable  good, 
sul)sisting  and  feeding  their  young  almost  entirely  on  noxious  insects  of  all 
kinds,  esj)ecially  cutworms,  which  destroy  a  great  deal  of  yonng  corn,  but 
whose  <lej)redations  are  often  erroneously  charged  to  the  birds  whiU^  searching 
for  them. 

The  nesting  season  is  somewhat  variable,  and  ranges  from  the  first  week  in 
March  to  the  latter  half  of  June,  according  to  locality,  although  even  at  Fort 
Resolution,  near  (Ireat  Slave  Lake,  at  the  extreme  northern  jtoint  of  its  known 
range,  eggs  were  taken  l)y  Mr.  J.  Lockhart,  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  as 
early  as  May  17,  1S(!;5;  while  at  Fort  Custer,  Montana,  they  had  not  even  com- 
menced In-eeding  at  that  time.  I  took  my  first  fresh  eggs  there  on  May  2!),  and 
others  as  late  as  June  14,  ISSf). 

The  late  Dr.  William  C.  Avery,  of  (jrreensboro,  Alabama,  found  birds  inter- 
me<liate  between  this  and  the  Florida  Grackles  nesting  there  on  April  2.'),  iSiK). 
Dr.  James  (!.  Merrill,  Inite'l  States  Army,  took  fresh  sets  at  Fort  Reno,  Indian 
Territory,  as  late  as  May  i\\,  ISiJO,  and  Dr.  Ralph  found  them  laying  at  Holland 
I'atent,  Oneida  County,  New  York,  in  the  latter  part  of  A|)ril  or  the  beginning 
of  May.     Climate  seems  t()  have  little  influence  on  the  time  of  nesting. 

Where  coniferous  trees  are  obtainable  jjreference  seems  to  be  given  to  tluMU 
as  nesting  sites;  willows,  oaks,  mai)les,  elms,  sycamores,  and  cottonwoods  are 


THE  BKONZKJ)  (1UA(  KLK. 


503 


iilso  fV('(|uently  used,  csi)t'cially  tivcs  coveriMl  l»y  }^iai)oviueH.  In  tho  Weft 
natural  cavities  and  lioUow  stnbs,  as  well  as  the  excavations  of  tho  larj^er  Woofl- 
]»e('kers,  are  often  resorted  to.  1  found  several  nests  placed  in  open  spaces  in 
stacks  of  cord  wood  near  Fort  (Juster,  Montana. 

Moth  Mr.  M.  (!hanil)erlin  and  Mr.  J.  W.  IJanks  inform  nie  that  in  New 
Hrunswick  these  (Jrackles  nest  frequently  in  hay  barns.  The  hay  is  taken  away 
from  the  marshy  islands  horderin};'  the  rivers  on  the  ice  in  winter,  and  these 
birds  take  possession  of  such  barns  in  large  mnnbers  in  the  spring,  placin<>'  their 
nests  in  the  angle  of  a  brace  or  on  the  beams  and  girders,  much  in  the  same 
fashion  as  that  adopted  by  the  Robins. 

Mr. ,].  W.  Preston,  of  Baxter,  Iowa,  in  referring  to  their  nesting  habits  in 
the  lake  regions  of  northern  Iowa  and  Minnesota,  says:  "A  vast  colony  occu- 
pied a  brushy  Hat  near  Cairo  Lake,  Hamilton  County,  Iowa,  during  the  season 
of  ISSl.  When  I  saw  them  the  yomig  liirds  were  leaving  the  nests,  and  the 
noise  and  din  of  the  scolding,  s(jualliiig  parents  and  crying  young  were  deafen- 
ing as  one  walked  among  tho  nests,  which  were  crowded  in  the  toj)H  of  wild- 
plum  trees.  I  also  saw  a  large  colony  in  a  tract  of  busliy  land  at  the  northern 
extremity  of  Heron  Lake,  Minnesota.  Ilen^  the  nests  were  platted  in  low 
shrubs  and  wild-goosel)erry  buslu^H,  some  not  more  than  1  foot  from  the  ground. 
The  construction  differed  somewhat  from  the  ordinary  nest.  The  structures 
were  deep  and  heavy,  and  were  madi^  of  dry  grass,  with  a  filling  or  wall  (»f 
mud  between  the  outer  wall  and  the  lining.  I  have  seen  an  odd  nest  of  this 
(Jrackle  built  in  a  bunch  of  conunon  reed  (^I'linit/nnfcn),  which  looks  like  broom 
lorn  at  a  distance  and  yrows  from  f)  to  12  feet  hijih.  This  nest  rcsend)led  that 
of  a  Yellow-headetl  lihu^kbird,  the  material  being  evenly  woven  together." 

Ther(*  is  not  nuu'h  differenc*^  in  their  nt-sts;  compared  with  those  of  the 
Purple  aTid  Florida  (Jrackles,  they  vary  like  thes(i  in  composition  accorchng  to 
locality,  and  their  nesting  habits  and  «'gg's  arc  also  similar.  The  nundicr  of 
eggs  to  a  s(>t  varies  from  four  to  six  or  rarely  seven;  sets  of  five  are  most  often 
found,  and  six  are  not  unusual. 

'^riie  average  measurement  of  a  series  of  one  hundred  and  foi'ty-eight 
specimens  in  the  I'nited  States  National  Musemn  cipllection  is  2!>.()2  l)y  "JiUX) 
millimetres,  or  about  1.14  by  ilX'2  inches  The  largest  egg  measures  iJ  1.50  by 
21.5!»  millimetres,  or  1.24  l)y  (>.sr>  inches;  the  smallest  egg.  25.40  by  l:».05 
millimetres,  or  1  by  0.75  inches. 

The  type  specinu'n.  No.  2.'>20(1  (PI.  7,  Fig.  2(>),  from  a  set  of  five  eggs, 
taken  by  Mr.  V.  X.  Kdwards,  near  Woods  Hole,  Massachusetts,  on  May  27,  18S7, 
re])resents  one  of  the  darkest  eggs  in  the  entire  series;  while  No.  25S,S9  (PI.  7, 
Fig.  27),  from  a  set  of  four  eggs,  I{al]th  collection,  taken  liy  Dr.  William  L. 
Kalph,  on  ]\Iay  IS,  1SS7,  near  Il»>lland  Patent,  New  York,  shows  one  of  tho 
rarer  types  of  coloration. 


It;  > 
I 


if 


504  LIFE  UISTOttlES  OP  NOKTU  AMEKIUAN  JJIUDS. 

ig6.    Quiscalus  macrourus  Bwainson. 

GUKAT-TAILEl)  GKACKLE. 

Quiscalus  miicroitrus  Swainson,  Animals  in  Menageries,  1838,  299. 

(B  419,  C  '.'23,  B  275,  C  3;i3,  U  512.) 

CiEOGRAPnicAL  RANUE:  FroHi  Nicaragua,  Central  America,  north  tlirough  eastern 
Mexico  to  southern  Texas. 

Tlie  range  of  tlio  Great-tailed  Grackle  within  the  United  States  is  restricted 
to  the  southern  portions  of  Texas,  contiguous  to  tlie  Gulf  coast  and  the  lower 
Rio  Grande  Valley.  In  the  interior  of  the  State  it  has  been  met  with  in  Bexar 
and  Hams  counties,  which  probably  mark  about  the  northern  limits  of  its  range. 
Mr.  H,  P.  Attwater  considers  it  to  be  a  common  summer  resident  near  San 
Antonio,  Texas,  and  a  few  winter  there.  Mr.  Nehrling  found  it  nesting  in  scat- 
tered ])air8  in  and  about  Houston,  Texas,  which  marks  about  the  eastern  limit 
of  its  distribution  in  this  State.  It  is  generally  a  resident  and  lireeds  wiierever 
found,  and  in  the  htwer  Rio  Grande  Valley  it  is  very  abundant. 

Mr.  George  U.  Bennett,  speaking  of  the  Great-taile<l  Grackle,  says:  "When 
I  think  of  this  bird  it  is  always  with  a  smile.  It  is  everywhere  as  abundant  on 
the  Rio  Grande  as  is  I'assvr  domesticus,  the  Engli-sh  SpaiTow,  in  our  Nf)rtheni 
cities,  and  equally  tame  when  about  habitations.  This  bird  is  as  much  a  part 
of  tlie  life  of  Brownsville  as  the  harrelcro  rolling  along  his  cask  of  water  or  the 
mounted  beggar  going  his  daily  rounds.  In  the  towns  and  about  the  ranches 
he  knows  no  fear;  is  always  noisy,  never  at  rest,  and  in  all  })laces  and  j)osition8, 
now  making  friends  with  the  horses  in  the  bams,  or  the  cattle  in  the  fields,  then 
in  some  tree  pouring  forth  his  notes,  which  I  can  liken  only  to  the  scrapings 
of  a  conistalk  fiddle;  now  .stealing  from  j)orch  or  open  window  some  ribbon 
for  his  nest,  then  following  close  behind  the  planter,  quick  to  see  the  dropping 
corn.  With  all  his  boldness  and  curiosity  the  boys  of  the  streets  say  they  can 
not  trap  or  catch  him  in  a  snare.  He  will  take  every  bait  or  grain  but  the  right 
one;  he  will  put  his  feet  among  all  sorts  of  rags  but  the  right  ones,  and  the  boys 
are  completely  outwitted  by  a  bird.  He  performs  all  sorts  of  antics;  the  most 
curious  and  laughable  ])ei"formance  is  a  common  erne  Avith  him:  Two  males  will 
take  position  facing  each  other  on  the  ground  or  upon  some  shed;  then  together 
they  begin  slowly  raising  their  heads  and  twisting  them  most  comically  from 
side  to  side,  all  the  time  eyeing  each  other,  until  their  bills  not  only  stand  per- 
pendicular to  their  bodies,  but  sometimes  are  thrown  over  nearly  to  their  backs. 
After  maintaining  this  awkward  position  for  a  time  they  will  gradually  bring 
back  their  bills  to  their  natural  position,  and  the  perfomiauce  ends.  It  is  a 
most  annising  thing  to  witness,  and  seems  to  be  mere  fun  for  the  birds,  for  nothing 
serious  grows  out  of  it."* 

Their  food  consists  of  different  kinds  of  insects  and  their  larva;,  small  crus- 
taceans, dead  fish,  seeds  and  grain  of  various  kinds,  and  on  the  whole  they  do 
comparatively  little  injury. 

'  NotiM  on   tlio   Oniitliology  of  the  I.owor  Kio  Grnnilc  in  TfXfts,  IT.  8.  Gvologicnl  luiil  Gcogrnpliioal 
Survey,  Vol.  IV,  187S,  pp.  L'7  iinil  28. 


THE  GREAT-TAILED  GRACKLE. 


505 


The  Great-tailed  Grackles  are  more  or  lesH  gregarious  at  all  times,  and 
generally  breed  in  companies,  often  in  considerable  colonies,  among  the  willow 
thickets  and  chaparrals  bordering  the  streams  and  irrigating  ditches,  or  in  the 
tops  of  nies(juite,  ebony  and  colima  trees,  so  common  a  feature  in  the  lower  Rio 
Grande  Valley;  they  nest  less  often  in  hackberry,  prickly  ash,  and  oak  trees,  as 
well  as  in  the  extensive  canebrakes  bordering  the  numerous  lagoons  and  fresh- 
water lakes  and  in  the  rushes  in  the  salt  marshes  near  the  Gidf  coast.  Dr.  Merrill, 
United  States  Army,  found  them  very  common  on  the  military  reservation  in  the 
vicinity  of  Brownsville,  Texas,  nesting  in  the  tops  of  different  kinds  of  trees, 
as  well  as  in  the  tule  reeds,  in  company  with  several  species  of  Herons,  and  even 
among  the  interstices  of  the  nests  of  Audubon's  Caracara  and  on  the  same  trees 
occupied  by  these  birds. 

Mr.  E.  Kirby  Smith  writes:  "At  Suchil,  Vera  Cruz,  Mexico,  the  Great-tailed 
Grackle  fretiuently  nests  under  the  eaves  of  houses,  and  I  have  seen  as  many  as 
fifteen  of  their  nests  in  one  tree.  Excepting  during  the  breeding  season  the 
males  and  females  keep  in  separate  flocks.  They  fly  very  slowly.  The  local 
name  for  these  birds  is  'Petcho.'" 

Mr.  Charles  W.  Richmond  informs  me  that  this  species  is  very  common  .at 
Bluefields,  on  the  east  coast  (»f  Nicaragua,  and  at  San  Carlos  on  the  lake,  and 
that  it  is  t.ime  and  familiar.  It  haunts  particularly  the  wharves  and  low  shores, 
where  it  finds  a  varietj-  of  food.  It  is  quite  bold,  going  out  to  the  Carib  craft 
anchored  close  by  and  visiting  the  decks  for  food.  It  is  known  as  "Sanate" 
among  the  natives. 

According  to  Mr.  Sennett,  when  breeding  in  swamps  their  nests  are  fre- 
quently jdaced  within  2  feet  of  the  water,  and  from  4  to  30  feet  from  the  gi'oinul 
when  in  trees.  Their  nests,  of  which  I  have  several  before  me,  resemble  those 
of  the  rest  of  our  eastern  Grsickles  in  size,  construction,  and  matenals;  some  of 
them  are  almost  entirely  composed  of  Spanish  moss,  while  others  are  mainly 
built  of  small,  round  stems  of  creeping  plants  which  are  flexible  enough  to 
admit  of  their  being  securely  woven  together.  Mud  is  often  used  to  bind  the 
materials  together,  and  the  upper  rim  of  the  nest  is  generally  securely  fastened 
to  the  surrounding  l)ranches  or  reed  stalks  among  which  it  is  placed.  Some 
nests  show  no  traces  of  mud  in  their  composition,  l)ut  the  materials  forming  the 
outer  walls  appear  to  have  been  quite  wet  when  gathered.  Tlie  lining  usually 
consists  of  dry  grass  and  fine  roots,  and  when  near  towns  bits  of  cotton  cloth, 
feathers,  paper,  etc.,  are  often  found  mixed  among  the  other  materials. 

Nidification  usually  beghis  during  the  latter  part  of  April;  it  is  at  its  height 
in  the  first  half  of  May  and  lasts  through  June.  One  and  sometimes  two  broods 
are  reared  in  a  season.  Young  birds  of  various  sizes  and  fresh  eggs  may  fre- 
quently be  found  in  the  same  colony.  The  earliest  record  I  have  of  eggs  being 
taken  is  one  bj'  Dr.  Merrill,  United  States  Army,  at  Brownsville,  Texas,  on 
April  4.  Both  sexes  assist  in  incubation,  which  lasts  about  fifteen  days,  and  in 
the  care  of  the  young,  for  which  they  show  a  great  deal  of  solicitude. 

The  number  of  eggs  laid  to  a  set  is  usually  three  or  four.  Sets  of  five  are 
occasionally  found,  but  clutches  of  this  size  are  rather  rare. 


i! 


';i! 


506 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NOllTU  AMEUICAN  BIRDS. 


I      I 


Tho  {fi'ound  color  is  UHually  pale  (p-eenish  blue,  and  Ih  often  more  or  lews 
clouded  over  with  purple  vinaceous  and  Hnioky  pale  umber  tintu,  which  are 
usually  heaviest  and  most  pronounced  about  the  smaller  end  of  tho  ej^fj.  The 
markings  consist  mainly  of  coarse,  iiregularly  shaped  lines  and  tracings  of  dif- 
ferent shades  of  dark  brown,  black,  and  smoky  gray,  and  less-defined  tints  of 
plumbeous.  In  rare  instances  an  egg  is  found  which  is  only  faintly  marked 
with  a  few  indistinct  lines  of  lavender  gray  about  the  small  end,  the  rest  of  the 
shell  being  immaculate.  They  are  mostly  elongate  ovate  in  shape;  a  few  are 
blunt  ovate,  while  others  approach  a  cylindrical  ovate. 

The  average  measurement  of  ninety-three  specimens  in  the  United  States 
National  Museum  collection  is  32.18  by  21.75  millimetres,  or  about  1.27  by  0.8fi 
inches.  The  largest  egg  in  the  series  measiu'es  Si'iJiH  by  22. (il  millimetres,  or 
1.44  by  0.89  niches;  the  smallest,  28.19  by  20.57  millimetres,  or  1.11  by  0.81 
inches. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  20290  (PI.  7,  Fig.  28),  from  a  set  of  three  eggs, 
was  taken  by  Dr.  James  C.  Merrill,  United  States  Army,  near  Fort  Urown, 
Texas,  on  May  17,  1877,  and  represents  a  small-sized  and  dark-colored  egg 
of  this  species.  No.  2562»i  (PI.  7,  Fig.  29),  also  from  a  set  of  three,  Kal})h 
collection,  was  taken  near  Brownsville,  Texas,  on  May  21,  1891,  and  shows  a 
well-marked  and  average-sized  egg. 

197.    Quiscalus  major  Vieillot. 

BOAT-TAILED  GRACKLE. 

QuiscaluH  major  Vieillot,  Nouveau  Dictionnaire  d'llistoirc  Nature-lie,  XXVIII,  1819, 487. 

(B  420,  G  224,  K  277,  C  ;m,  U  51,{.) 

fiEOGRAPHiCAL  RANGE:  Soutli  Atlantic  aiul  (Julf  coasts  of  tlie  United  States,  from 
Marylaud  southward;  west  to  soutbeasteru  Texas.    Casual  in  southern  New  Jersey. 

The  Boat-tailed  Grackle,  also  locally  known  as  the  "Thrush  Blacklnrd," 
"Boat-tailed  Blackbird,"  and  "Jackdaw,"  is  an  abundant  resident  in  the  southern 
portions  of  its  range,  along  the  coast  and  on  the  islands  of  South  Carolina, 
Georgia,  Florida,  Mississippi,  and  Louisiana.  In  the  northern  parts  of  its  range, 
which  extends  well  into  Maryland  (Kent  County),  on  tlie  shores  of  Chesaj)eake 
Bay,  it  is  only  a  summer  visitor,  but  some  of  these  birds  winter  in  suitable  locali- 
ties in  Virginia  and  North  Carolina.  It  has  also  been  observed  in  the  vicinity  of 
Cape  May,  New  Jersey,  in  the  summer,  and  possibly  it  breeds  there  in  small  num- 
bers. It  is  known  to  breed  at  Pomona,  Maryland,  the  most  northern  record  I  am 
aware  of.  It  is  not  uncommon  on  several  islands  off  the  coast  of  Virginia,  and 
a  large  colony  was  observed  nesting  on  one  of  the  small  islands  in  Clu'isajjeake 
Bay  by  Mr.  Theodore  W.  Bichards.  Mr.  11.  Nehrling  found  it  breeding  in  the 
vicinity  of  Houston,  Texas,  which  marks  about  the  western  limit  of  its  range; 
here  it  overlaps  the  eastern  range  of  the  })receding  species. 

Like  the  rest  of  the  Grackles,  they  are  gregarious  and  sociable  in  their 
habits,  breeding  together  in  colonies  in  suitable  localities,  and  roving  about 


THE  BOAT-TAILED  OUACKLB. 


607 


(luriuff  the  rest  of  the  year  in  hu'ffe  flockn.  In  Home  sections  they  disappear 
soMietinu'M  from  their  usual  haunts  in  the  hite  smnnier  for  a  month  or  so,  for 
some  unknown  reason,  probably  f^oing  in  search  of  better  feeding  grounds,  only 
to  return  later.  They  spend  a  good  deal  of  their  time  on  the  ground,  walking 
along  slowly  and  sedately  while  starching  for  food.  It  requires  quite  an  effort 
for  one  of  tlu^  birds  to  rise  from  the  ground,  and  until  fairly  started  its  Hight 
is  slow,  heavy,  and  laborious. 

Tlieir  food  is  largely  derived  from  the  sea,  and  consists  mainly  of  small 
mollusks  and  cru.staceans  of  different  kinds  picked  up  in  the  salt  marshes  and 
uuid  flats  during  low  tide,  and  of  dead  fish,  insects,  etc.,  can-ied  in  by  the  tides. 
They  also  feed,  though  to  a  small  extent  only,  on  vegetable  matter,  such  as  rice 
and  other  grains,  and  occasionally  on  fruit. 

In  the  more  northern  portions  of  their  range  these  l)irds  usually  aiTive  about 
the  beginning  of  March,  and  are  at  first  very  restless,  roving  ab«)ut  from  place 
to  place  until  the  nesting  season  commences.  They  are  unusually  noisy  during 
this  time,  and  their  peculiar,  grating  notes  can  be  constantly  heard;  some  of 
these  are  very  shrill  and  unpleasant  to  the  ear,  but  frequently  during  the  mating 
season  a  rather  indifferent  attempt  at  singing  is  made;  this  is  somewhat  less  dis- 
agreeable, but  impossible  to  describe  on  paper. 

Mr.  Frank  M.  Chapman  describes  a  singular  note  of  theirs  as  resembling 
the  flaj)ping  of  wings,  as  of  a  Coot  tripping  over  the  water.  He  says:  "This 
sound  was  very  familiar  to  me,  and  so  excellent  is  the  imitation  that  for  a  long 
time  I  attributed  it  to  one  of  the  numerous  Coots  which  abound  in  most  places 
favored  by  Quiscalus  major."  ^ 

Mr.  W.  E.  Grover,  of  Galveston,  Texas,  writes:  "One  of  their  common 
call  notes,  when  sitting  at  ease  in  a  tree,  is  a  noisy,  clucking  'clac-dac-clac,' fre- 
quently followed  by  a  long-drawn  whistle  like  'who-it,  who-it.'  In  this  vicinity 
they  nest  principally  in  tulc  reeds  growing  in  fresh-water  ])onds,  and  in  the 
thick  matted  gniss  on  the  edges  of  salt  bayous,  some  nests  being  jjartly  in 
the  Weater  at  high  tide.  Some  also  nest  in  Cherokee  rosebushes,  and  occasion- 
ally a  i)air  will  Vmild  in  a  tree,  as  nmcli  as  40  feet  from  the  ground.  'I'he  nests 
of  birds  building  in  trees  are  not  so  deej)  nor  so  well  made  as  those  in  the  canes." 

Nidification  appears  to  be  somewhat  irregular  with  this  sjjccies.  In  southern 
Florida  some  of  these  birds  l)egin  laying  during  the  first  week  in  March,  wlien 
quite  a  number  have  not  even  begun  nest  building.  The  nesting  season  lasts 
until  June  here,  and  jH'obably  two  broods  are  raised  regularly.  In  the  northern 
portions  of  their  range  it  begins  in  the  latter  part  of  Ajanl,  and  is  sometimes  pro- 
tracted until  May.  The  nests  are  usually  strong,  bulky  structures,  measuring, 
on  an  average,  about  7  inches  in  height  by  8  inches  in  width.  The  inner  cup  is 
about  3  inches  deep  b}'  4J  inches  in  diameter.  They  are  constructed  mainly 
of  coarse  gi-ass,  sedges,  weed  stalks,  and  fibrous  roots,  cemented  and  more  or 
less  mixed  with  mud.  In  some  nests  no  nmd  is  used,  and  these  are  conse- 
quently not  as  solid.     Sonu^  are  built  i)rincipally  of  Si)anish  moss,  others  of  eel- 

'The  Auk,  1888,  p.  27:1. 


508 


LIFE  UI8TOKIBH  OF  NUUTU  AMBHIOAK  B1KD8. 


grass,  the  materials  used  varying  in  different  localities.  Cotton,  rags,  feathers, 
and  seaweeds  are  also  sometimes  incoq)orated  into  the  walls.  They  are  placed 
on  various  kinds  of  trees  and  bushes,  such  as  oaks,  pines,  and  willows,  and  at 
various  heights  from.the  ground,  ranging  fmm  3  to  40  feet  up,  and  again  in  water- 
myrtle  bushes,  canebrakes,  and  reeds  in  swamps,  not  over  18  inches  above  the 
water  level. 

The  number  of  eggs  laid  to  a  set  varies  from  two  to  five.  Sets  c,(  three  are 
most  common ;  but  in  certain  localities  sets  of  four  are  equally  so,  while  those 
of  five  are  somewhat  rare. 

Incubation  lasts  about  fifteen  days,  and  this  duty  seems  to  be  mostly  per- 
formed by  the  female.  The  male,  however,  assists  in  feeding  the  young,  and 
after  they  are  able  to  care  for  themselves  the  sexes  separate  in  flocks  and  remain 
a])art  until  the  mating  season  approaches  again. 

The  eggs  of  the  Boat-tailed  Grackle  closely  resemble  those  of  the  preceding 
species,  both  in  shape  and  coloration,  excepting  that  the  cloudy  purjde  vinaceoua 
and  pale  umber  tints  are  generally  more  evenly  distributed  over  the  entire  shell, 
when  present,  and  are  not  so  noticeable  at  the  small  end  of  the  egg.  In  some 
instances  the  lines  and  tracings  with  which  they  are  marked  are  also  perceptibly 
finer  as  well  as  more  profuse,  being  more  like  the  markings  found  in  the  eggs 
of  the  Baltimore  and  Bullock's  Oriole.     They  also  average  somewhat  less  in  size. 

The  average  measurement  of  ninety-eight  eggs  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum  collection  is  Sl.fiO  by  22.49  millimetres,  or  about  1.24  by  O.H!)  inches. 
The  largest  egg  measures  34.29  by  24.64  millimetres,  or  1.35  by  0.97  inches;  the 
smallest,  27.94  by  21..'J9  millimetres,  or  1.10  by  0.85  inches. 

The  type  specim  ns.  Nob.  25632  and  25634  (PI.  7,  Figs.  30  and  31),  both 
from  sets  of  three  eggs,  from  the  Ralph  collection,  were  taken  in  Mcintosh 
County,  Georgia,  on  April  26  and  29,  1890,  and  represent  the  ordinary  styles  of 
mai'kings. 


FiK. 

Fit,'. 

Fin. 

FiK'. 

FiK- 

FiK. 

Fig. 

FiKM. 

FiKs. 

FiKH. 

FigH. 

Fij.'!". 

FigH. 

FigH. 

Fig. 

Fig. 

Fig. 

Fig. 

Fig. 

Fig. 

Fig. 

Fig. 

Fig. 


EXPLANATION  TO  PLATE  1. 

1    C..nnr..K<ur<.li...-nHiH,  LlinmrnH.     Carwlinu  Par.^iu.'t. 
••    (ircfdirvx  .•alif.irniamis,  Lrhwm.     Uoail-niimrr. 
•t'  (Vrvl.' ai.vnii.  LiinmMis.     IMlr.!  KiugtiHlirr. 
:    .......  a.,».ri.ana  H.„l-"tri.maliH.  Sl.arp-.    T-xan  KmghHl.,... 

5.  vJvhhvn.  l.il.at.,H.  Lin.u..,,..     Pil-atr,!  W.K.a,H..k,.r. 
(1.  rn.tniihagaHni.Liii.m'ns.    Am.  ,  ,  i,i..,l  v.,i 

;.  i-r..toi,l.agaHnl.in..triH,  Swains.m.    '  >-'"7''"'-.    "';^,-^^''^, 
H  iV  A„tr„lt.,i..u«.aruli,>rnMs,(iin..lin.    Chmk-w.ll  s\N  .l.-w. 

10 'll'  AntroHtmnus  v.MilVruH,  WilHon.     Wl.ii,-i>.«.i--will      

,..   , ',   Milvnlus  f.,rH.atuK.  (l..,..lin.    S.i.s.„-ta.M  FlyoiU-lu... . 
11    ir,.  TvrainmstyrauiiiiH.  LinniviiH.     Kniglm-.l. 

rticalis.  Say.     Arkansas  Kiiiglmd. 


1(1.  IT.  Tyraiiiuis  vi' 


Cassiii's  Kiiigl>iril. 


IS   111   Tvraiiinisvocifi'raiiH.  SwaiiiHim 

•>,)■  ..1    Pitai.gns  (l.Tlaai.us.  Kani..     D.'ii.y  r  ,,.■»■...... 

'  :.!;  Mvi!,z..t..tc-s  t..x..nsis.  (Jirau.l.     Oivan.Vs  Flyratcher. 
■.i.  PhaliMioi.tilusi.nttalli.  AudulMni.     Pn-r-wiU. 


•Vr  Drv..l.atJsi.ulx.s...ns,  Li.nui.us.     Dmv„y  Wyoapocker. 

•'.-,    Clm'turavrlagira,  Liniarus.     Clnnincy  Swift. 

.>«   cim-tiuavanxii.TdWiiscml.     Vaiixs  Swift. 

t  Tmhilus -inbvis.  Linna-s.     Uul.y-tUr..at..a  Hmumu.gl.ml. 

■>H    SayDniisvliiilM,  LalliaiM.     PIiu'Ih'. 

•Jll.  SaVnriiis  saya,  UcMaimrtc.     ^■'V';' '''''■'";■    , 

80.  Sayi.niis  nigricans,  Swains.  ,u.     Black  1  h<vm. 


'  h' 


??V 


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4 


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w 


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■i^ilB. 


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KiK- 

FiK. 

Fu;. 
V.e. 
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Firs 

Hk 

V\k. 
Fi«. 

ri^^ 
Vijr 


KXPl.-VNAl'"'^  T(i   I'l.ATK  I. 


I. 
5. 
li. 

s.  '.1. 
til,  r. 
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tt  If.. 
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, i,.>,oHcvx  .•..hf..n.i.au.s   L.r..*.i.      H<u.l  . iiiuu  r. 

s:::!r::::ri.: --...;• ---^-- 

».,.«.-■■  I.  v.Kt:-    VVil>..».      Willi'  i""'l»'"- 

I    Si,vi.n:is  nit;"i^»'--  S-.vjiin«ni 


Ulnik  rii'tl"'. 


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t. '  ". 


) 


K 


!•  •  ■•  I"! 


) 


\>-« 


) 


^/* 


) 


/'/ 


;r 


) 


/•■••^ 


) 


)        1 


I 


!PI 


:i  r. 


Hi 


■  1,    • 


i 


Il  i 


11 


i 


,!r 


■I 


m-. 


FiKH. 

t,!.'. 

FiKH. 

;i,  4. 

Figs. 

r>,  (•>. 

Fig. 

i . 

FiKH. 

H.  it. 

FigH. 

111.  11. 

Fig. 

13. 

Fig. 

IS. 

Fig. 

14. 

FigH. 

1.-.,  1(1. 

Fig. 

17. 

Figs. 

IN.  Ifl. 

Figs.  ;.'i» 

21.  ','3. 

Fig. 

-';i. 

Figs. 

34.  3.-). 

Figs. 

30,  37. 

Figs. 

3f<,  3!l. 

Fig. 

SO. 

Fig. 

31, 

Fig. 

;i3. 

Fig. 

u:!. 

Figs. 

y4,  35. 

EXPLANATION  TO  PLATE  IL 

Nyctidromus  allricoUis  jucrrilli,  Seunott.    MorrUrs  Piirauque. 

Tyiiimius  iloiuiuitfiisis,  (juu'liii.    (Jray  Kiiigbinl. 

Tyriiiiiuis  ini'liim^lidliius  i(mrhii.  Bainl.    Couch'.s  Kingbird. 

Myiddynastcs  lutcivi'iitris.  .Sclater.    Sulplxur-Mlicd  Flycatcher. 

Jlyiarclins  friuitus,  Liiiiia'us.     C'ri'stwl  Flycatdiir. 

Jlyiarilius  iui'.\iiaiuis.  Kaii]).     Mexican  Crested  Flycatcher. 

Myiarclnis  nie.xicaims  inagister.  Ridgway.    ArizDua  Crested  Flycatcher, 

llyiarchns  ciiierascens,  Lawrence.    Asli-throated  Flycatcher. 

Myiarclnis  ciiierascens  nuttingi,  Ridgway.     Nntting's  Flycatcher. 

Cimtitpns  biirealis,  Swainson,     Olive-sided  Flycatcher. 

Contoims  pertinax.  Cabanis.     diues's  Flycatcher, 

Contopns  virens.  Liinuens.     Wmid  Pewee. 

Cdiitniius  rieliardsonii.  iSwainsiin.     Western  Wood  Pewee. 

Enii)idciiiax  tlaviventris,  Baird.    Yellow-bellied  Flycatcher, 

Einiii<l(iiiax  difficilis,  Baird.    Western  Flycatcher. 

Eniiiidonax  acadiciis,  Gnielin,     Acadian  Flycatcher. 

Eniiiidunax  i)usillns.  Hwainsdii.     Little  Flycatcher. 

Einiiidcinax  imsilhis  traillii,  Andulmn.    Traill's  Flycatcher. 

Eiui)id(inax  niininnis,  Baiid.     Lea.st  Flycatcher. 

Einiiidciiiax  lianiincindi,  Xantns.     Hannuond's  Flycatcher. 

Einiiidcmax  wrightii.  Baird.     Wright's  Flycatcher. 

Pyroccphalus  rubineus  luexicanus,  Sclater.    VemiUiou  Flycatcher. 


*;  '- 


•:.lt''.f< 


P    •' 


;  MM 


V 


■7^^^ 


f 


f,*0i 


^f 


•i. 


'^1 


J* '•ft' I 

■    f  r/, 


E-Xri-ANA-^t'-N  TO  I'LATR  II. 


iV;.;. 
Vig. 

Fig*. 


Fii!:' 


1!,  4. 
a.  Pr. 

-    ^ 

:,    II. 

I?. 


Nyrti'lroitsii-  *>lb.'- 
Tynui  •"•"'t-wiuii  ■ 
■ryriuuiii~  u-l'Uv  V 

Myiwlj'^'**  -^  J"'  ■ 
Myiar--'  '■-  riiri  ■ 
M;  i '.    '   .-  liii  ^.    1 

K/.     •      .1* 


'111-*  J  •  rriU 
'u.»".    i-iiieh 

i.'iu.ii'iv 
,!i,  Km:) 


-unit 


ilorriilV  I'uritiuiue. 
Ki'iifhiKi. 


•|v. 


.'li.  ■::. 

■y.  •,'». 
.Ill 
■  I 


..in- 
hi,.). 

El.' 


M  a.i 


lax 

;  -utix 
max 
I  mil . 
joiia 
U'liii 

'.iliw  ■ 
1.1;... 


iflcil 
1.1  i. 

.  sii;. 

.  Il1<  ■ 

utili  ' 

'in.- 
ru'  . 


ill  hot, 

i'.*.tt-.l  fiyraifluT. 
f  1  /.••111  lii'i. 
iii,'!' FI;i;iiUhor, 
,-!  Kl ,  jiti.htr. 
'  "»o«t','ut.r. 

li,         .ViKrti    iV'1Vl-t-. 

'WU  'J""".      WlfStiTIl  Wodll  PiWi-l  . 

■TKfi-    Sa^J.     Y-!lii\v-l>:lHfil  Flyi-titdiir, 
!    h,y  ril      West' ru  Flyjiitilier. 
. .  iiiMi'l'i'.     Ai-iiiliiiii  Flyi-;iti.'!ii'i". 
H\\.\iii.,.ii.     Littli' llyi'utilii'f. 
iraiUii   Ajvluli-m.    TviiillV  Fl.\c;it.Uer. 

•  -  Riii:'il      ]-<iihl,  Flyciiti  Uiv. 
r.a.  >,  iiitiii.     Hiiiiiiii'iiiil'.'i  FlyculcliiT, 
.   Biii    I      Writihf.-*  Flvcatclior. 

•  us  111  ai  iiiu'*,  Sjlater,    VonuUlou  F!ye;>ti.lier. 


»• 


l« 


) 


'7 


1    > 

>  )  ) 


^V 


'^: 


^     ^    ^     I    !) 


<?;■' 


.?^ 


)        )        ) 

)      5    # 


;:M:t 


»v 


H-U 


KXPLANATroN  To  I'LATIO  III. 

FJKs.        1.  •.>.;).  ClionloilM  virmniiuiiiH.  (liiicliii.    NiKlithnwk. 

•■I"-  '•  <'lii>i'rli'ilcM  viiKaiiiaiiiis  lii>iirvi,  ("iiNMiii,     Wi'Hti'ni  NiKlitliiiwk. 

FiKH.  .->.  (1.  CliiirdcilcH  vir«iiiiiniii»  ilmpiimiii,  Sciiiictt.     Floridii  NiKlitliiiwk 

Pyn.  r.  N.  1!,  1(».  ("horilcilcs  iicntipcimis  tcxniHis.  Lawri'iicc     Trxaii  NiKhtliawk. 

FiKs.  11,  !■.>.  l:i.  Pica  pica  Iniilsciiiicn.  Saliiiii'.     AiiiiTiiaii  MiiKpir. 

•■V  '•■  Pii  n  imnalli.  Aiiiliil>i)ii.     Yi'llDW-billi'd  MaKqjic. 

FiK's.  |.">.  I(i.  IT.  Xantliiinra  luxiKwa.  Lcshhu.     (Jrrcii  .Tav. 


FiKs. 
FiK. 
Fin. 
FJK's. 

Pi«.s. 


IN.   I!l.    P, 


'i-iKiircn.s  <  iiiiadciisi.s.  Limia'ii.s.    ('ainida  .lav. 


.'II.   Pi'iisiiivus  caimilciiHis  iiiKTi(ai)illus,  Kid^way.     Labrador  Jay. 
.'I.   PcriHDrcn.s  Hlwiuni.s,  Rid;;\vay.     <)ri't;iiii  .Tav. 


Niicifrawi  idJMiidiiana.  VVilsmi.     Clarkr's  Nutcracker. 
('yauoccplialnscyaiKHcphaliis.  Wicd.     Piniai  Jay. 


k 


■■%. 


m 


lM- 


■»*■■" 


-i«. 


i**p.. 


#.**i 


t 


..fJS^RBtt 


<vK 


1^ 


'^^tHS'V 


PUP*. 


\.  'i.  \  (  ■,!.■.■  .r.ii» 


►'>  »  '< 


1  A'  f 

<V  '-!m\-  Ti,     'I.An',  til 
V 

■ '.. ! 
•.■K..I.U.. 

'« 

il*W.'tt. 

iilii.  Ui''>rw>i.v.     i.alrii'li 

r  ,liiy 

v.:      Iv 

;«  ,  .\      '  •nif'm  .1iv.\. 

tt*i^4it'i" 

Wil<«>ii      ('linkc'x  Niiti-nickfr. 

n.-.  i>;iiii«i 

ilmlii-    \\'\i''\.    I'lft.iii  Jiiv 

ri.AiK   III 


I 


•M 


1^: 


I 


EXPLANATION  TO  PLATE  IV. 


Figs. 
Fit?. 
FiK«. 

Kiijs.  : 
FiK«. 
Fif?. 
Fifjs. 


1.  •>.  CcirvuH  rorax  sinuatns,  Waaler.     Amoricaii  Ravoii. 
:!.  C'orvus  coiax  iiriiicipalis.  Riil{,'way.     Nurthcrii  Raven. 
1.  n.  (i.  T.  ("lU-vns  cryiitolcucus.  Condi.     Wliite-ui'ckcil  Raven. 
'J    10,  11.  I'J.  On-vns  aiiiiTicanns.  Andnbon.     Anierican  Crow.' 

l;!,  14.  ('urvnsani.'ii.annsfioriaanns,  Baird.     Florida  Crow. 

ir,.  Corvns  lanrinus.  Baird.     Northwest  Oow. 
lii.  IT.  Corvns  ossifraKUK.  Wilson.    Fish  Crow. 

'I'iKs.  :.'l,  "■  CorvuH  iiiuiTicnuus,  AuiIuIhui.    Se.'  Plain  V. 


l.)  'i 


'iiSv 


it-' 


"^ 


f.f(* 


%^^i 

7.?" 


r.  *4 


#■ 


t  ■ 


M 

"1 

^ 

■J 

'«^ 

-■? 

■■/.  , 

•,' 

fnv 

.1 

lMt,.-l. 

1 

't.  'i. '. 

Kii.s.  V.  • 

>,  II' 

IK  1.' 

FilT'. 

It.  1) 

r>;r 

1.". 

I'-ifr^ 

I.'  ': 

KX1'I.ANAT!<>\    1.;  rr.ATK  IV. 

.    .;  v,i    ^  ..riix  siiniHtiif    VV^iiili  v      AiiuTiriui  llrtvcri. 
t    ,r,uH--"m<  v»'i''i|''!"'   luilir^vtiv.     N  iiV'Ti.  UiivHi. 
t'.irvii^vTM'l.^'l'ai.'tis  ("     r-!<      VVUi'.o-iu    l:.-.!  Kav.ii. 
('mi  Mix  al.iini  .inii-    Av  iiilH.ii.      Aturn  ;.!/  CniW.' 
I  '.irviis  .mil  rir!i;i,is  l|..r.i!.inut=.  bnir.!.     KiMrWa  Cr.iw 
(■  ir\-iiN  Kiurii"!-.  Iliird.     X.iri;nvi".l  Cnnv. 
i  ..rvii-  <is-,-,frHi.'iis.  Wils''iv,     Ki^li  >  i"W. 

V%in  il.  ■-";  i:.iiMi:.  iiuii-rl>.iu'i-.,  AinliilKHi.    .Si'i' 1'Iji<.<  \ 


Ih 


'»■. 


Fi(?. 

1. 

FiK. 

2, 

FiK«. 

;t,4. 

Fitju. 

r,.a. 

FiKS. 

7.H. 

Fig. 

it. 

Fig. 

10. 

Figs. 

11.1-'. 

Pig. 

l:t. 

FiK- 

II. 

Fif;s.  1 

..  HI.  IT.  IS. 

Figs. 

111.  •,•(». 

Fig8. 

21,22. 

Pig. 

a;!. 

Pig. 

21. 

Pig. 

2."). 

Fig. 

21). 

Pig. 

27. 

Pig. 

2s. 

Pig. 

2!t. 

Fig. 

:iii. 

Pig. 

Bl. 

EXPLANATION  TO  PLATE  V. 

C'orrvzns  iiinoririiiius.  LiniuTOs.    YfUdW-lriUnl  Cncltoo. 

C',.<r'v/.ns  .iin.Ti.anns  .Kvidrntiilis.  Ui.lKway.     ( 'iililonna  (  n.k.H,. 

Cicyzus  (.lythiui.htlmliims.  Wils.m.     nia.k-l.ilU.a  CmV.i... 

Cviiiiiirittii  iristiitii,  Liiiiiii'us.     Blue  .Tiiy. 

(•yiiniHilta  iiisliitii  (Idi-iiicolii,  Cones.     Florida  Blue  .Tay. 

("yauiM-itta  stcllcri.  (Tiucliii.    StcUrr's  ,Tay. 

( Vaiuuitta  HtclliTi  frontalis.  Rid^wuy.     nino-froiito.l  .Tay. 

cVanoritta  stclli'ri  niacrolopl.a.  Kainl.     LonK-.rcst.'.l  .lay. 

.Vlilii'loconia  iloridana,  liartrani.     Florida  .lay. 

Aliliclocoina  woodlionsci.  liaird.     Woodlionsc's  .lay. 

A|ilwloconia  .alifornica.  Vigors.     I'aliforuia  .lay. 

Al,li,docouia  sirlirrii  arizona".  Kid^way.    Arizona  .lay. 

( "iirvns  aiMcri(  linns.  Andnlion.     American  ("row. 

Alanda  arvensis.  LinnaMis.    Skylark.  ,  ^     , 

Otoeorisalpestrisleneola.nia.  Cones,     Pallid  Horned  Lark. 

( .to,oris  alvestris  ,nati.M,la.  Hensl.aw.    Prairie  Horned  Lark. 

Otoeoris  alpestris  ar.'ui.'ola.  Hensliaw.     Des.Tt  Horned  Lark. 

( Hoeoris  alpestris  -iraiidi.  llensl.aw.     Te.xan  HonaHl  L-.nk 

( )toe..ris  alpc-stris  ehvsohenia.  Waaler.     Mc^-siean  Horned  Lark. 

( )toeoris  ali)estris  rnbea.  llenshaw.     Unddy  H.irned  Lark. 

( Uoeoris  alpestris  nierriUi.  DwiKlit.     Dnsky  Horned  Lark. 

Otoeoris  ulpeatris  udustu,  DwigUt.    Scorilied  Horned  Lark. 


■^ 


f  .i* 


v*;% 


■''^. 


*.  iJr' 


.a^" 


■if?:' 


:J!® 


■mp. 


'£'b. 


» 


4 


fc-T'-iT' 


:*f 


•"«»)». 


hT 


:l# 


RXI'l,\NATtON  TO  I'l.ATfi  V. 


Pin. 
F.«». 

Fkr. 

Piif. 

FiK. 


1. 
•i. 

a,*. 
ft.«. 

1 

.1 

H. 

1«  » •    <.». 

'I.  ?l> 

■/l.'i'- 

•M. 

S.-I. 
iMl. 
*'7 

St. 


CorcyjinmiiiUTiianiin.  I.iiiiin'ns.     yi«lliiw-tri11rKl  (Jiiokon. 

t'lH-c  yvni  lunrricaiiiis  i"  ■•oliiilivlii'.  ttiilnrwiiy.    Calit'iiriiiii  CtickiH) 

('«H;<'j/.iu«  frvtliiiiiiliOiulmii-.  Wil«i«      HtivU  l>ill«'i  < 'notdio. 

*  y»u<H  iltiv  iri«tjitji,  I  iimiinn.    tlli\c  Jiiv 

■  'v»ti>KittJk <ri.''t)iiji  fl'i-iiiriilu.  Ci'U»*.     rU<iltU»  IMiM- .Irty, 

• '>iini>i -'In  uti'ni'ri    ii:iiiiliii      Si-Jli-r  *  '.n  . 

.       ;■  1  •     ili»   rtiilpv.lv      Ulfli'fr  rtUcI  .Ur. 

•lojihM,  B'linl     f/<i!n!  •mi'hU'hI  •Illy. 
<  '  tr'r.iiM      V'l--«';i(»  ,t  iv 

\'n.'«'r!'     •  ■.iliiiir«i.».Iiiy. 

o)iii>,  lii'ljiwiy.    An/i.rm  Juy. 
I    ij  ,  _\'/lni"rn.     ,\ mcricttii  < 'niw. 

Alii'iii  I  l.uiiiswin.    Skyliivk. 

('t<i(..'i-,  ;.   I- ;s  If-iu-olitTii.i,  Ciiin*.    Piilliil  nornpil  LftrV. 
OtiK  i.p~  »t|ii'!<tri>i  ji''""''"'"'  IIoiihIi.hv.     Viaiii''  Ilomcil  t^niV 
OtiKi'MK  .iliH-ntn-itt  iiroiiiisilii.  Tfi'tisliiiw.     Di-cvl  Hioiiii]  Ijirlc. 
'  )t>«'iir.s  diK-stn*  ;;i'vm(ii.  Ilnisliiiw.     Trx.ni  ITurncii  lyirk. 
<  MiK'oris  iil(»>«liis  I  liysolioiiiH.  VS'iiKli  r.     M'  xicuii  H'irnoil  biirk. 
<)t-n'i>rii  ii!j>d'tii!<  riilx'ii,  Hotwhiiw      Umlilv  l(.>'nt'<l  Lnrk. 
tMtK'jin.H  (J'v  -(rris  iin'inlli.  Dwiiflit.     Oacky  l]icnn'il  Lark. 
OtiKjiiHh  iUi»!>.».ri>i  iiil;i.<ti«,  Dwiglit.    Sfur'lud  Honiwl  Tjark. 


IVATK    V 


*    » 


■C>  .1 


'■■r^ 


ff 


'^^'■\.^ 


■4u*l 


FiK's. 

1,2. 

FiKs. 

:!. 

t.  r,.  i\. 

FiKS. 

T.  ."<. 

Fi^'. 

!l. 

Fins. 

111. 

11.  12. 

Fi';s. 

i;i. 

14.  l.">. 

Fi!<H. 

l(i.  IT. 

Fig.!. 

IS.  1!). 

FiKH. 

2(1.  •i\. 

Fiff. 

22, 

FiK». 

2;i,  24. 

l''ij,'S. 

2.* 

20,  27. 

FiKs. 

2,S.  29. 

Fi«s. 

:!() 

:!1,  ;!2. 

EXPLA^■ATIO.V  TO  PLATE  VI. 

Uolichonyx  oryzi ,-nrns.  Liniiii'iis.    IJdM.liiik. 

Moll)  '-.ras  liter,  Bmlducrt.     Cowln  il. 

Mdlntlirus  iitcr  oliscnrus,  (Jiiiclin.     D-arf  ( "owliird. 

('alli)tlirus  v()l)U,stii,-^,  (."abauis.     Hi'd-i'.vd  Oiwliir.l. 

Xaiitho<r|,lialus  .xaiitho.Tphalu.H.  B.iiiai.iut.'.     Ycllow-l.caa.Ml  Blackbird. 

Aj^'daius  iih(euii'''us.  LiimuMis.     Rcil-wiiitci-il  Blai-kbird. 

AKi'laius  },'ubfvn,itnr,  WaKb'r.     Bii-nlortMl  Blackbird. 

Agclains  tricoidr,  Xuttall.     Tricolorcd  BlackWrd. 

Stnniclla  iiiat;iia.  Liimanis.     Mcadiiv.  lark. 

Siur-iclia  magna  iiicxiiana,  Sclatrr.     Mexican  Moadowlar!:. 

Stnniclla  magna  iicgli'cta,  Audubon.     Western  Meadiiwlark. 

Icterus  audubonii.  (iirand.     Audubun's  Oriole. 

icterus  ].;iris(iruiii,  Benapavte.     Scott's  Oriole. 

Icterus  caculUitus,  Swaiusuu.     Hooded  Oriole. 


mutif 


t 


t'.J-f 


•4.1 


"**% 


/ 


( 


.•;|-^ 


^»^^|ft^ 


SI' 


>  ■■  '-^ 


^i 


^# 


if 

.:.V 


^' 


) 


1 


Fixs. 

Ki'jr. 


II 


l.v!.  V'^lii'liir. vt    "MH'f";'   fiirviwx      i!<>l<ti!ir "< 
:i.  4.  .•>.  .1.  M..l..'!ii-M- .U>.-    ''      '.'^-      '.'..vvtii^ 

"„'  /-.I.  ,.  .„     ,  ,,  ^v>j.'-      !;  ^l  .    i^H-  %vlorii 

'    '  -,,,    i,  ,.  ,,     ,.  ,       ,•:;,    nat'r    Wiinl.M .      IJi.'ilivlvl  lii^n  liiiii'i 

,,_,.',      .  .,  .   r    \'u!iitll.     Tn.  ■.Io->h1  ltl;Mk!)inl. 

.^j"  .■,  .•,..,,  l.iiin.i'U.-      \l.JiiVnvi;irk. 

"v.,  ..,,,  ^, .,.;., ill. .■.xiiiltiM.S.-l.it.T.      M.si.MliMi-Klc^vi.'irV. 

,.,    ..  „.,.,. ,,..11,1  i;..,.4Ui,  .i.-.l."l-i,  .\ii.lul...ii,     W.-l.ni  \l,-a.l<.wliiik. 

•J.")    .'ti.    T.  t't,.  ■iif..iM.lnl..>i  K   <iinm-'.     .\ii.iu1...n     t  »n..'i  ^ 

".'. -i:).  l.'l.-n:- I'li'-ih.nm.    >l- 'ii  .1- -    ■•.    S<->.lf<  "violo 


i  '< 


P 
If 

\         % 
It  1' 

Ik' 


m 


^^ 


r^"  l:^-v     m 


A 


i 


FiKS- 

1 ,  '-'. 

FiKH. 

If.  1.  .">. 

F\liH. 

t>. 

7.  S.  il. 

FiKK. 

HI.  11 

ij.  i;!. 

Fif{«. 

14 

1.-..  i(i. 

FiKS. 

IT,  IH 

I'.l.  2(1. 

FiKH. 

•il. 

•i-i.  Si. 

FiKM. 

■,M,  •.-•.■•). 

FiKS. 

Sli.  -il. 

Fi«H. 

■iH.   •».». 

FigH. 

;io,  ;(i. 

EXPLANATIOK  TO  PLATE  VII. 

Icterus  curuUalus  nclsdui.  Kidnwiiy.     Arizima  Hmided  ( )ri()le. 
litems  simrius.  Liiiuii'us.     ( )ri-hiu-<l  t  Irinlc. 
Icterus  niilbnlii.  LiunaMis.     HiiUiinore  ( Iriolc. 
Icterus  bulliicki.  Swiiinson.     Bulldcks  ()rii>le. 
Sciilecui)liiiKus  caniliuus.  MiillcT.     Rust.v  Hhukliird. 
ScdlecoiihaKUs  (vanDceplialus.  Waaler,     lircwers  Blackbird. 
Quiscalus  cpiiscula.  Liuiueus.     Puqile  (irackle. 
(Juiscalus  (luiscula  aglieus.  IJaird.     Florida  (Tvackle. 
Quiscalus  ([uiscula  leueus.  Ridgwa.v.     Hronzec^  (Jrackle. 
Quiscalus  niacrciurus.  SSwain.soii.     (Jreat-taileii  (rrackle. 
Quiscalub  luajur,  Vieillot.    Boat-tailed  Gruckle. 


1 .1  ^^m,^.'i    ^Bif^MJrM 


'*"i 


^ 


./ 


m 

i 


% 

*1 

^  --4 

4 

lv># 


« 


.  ■(^^•ifctt^ 


,;««■  •-■ 


3^' 


/-' 


♦^i 


■?''' 


- »» 


;:^ 


♦ 


1  *■■ 


.^! 


'1 


PiUP. 

1 .  a. 

fl;.-. 

:t.   1.  'i 

Vi'^-. 

11,  ".  >.  '■' 

l-m^ 

VI  '  1    ;■,'.  I.' 

iM.'f- 

11    !.-..  11. 

l''l«>- 

IT,  I-1-,  111.  ■•'K 

KiifH. 

"I    ■*•*    'J>'' 

)'-i.m. 

','1.  .'.1. 

(■■u-. 

-It.  -T, 

KiK- 

•h.  ;'••. 

''iK- 

;;(!.  :!l 

K.XI'I.AN"  >.TtON   TO  l'i,.'TK  VII. 

hr.Tli,'T.uiMiM;itu^.  ii.|«..ni    l;icli'\v:iy.      .V!.,-.'ln  Hi  mii-t  "VI..1, 

l.li-iii.x  nmriiii.  l.iiiiiH- !•■.    On  liiU'il  i".*-  .• 

Irt-iil.s  ci/lliiilii,  1,11111.11  s.     i««lliiii.iii,  •    '...1  » 

lct'T'i»>  h\il.'',»ki.  Stt-!il(iv.ii      lliil'"i-t        ii"l'- 

S.  .l.-<-.ii>hH>;<>rt  .••  r'lliiiuK,  Miill'  r.     Ui*      U'"'  ti.>i"( 

,-:,-.i|.-  M|i!M*.ni>  < :  Hill  .•f|'li.ii"H.  Wiiu'.ci.     llr.'vvr-  lil.i'  kl.inl, 

ivi>i-i. ..'  1.  .(Ui.-iriilii    I.iiiuititK.     1  iir).l"  liriicWli- 

^iiiM  ii'is  (iiii^ruui  ikI  >  ">■    !!«•■'  '■     l-'l'Tiilii  (friu-kli'. 

tjiii-ciilii'  i'ii'*"ilii  I'lii-  ■•  Hi.|,.'\v:.v.     lln.ii/.cil  (h"U'l.li'. 

ijiii-.  'i!i.^  iiiHiii'iniK.  swiiiii*    ..     <  ir.Mttuiliil  Onu  kli- 

(.^iii.1  4iu.s  iiuijur.  Vieillul.    U...it-;:iilnl  (iriukl". 


':.A"-    "/■ 


1 


m 


1 


ALPIIABKTICAL    INDEX. 


Pagtv 

Aonilinn  Fl,\ cnli  lii>r •'*''■ 

ai'ihliciiB  (Kiiipiilnuitx) ''"'* 

ui'till|i4'iiiili4  tt'xi-iiHlH  (('lionl<tiU'ii) 17- 

ail ll^4tu  (Otoi-oriM  ul)MtHtrls) '-^ 

H'lll'UK  ((julsClllllH   qUINCtlla) ^^ 

AtTmuuiU-rt  iiu'laiinloiimiM ^^" 

AgulaliiM  K"l"'''"ator '*'*'* 

IlllllUiuiMW ^^^ 

liryantl ^'^j' 

HDUiirlt'Uais *'•■' 

Iriccilor *•''« 

Bulii'in  ((^11  i»rulu»  i|  iilsiula) 50(1 

aliii*ri'ii»m  ( i'i(-<iiili-n  aiiicrirainiH) ^ 

Alaakail  .lay ■"* 

T)irtM!-t(MMl   WiMxllM-'ckcr 80 

AlaiiilaarveiihlM •*27 

alliiculliH  iiurrllU  ( Nycaiilroiaua) 1*) 

alliiri'iitria  (I'latj  iwarU) 230 

alliulurvat n»  ( Xunopliua) '" 

alcynii  (I  iryli) '* 

Alt-xaiHlri>'a  Ilimiiiiiugliinl ^^ 

ali'xaudi i  (TrtMliiliia) l'" 

AUcu,  Cliuito  A., ""  tlieliabitaof  thu  Rcdbreiwtsil  Snii- 

Hucker ^ 

III!  tlii>  haliita  nl  •    en'»  Iluimiilugljird.  'JI7 
oil    tliii   halilt"   111'  till'    WoBtiTii    Fly 

catflKT 

on  the  call  notes  of  tlio  Bliw  frontwl 

Jay 

oil  llio  general  halills  of  the  California 

Jay 

alloni  (SelaHphorns) -'^ 

Alli'iiK  1 1  iiiiiniiugliird -1" 

nl|ieatrin  ailusia  (Otocorls) ■'*'' 

arenicola  (dtworlH) 338 

I'hryHoliL'ina  (Otocorls) 341 

girumll  (Otocoria) '■>**' 

lUHlllarlH  (( HocoriB) 347 

leucolii'ina  (<  )tot'orln) 332 

iiieirilll  (Otoioiii)) 34« 

(Olmoria) ''HO 

lialliila  (( ItoiorU) 347 

liratifola  (Otoi-nriH) 334 

rnlMia  (Otocori;*)    343 

Htri(;nta  (Otocciris) 344 

A Ipiiic  Tlini!  loed  Wooiliiwkf r 1*0 

Aniu/.ilia  lorviiiivi'iitrirt --'' 

tnacicaiiilata 223 

aiuliii'uu.s  iTroKon)  32 

Ai'it-'ricuu  ('row 

Alagiiio 

Ravrn 

TlirBO-toed  Wowliierkt'r 

anieripiiiia  Moptontrionalit*  (UiTylo) 

anieri(>aiiii8  alaHrciiMia  ( Picolilen) 

(t'ociy  iiial 

(Ciirviw) ■'05 

ilorailia  (I'iioidm) "0 

tloriilanua  (CorviiM) 413 

occidi'iitalia  (CorryzuN) 26 


anguatlfroni  (Melanerpea  fonnlrlvoras). 


Aul. 


29U 


366 


375 


(Ficoldcs). 


lllai;k 

((.'i-fitopliaga) 

( •  roove-  Idlleil 

anna  (( 'alyptel 

Anna'a  lliiniinin|;1ilnl 

iinnucti'na  (Cyunodtla  atollcri) 

Autlioiiy,  A,  W.,  on  llie  lomlof  tlio  lloiid  Itnnnor 

an   the  noHtliiK   lialilm  of  tlm   AVIiltc 

throated  Swift  In  Colnrailo 

on  llio  haliila  of  Anna*  lluniniingliinl.. 
on   the  ni'Htliig  haliitn  uf    lliu  lluloiin 

II  liniinlngbird  

on  the  Heating  lialilta  of  Say'a  riuihe  in 

Lower  C'allfornlft 

on  till' nesting  haliilsof  S'iclh'i's  Jay,  in 

( iregiin 

on  the  nesting  habitu  of  tlio  t  Iri'gon  Jay 

Antruatiiiiiiin  ramllnenala 

vm'iferns 

tnacniniyatai 

Aphehicouia  californiea 

hypoloiieii 

ohsoura 

oyanotia 

dorldana 

insiiiaria 

aiebfrli  ar.'xona' 

woodliousei 

Arctic  Thrcetoeil  W-jiidpt«kcr 

aritiiiia(I'icoldi'a)  

ari'nirola  (( Itocdrla  alptatris) 

Arizona  (.'rested  Flycatcher 

Hiiiided  Oriole 

Jay 

Wooilpeiker 

ari/.oua'  ( llryobatos) 

j  (Aplielm'oina  sleberii) 

Arkansas  Kingblnl 

arvensis  ( Alaiida) 

Asli  Ihnialeil  Flycatcher 

at<T  (MolothniB) 

obsciiriia  ( Molotlirua) 

Att  water,  II  r,  on  the  nesting  habila  of  the  (loldtnfronleii 

1         WoodiH'cker 

audiibouii  (Dryolmles  villiisiis) 

(Ictorna)  

A uiltlboli'a  Oriole 

I  auratiis  (Ciilaptea) 

aurifroim  (Melanerpos) 

Avery,  Dr.  William  C,  on  the  habits  of  Chnek  willa- 

widow 

liahitnian,  Redwing 

I  hainli  (Melanerpea  forniicivorin) 

( Dryoliates  sealaris) 

Baird'a  Flycatcher 

Woodpecker 

Baltimore  Oriole 

,   Handed  Tlireetocd  WiKidpocker 

I  -Daijked  WgoUpeeker 

509 


rage. 

117 

« 


0 

e 
» 

'.•00 

'2tHI 

349 

U 

IMA 
207 


:i63 
304 
142 
1411 
151 
374 
378 
3711 
382 
37(1 
371) 
3H0 
372 
74 
74 
338 
'264 
470 
3M0 
118 
68 
380 
'243 
327 
2110 
434 
441 

r25 

51 
469 
46U 
129 
l'J4 

143 
4.'i3 
112 

63 
298 

63 
482 

77 

77 


<  '1 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


lew 

■  56      il3.2        mil  ^  n 

;:   i^   III  2.0 


1.8 


1.25      1.4      16 

^ 

6"     

► 

I 


Hiotographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


J- 


(A 


510 


ALrilABETICAL  INDEX. 


Vugr.  ; 

lljirlow,  (,'.,  nn  thi>  iifAlMor  Amur  if  llniniiiltiKbinl 308 

Uhi'Ii  1*Iiii>Ih4 'J7'J 

ItitHiliiiiiii  Iniu-otiit 227  j 

luutuii 226  I 

■hit 170 

lliilrlii'lili'r.1  \V(i(Kl|»uk«r 00 

Iti'urd,  1>.  r.,  nenling  nf  tito  Itt'dwiiigiil  Hliu'kblnlouani'Ht 

of  Ihi'  i-onu  iillliil  Marsli  Wren 452 

Id'iinlli'M  n J laUliiT  325 

IhH'unl,  Xpiituii'it 230 

llvck,  KuUu  11.,  nil    Iho    liHliitH  mill  neatiii);  iif  NiittairH 

\\'lt!Ml|M'4'k**r 

uti  the  liit'i'ilin^  liiibiu  of  the  lUuc-frontwl 

J»y 

on  theKrneralhablUiif  tlieC'ahfurilia  Jay- 

l\>v  llinl 

Martin 

Itt'liliiiK,  L.,  <in  till'  ^eni'ral  Iiabltaoftlii'  llliie-frnutiHl  Ja}'. 
on  t)in  nvMting  babita  ul'  tbo  Triciiloiwl  lllaok- 

binl 

Ilelilin^'i*  .Jay 

Ib'lliil  Kliii;tbilirr 

llicoloml  lllaikliini 

Itig  liiiiiiiMt  \Vou4liH>i^ker 

SapHiickiT 

Ulrd.  lire 

llnllalo 

Caribon 

llmiMiiiib 


(i 


lliiilKtm  liay 

Lazy 

May  

Meal 385, 

MiKwc :I85, 

of  Parad  itm,  Texan 

PlmlH' 

Veiiiaon 

/.ebra...      

lllaik  Ani 

Flycatcher 

Lug  Cock  

I'hu'lw 

Swifl 

Witch  

WomlwK'k 

llla<kbinl «. 

Uit-oiored 

lloat  luibil 

Iln'Wor'a 

Cow 

CriniHon-HhoiildenMl 

Crow 

Florida  t  'v»w 

Martili  

riir|ilf  Crow 

Ued  and  While  Shnnlderi'd 

Ki'd- winged 

Kuaty 

Savanna 

Skunk  

SwaiM|i 

TliniHli  

Triiolmid 

WeMti-rn  (Jniw 

Vellow-lieaded 

Hlark  barkttl  Tiirec-toeil  WoodiMi-kiT   

Iiillril  Cuckoo 

Miiuiiic 

■lircaJttrd  W'lHMllipcker 

'cliiniiitl  Hutnniin^lurd 

-caii'd  <  'iickuo 

llliii'Crow 

.lay  

Fhirida 

■eared  Jay 


305 
376 
230 
236 
366 

457 

370 

34 

455 

46 

40 
236 
434 
,385 
288 
385 
:w5 
134 

lil 
418 
418 
233 
272 
304 
121 
li 
280 
102 
280 
175 
6 
102 
434 
455 
,506 
493 
434 
45.'> 
497 
500 
449 
407 
4.'>0 
440 
480 
6 
420 
440 
500 
450 
,501 
446 

7» 

27 
349 

07 
108 

17 
424 
3.'>ll 
.101 

;ii<2 


Page. 

Illiir-frunt4'd  Jay 365 

hoadi'il  liracklu 403 

■tbroateilCaiiii|ne 190 

Iliimnilogbird 190 

lloat'lailed  lllackbiril ."iotl 

Urackle 506 

HiilMdIitk 420 

biirealiH  (<  'ont4ilius) 282 

( liryobateH) 61 

Hndtierto!).  U.  J.,  on  a    iM'Ciitiar  next  of  the   American 

Hagple  in  Alanka ;t5:i 

on  tile  haliilH  uf  tlic  Nortli"rn  Itaveii  . .  401 
on  the  general  liabita  of  llii.  XurlbweMt 

Crow 415 

Urewcr  n  lllackbird 403 

llriilge  i'lio'bi' 272 

llrua<|.liilli.<l  Iluniniingliinl 228 

.tjiiliMl  Hiinnningliird 210 

HrunzMl  Cowliird 44^1 

linickli. 501 

Hrown  WwHlpecker 97 

llryanl,  William  A.,  on  the  nesting  hatiita  of  the  Flicker. .  132 

bryanli  l.VgulaiuM  ]ibii  nicciia) 45:t 

Hnffalii  Ilml 434 

llntriiellicd  Hnininlngblnl 225 

■bivaat*.*!  Flycatcher 821 

Hull  hat 163, 170 

-headed  Flycatcher 251 

bnllcM'kl  (IctcruH) 486 

Ilullock  a  Driolc 486 

llnntiuK.  Cow 434 

IlnrrowH.  D.  11.,  on  tlic  bn-cding  liabi.a  of  the  Hairy  Wuvd- 

ptH'kcr 49 

on  the  iH'currence  iind  ncNtiii^  haliitH  of 

the  Iteil-tiellicil  Woo«llH.cker 123 

on  the  liahitH  of  tlie<ioldi'n-front44l  Wooil- 

p<.<kcr 124 

on  the  liabitM  of  UerTiU'a  Paraui|ue 160 

Ilimh  Jay 370 

lliiltcrliird 429 

('Hlmiiia'rt  Woo<lpe4-kcr 53 

Cactna  Flicker 138 

cafcr  (Ciilaiitet*) 134 

Katunitior  (Colaptea) 137 

California  CuckiHi 25 

Jiiy 374 

Mountain  J  ay :t65 

roor-will 158 

Californian  Woodpwkcr 1 12 

calJfoniianiiH  (lieiM-occyx) 13 

califoniica  ( A  |ilii.|ocoliia) 374 

bypoteiica  <  A  pliehiconia) .378 

obacura  (-Vphclocoiiiii)    379 

ealifumirii8  lIMialii-noiitilim  iiiiltalli)  158 

Calliope  IliilniniiiKiiinI 219 

(SIclliiliil 219 

Catothorax  liicifer 222 

Cnllot  liruH  roiiuHtua  443 

Ciilyiite  anna 206 

coBtii' 202 

Camp  R<iblier 388.391.418 

Cain|HMiliiliiH  principalis 42 

( 'anada  Jay 385 

cauadeimiaoapiliilia  (Pcriaoreim)  :188 

fuiiiil'roiiH  ll'criaoreUMi 300 

liigricapiliiiH  (IVriNorcuN) 392 

(IVrisoriuiil  385 

I'anorim  telephoniia  (CucuIuh) 33 

Ca|«'  Flickir 138 

CiipitaliM  ( PcriaoreiiH  canadenHin)  388 

CarilBiii  Ililil 38S 

Carolina  l'iirn.[iii't  1 

Wo.Klp.rker 121 

carolinciiHia  (.\iitruBtointiH) 142 

(Coiiurim)  1 

caroliniia  (Mebincrpea) 121 


ALl'UABETICAL  INDEX, 


511 


Pace. 

camUiinA  (Hcolernphagnfl)  iHQ 

Cni'iMfiitor,  Ciipt.  W.  li.,  on  the  ni-Hlin);  ImbitH  of  WoimI- 

tiotiiw's  Jay,  in  Arixoiia ;t73 

Culqiic.  Ulru>-t broatiMl I (Kt 

('ufMinft  Kingbird 248 

4'aurinuH  (CNtrviia) 414 

CfopliltPiiH  )>il(«IUH 102 

(MTvlnivt'iitriM  (AniaKllia) 225 

Ct'r>lo  itlcytm 34 

americiiiia  aeptnit  rltmnliit :i9 

t4in|iiata 40 

Cliii-tiira  pelagira 177 

vauxii 183 

Chiiiutrnil  Cork 13 

chHpiiiaiii  (t'hunleiles  virf^liiianiiH) I7U 

ChilH!(k 312 

(.'lierkfrttl  W4i(Ml|>efkvr 121 

Ctiicu.va .  10 

Cbiiiini'V  Swallow 177 

Swe4'p 177 

Swift 177 

( 'hip-the-rcil-iiak- wbit4!-oak 142 

CbonlL'tleit  acntiiwnuis  toxeuaia 172 

virgiuiauuH 163 

cbapniani 170 

beiiryi 167 

clir.VHoideH  <( 'oUptoM) 138 

(■hr.\  Holn^nia  (Otoeorifi  alpi^stritt) J41 

Chuck- wlll't)- willow 142 

ciniTascena  (MyiarrbiiB) ^66 

uuttiiiKi  (Myian-buH) 269 

riiiiTltius  ( Empittoiinx)  301 

Cinnamon  Huiumingbinl 213 

Cii-co  Hummingbird 228 

Clape 120 

Clarkf  M  Crow 418 

XuU^ra^'ker 418 

t-louiiuu'iiL'  (Cii^ligtma) 190 

CltMlboiUMT 434 

Clnua  Swift 175 

(.'lute.  W.  N.,ontbcfi>odof  the  l!ubytlin>ateil  Humming- 
bird   IM 

CuL-cyzuH  amvricauua 10 

<iccidimtaIiH 25 

erylhrophthalnuiB 27 

minor 17 

may  nanli IB 

( 'oik  of  tb«  WowIb 102 

Cii-IiK»Mia  1  IfiutiiiriiL^ 190 

Colajiti-'B  auratus 129 

cafiT 134 

saturat  lor 137 

chrygoiitet* 138 

ruttpileutt Uo 

i!iilubriA(Trocbilu8) 19*2 

ctil.iinbianu  ( N' ucifraga) 4  IK 

Coutopus  Iwrcalis 2«2 

port  iiiHi '286 

riclianlMoiili 291 

vircna 288 

Connruat-urulineDHiM 1 

OiK)l(t>,  Dr.  Clinton  T.,  on  the  liabiU  ol'  tbe  Little  Fly- 

I'atf  bi'r,  in  OrcKun 306 

Coppery  taileil  Trugim 32 

vonix  principalis  (CorvuR) 4iio 

siuuHtus  (CorvuH) 396 

Curroriiniino 13 

CorvuB  ameriuantiH 405 

tlorldanus 413 

CAurinuB 414 

eora\  prinuipaliH 400 

aiiHinluH 306 

rryplolt'iirus 402 

ogairragus 415 

onsta'  (Caly pto) 202 

( '08ta'H  HumniiDgbird 202 


Fagn 

Conea'a  FlyraUiher 286 

rouohii  (TyrannuH  nii'lani-boUuiia) 243 

( 'ouiba  Kiiigblnl 243 

Cow  Itlai-kblrd 434 

Bunting 434 

Cowbinl 434 

Bronzed 443 

Dwarf 441 

Red-eyed 443 

Cn'stiit  FlycAtiber 259 

Arisona 264 

Mi'xitan 26:i 

Crimson •ahonldert'd  llbirkbinl 45S 

irinitUH  (MyiarcbuH» 2.'il> 

crialata  (CyaniH-illa) 356 

Horlnrola  (Cyanocitta) ;t6l 

CnMopba'jia  ani 6 

Bub-iriwtria II 

Crow.  American    405 

Blackbird 407 

Florida BOO 

Purple .   407 

Weatern 501 

«l  no 424 

Clarke's 418 

Flab 41ft 

Florida 413 

Northwest 414 

Kain 19 

cryptoleupiis  (Corviia) 402 

Cuckoo.  BW'k  bilbil 27 

oarfd 17 

CaUfoniia 2.i 

Mangrove 17 

May  nard  'a 19 

Sllwrian 32 

Western  Yellow  billed 25 

YoUow-billeil 10 

cncuUatus  (Icterus) 474 

nolsiuii  (IcttTUs) 476 

CuciiliiH  canoruM  tclrphonus 32 

eyanucepbalut  (CyanotrepbaluH) 424 

( Si-olei'ophaguH) 493 

CyaniH-ephalus  cyauocepbalus 424 

Cyauocltta  criatata 356 

tloriucola 361 

stelleri 362 

Hnnecti'Us 360 

frontal  in 365 

nuicrolopba 367 

i-yanotis  ( Apheloroma)   - 382 

('ypselubles  iiiger 175 

DavisuD,  J.  L..  im  the  nesting  habits  of  tlii>  Itlack  bilHl 

CurkiK( 2H 

on  a  pccnliur  nvHt  nf  the  Wimd  IVwi'c 290 

Dead -limb  liird 28H 

dcrbianus  (Pitangus) 251 

Derby  FlycatcbiT 251 

Desert  Hornml  Lark 33K 

ditHcilis  (Empidnnax) iW 

Dolirhiinyx  eryzivoma 429 

dimiiniceDBis  (Tyrannus) 241 

cbirsaliM  ( IMcoidcs  ftniericauua) 80 

Dovf.  Hain 10 

Dfiwny  Womi pecker S'l 

Dryobatca  arizonu* fW 

borealis 61 

nuttallii «:> 

pubcseens 55 

gainlnerii 5H 

orei  reus 60 

acalaria  bairdi t).'l 

lupaMnuB Ki 

vlllosus 46 

andulmnti 51 

barriiU 52 


512 


ALPUABETIOAL  INDEX. 


Fage. 

Dryulialfw  villosuii  hy loM'optia 53 

leiit-miH^liiB Su 

Diuky  Ilnrnetl  l.iirk 34S 

INwrwUl 158 

l>utrli  \Vliip.p..orwiU 142 

Pwwrf  Cowbira 441 

Emiiidouux  ai'nilii'UH 302 

cint-rKliiH ;W1 

illtltnliH 298 

lta<  iventrlH 295 

fill  IfroUH 321 

l>y]{innu8 321 

KriMPUf   320 

liunMiuii  ill 315 

niiniiuUH 312 

IHiailliis 305 

talllll 310 

wrijihtl' 318 

crytltrorrjilmluH  (M4>1hiiitih>h) 107 

f ryl lin>ptilhaliii UN  (Corey /im) 2/ 

t'ryzivoriiH  (DolJclioiiyx) 429 

EiiK'lU'H  fiilg«ii8 188 

Firt'Iiinl 482 

FIhIi  Crow 415 

Fiaticr,  Dr.  A.  E.,  on  tho  habila  of  the  Coppery -tAllftI 

Tn»jf»tii 33 

on  llioliiiliitMortlK^ItivoU  UiimnihiK- 

hinl 189 

un  tht>  lialiitH  of  tlio  Blui'tliroati-d 

ItuiniiiiiiKliinl,  In  Arizoua 191 

Klamo-Iwirrr 209 

tliivivi'iiirU  ( Kiiipuloiiax) 295 

Flicker 129 

CttctiiH 138 

Capr 138 

tiililrtl 138 

(iiiailalniH^ 140  I 

North  «r«tt'm I'M 

Itcii  jiliiiftiMl i:i4 

V.llow  whiirti'd 129 

Flint,  11.  \V„  on  tbc  lialiiU  of  tlio  Whip  pw.rwill 149 

ni'Hting  liiitiitHof  th»  Kiiliy  tliroatfil 

IlnmniingUird,  lu  ConoM-tlcnt 197 

tlori'Hti  (S4-lat«pliorua) 200   I 

Flori«i'M  HiiniDiiu^rltinl 209  ! 

Florida  lUu.-  .1  ay Ml 

Cn.w 413 

iUackliird 54K)  ! 

(Iracklf 500  | 

.lay 370  ' 

Xi(5litliawk 170  j 

lloridaua   ( A plielmoina) 370  ; 

I)ori(iaiio8,  (CorvuM  aiui'riranua) 413  I 

Horini-oln  (CyaniH-iltarristata) , 361 

Flyoatchcr,  Acadinn :t02 

Anlitliroated 266 

llainla 29H 

IteanllrAH 325 

Black 280 

BntrbnwiHtM  321 

linll  hiMilid 251    ! 

CoiOHrt 2K'J 

Crwtwl 2:.» 

Arizona 284 

Ihrhy 251 

For k  tailed 231    ' 

Kulvniirt  321 

(liraud  A 2i>l 

limy :I2« 

(ti-e«'n-fn'«h'd 302 

tluininond'H 315 

rawniiM-K :;70 

l-<MHt M2 

l.ittlo ItttS 

\V»'»tf'rn :io5 

Mtfxiciiu-creatuU 263  i 


rage. 

Flycatcli^r,  Niitting'a 260 

OlivacauuH 270 

Olivuitided 282 

IVwit 272 

I*fp*ry 241 

Kidfpray'a 326 

Ulo  O  randi* 251 

Sciaaor-tailtMl 233 

Kalnt  Lui'aa 301 

Siilpliur-lN'llli'd 250 

Swallow- tailed 233 

Tralll'a 310 

Vcnutlion 322 

Weat«m 208 

Weatcm  Yi>11ow-lH'11i«l 298 

Wright'a 318 

TelloW'lM'lIinl 295 

forfloatns  (MIIviiIiim) 233 

Fork-taile<l  Flycatcher 231 

fonuictvuruH  angiiMtifronN  (Melam'rpes) 117 

bnirdl  (Melaiierpca) ipj 

fnmtAllH  (CyanwlttuntelliTt) 365 

Fnwted  PoorwlU |57 

fiilgeDH  (Eiigenea) igt) 

fulvlfhiua  ( Rmpldonax) 321 

pyRtiiffua  (Kini)idonax> 321 

FulvooH  Flycutchor 321 

fuinifn>na  ( IVrUorcoH  canadi'nHiM) 390 

fuacicandata  (AmaiiHn) 223 

gairdnerii  (Dryobati-a  piilieMcens) 58 

<!alrdner'M  WotMlpocktT 58 

Gale,  Denis,  on  the  nesting  habita  of  the  Rod-napcd  Sap- 

ftucktT 90 

un  the  ncating  habita  of  Clarke'H  Nutcracker .  422 

gallmla  { Icterus)  482 

(iarrapatvro lo 

Oe*M'iK«y X  t-aliforuinnns |3 

OilaWfMtdpM'ker y^ 

(lildcd  Flicker |3g 

Klraudi  (Otocoria  aliteatrlN) 340 

( i  iruM J'm  Flycatcher 254 

(inatcateber 272 

(lolden  lloMn 482 

-fi-ontcd  Wtiodiipcker 124 

■  wingc*l  WiKMlpcekcr 129 

(tood  giMla 102 

(tracklc,  lUuebeadeil 403 

Boat-tailed 506 

Bnntzed 501 

FUirida 500 

Grfat-lailed 504 

Tiirple 497 

Uuaty 489 

( Jrny  Mycaleher 320 

Kingbird 241 

Grease  Bird 385 

tircat  White-backed  Sapsiicker 50 

■  tailed  Grai!klo Mi 

O  reen  .Tay 383 

•backed  lliniinitn(;hlnl 216 

ere stwl  Flycatcher ;k)2 

uritteoN  (Kniiddunax) 320 

( JnM(\  e  billeit  Ani 0 

It  round  ruckiM> 13 

Grover,  W.  K..  on  tbocall  noteMof  the  Boat  tailMl  (Iraeklc  5ii7 

iiiiadalniHi  Fliekcr 140 

gubimiator  (Agelahis) 4.^)5 

Gnlar  Oriole 406 

gularis  ( Icterus) 466 

Hairy  WiMHliH-cker 46 

hamiunndi   (Empidoiiaxt 315 

Hanunond'sFlyeateher 315 

Hanging  binl 482 

Hang  m»«t 482 

Hanly,  Manly,  on  llie  nenttng  habllH  of  the  Arcti«-  Three 

tued  Wootl|>ecker 75 


ALPHAUETIOAL  INDEX. 


513 


Ilanly.  Manly,  iiii  lhi<  Trlliiw  IxilHiil  Hnpunrkor 8a 

tin  llln  liabllHiit'  Itm  IMlt-uttil  WumllRTkur.  103 

Kllik.r  133 

fill  till*  fittiiiliurlly  III*  lilt'  Li-iimI  Klyi-ntrlitT.  3U 

till  i)ii'  liuliitH  III'  till-  Ciiiiiiilu  tliiy :wii 

Aiiii'ririiii  Cniw HW 

nil  till*  iiriKltial  i-\t<>iiHtiili  III'  till'  Itiillliiiiiro 

orliili'.  ill  Muiiii' 4k;i 

nuirin,  (1.  K.,  nil  tliii  liiiliilM  III'  tliti  IVairiii  llurui-il  Lurk, 

hi  Ni'W  Yiirk MS 

liiiniHii  (llryiiluilvH  vIIIiihiin) 't'i 

lliirriH*H  WiHHiiHM-ki'i' .'>2 

Hawk,  Mwil... ;iU4 

Miiminiln 103  ; 

VuiiiMiiu •<8r>  I 

lll'll.  luilillll lU    : 

lii'nr,\i  (('liiirili'ilrH  vjrutiiiHiiiiHl 1U7  ' 

Hi-niira,  I'l-ol'.  A.  I..,  uu  tlir  ImliltH  uf  tliu  tirtNivu-liilli'il 

Alii II 

llillli  liiilo lai 

liiiliUir IL'U 

HiHMl.ilOrioU' 474 

Ariftoiia 471) 

IIihiumI  Lark 3311 

1  M'acrl 3311 

Dimky 3411 

lUMiilur f 34/ 

Mi'xiciili 341 

I'lilliil  332 

I'ralrlo 334 

KiiUiiy :143 

Ko'iri'lli'il 346 

Miiliiirtiu 347 

Streiikwl 344 

Toxmi  3411 

noimr  I'l'Wii' 271* 

IIiiiIhoii  Iliiy  IDid     .IV, 

IliiilHiinii'H  irira  pira) 3411 

lluiuuiiiigbini,  AU'xnuilru'H lOH 

Alleiiii :;i(i 

A IK LIW 

lllaok.liliinwl lUH 

IlliU'tlli oalwl 190 

llroudliillcil '.'28 

tailed L'lll 

lliiiriKllied    2i'i 

( 'alliu|H' 210 

('iiiiiaiiioii 213 

lin 22K 

Ciiiitirh 202 

I'l.iri'ul'ii 209 

lirtM-ii  liarkril 216  j 

LiiiiliT 222 

NiHilkil 213 

Norlliini 192 

l'iii|ili' tlinmtitl 108  ' 

Itilnlaiiil IIM 

KiillirK 223  i 

ItiMili in-"  ' 

lti«ky  Miiiiiilaiii 210 

niiliytliriialiil 102 

liiiriM:» 213 

Kill'iitm-liui-kfil 213 

V  iiilvitlii'iiatcil 201 

Wliiliiarrd 227 

XiilitiiH'rt 220 

liyliiiH'ii|iim  1 1  Iryiiliati-H  \  illiiMiiK) 53 

liy|Hili-iira  ( AiitirliK-iinia  taliforiiira) 378 

lailii'  lul ilii«l ri« 228 

ii*ti-nin  (IcIiTiiH) 400 

lutcriH  iiiiiliiliniiii 409 

biilliicki 4«« 

i-iifilllat  tin 474 

llclitiiul 470 

Billblllu 482 

tliilai-iN 400 

ItiSSW— No.  3 Xi 


I'M*- 

liif^riiH  irtoniN 400 

Iiariiiiiririi ' 471 

H|iiiriiin 479 

iiiilii'rin'  (llrnllbiiiii) !I25 

riilKWiiyi  (Oniilbiiin) 326 

liidluli  Hill 19 

liiMiliii*  llurniil  Lurk ,147 

iiiHiilarii)  (IMiM-iiriM  al|i«-8lri») 347 

( A  iilii'liMHinia)  379 

Ivury  bilbil  WmHliH-ikir 4i 

Jink,  WliiHky ;W6 

.laikdaiv MW 

■I  ny ,  .\  bitikaii 390 

Arlzulia 380 

Ikiblillg'il 379 

llliu'k  lioailMl ;i«B 

lllilii 350 

llliii' eariil 383 

lUiii'-fniutiid 3M 

lliinh 370 

Oaliforuk 374 

Miiiililulll 306 

( 'aliuabl 386 

Florida 370 

Illiie 3r.l 

tini'li 383 

Lubriulor 392 

l.ciligiTi'illi'd 307 

MailiiiiliaiiH 424 

Miitintaiii 302 

(IniKiili 31M 

Pillii 302 

I'iri.iil 424 

IMii  liraliilii 383 

Itmky  Miilllllaill 388 

.Santa  Oll7. 379 

Siriib 370 

Sivrra 366 

Siiioky-lVmitwl 390 

Sli'lliTK 302 

Wliiti'liiadwl 388 

WiNHlliniiHi''s 372 

XailtUH'H 378 

ilewliird 9 

Jiiliii,  Wliiaky 3«.'i 

.Inlinny  0«k 102 

.Tiiild.  KlniiT  T.,  unaniiii'  iii'Ciilianii'iitiligNiti'Bul'  tliuKiuK- 

blBl 230 

•ludanti,  W.  II.,  on  the  iiotitiiiglnibitauf  tlie  \Vliite-tliruutt*d 

Swift,  ill  Caliloniia 187 

KiuKbird 236 

ArkaHHua 245 

CaiiBiii's 249 

('uutii'H -  243 

(Iriiy 241 

Wistirii 246 

Kiuillli-liii.  IWllid 34 

Illimid 40 

Kllfolis-bri'aatfd 40 

IVsau 39 

KiHkaili-f 2.VJ 

Little 265 

KiM-li,  Fred.  W.,  nil  till'  liabita  uf  the  INwr-wiU 155 

Knw  kn»  10 

l.abriulnr  .lay 302 

Lailder-biKkeil  Wu<Nl|rt'L'kur o:) 

Laiilt,  I'rnf.  U.  K.,  uu  the  bniedlu);  liublta  uf  Mutlalla 

I'lHir  will I.'i4 

Lurk,  Dimrl  llnriiMl 3:18 

lliinky  Horned 340 

1 1  nniid 330 

liniiilai'  llorneil .'147 

Mt'xiiali  llorneil 311 

Old  Field 458 

rallld  Hi.rind 332 

I'rairiu  llurued 304 


514 


ALPHABETICAL  INDBX. 


r»(r«   ! 

Lark,  Riiildy  HwrneH 343  | 

Scori'liiil  lli>rtie«l 34A 

SiiiHiraii  Iforiietl 'Ml 

SI  ivHki-i)  HoriMil 344 

'IVxMii  lliirntMl 340 

l«UnPHlr(t»)lBolH') 'JTX 

LHwn>iK-e.  K.  II.,  on  tht>  IimIiHh  nf  I^wIs'h  WmMlpii'kpr  ..  118 
till  ihi-tifRihijiliiihiti)  itl'  tho  lhiBk>  P<M)r- 

will '. ir* 

fin  tliohnliilNor  Ihfi  lUin-k  rliiniivfl  lliiiii- 

iiiiiiKliinl.  in  <?iilil'urnia 109 

on  the  iM'HtiuK  hnliilH  nf  ('(mta'N  Hiini- 

niinglilnl,  in  (-Hllfiiruiii 'J03 

on  thi*  mil  not<-H  iitlm'il  liy  tlie  Arkiin 

mw  K  intf Itinl  24« 

iin  Ihi*  Kencriil  tmbilN  i»r  tlie  Norlhwcat 

<'row 414 

Imrrencei  iillrnsr^nH  (UylarrliiiH) 270  ! 

lawrruri'lt  (MyiunlniH) -^70  j 

Lrtwreme's  Flv«tttoher 'JVn 

Lttz.v  HinI 4^*4 

Leant  FIvcatihiT ;il2  ' 

loiu'uuiflaa  ( DryobatoH  vUluatia) ."M) 

l«iiri>lH-nia  ( <  »ti>rorla  iiliM^titriH) 332  i 

lfU(-utiH(llasilinna) J27 

LewlN'H  W(MNlpei-kcr 1 17  . 

Littli-  Flytal.li.T :mWV  | 

(tuinoit  \VtHHl|Mrcker 55 

KiHkiiilei' 255  ! 

SnpHnrkiT 55  | 

\Vpct»Tn  FlyimtrliiT 30.'>  I 

Littif.jiihn.  ('Iiatie,  mi  the  lialiUa  of  tli«  Xurtlii>rn  ICavcn. .  401   | 

Lir-anl  Hinl I3 

Liigcork 102  '. 

Wliltpliill.ll  42   j 

Lonii  cn'Hted  Jay ;(fi7  I 

Louckd.  W.  K.,  on  lliu  nrnttn^  Inibitattrth^  YHll»w-lH<llii><l 

Sii|iMii(-k<'r H2 

tin  thii  nestinft  liahitHtif  tho  Cnwted  Kly-  i 

rati'liiT litll    I 

on    the    peniTiil    hiibiti*  uf   the   HninEe<l 

(irarkle,  in  lllinoiN MM 

liirasannn  ( I >ry<itiHt4>M  Hralarltt) 05 

liirifiT  (( 'ttlot htinix) 222 

Liirirer  Hummingbird 222 

LiiHk,  KivhanI  O,  on  the  neHting  habits  of  the  Hulphur- 

bellittl  Flyratrher 257 

liilcivf'ntriM  (MyiiHlyn:iHteH) 250 

liixiiuKa  (XnnthiMirat 8M3 

McUhenny,  E.  A  ,  (in  the  habitN  of  the  PanMiuet 3 

CHI  thohnbifHitf  the  MnnuniveCiickmi.  IH 
i>n  llii>  hiihittt,  ftc,  of  the  Ivory  hilled 

WwMlperker 4') 

on  the  habiiN  of    the  Kiibythnntleil 

llnniHier IM 

on  the  1in-iiliiijihiibllit  of  the  Ilontetl 

Lark,  in  Lnbrndor 331 

on  the  bretMling  of   the  IlolHilink,  in 

l^iniftlunn 433 

on  the  iH-curreiire  of  the  (tiilar  Oriole, 

in  HOiithern  LoiiiKianu 407 

mocrolDpha  (CyantM'litn  titi'lleri) 387 

nnu'nintyitlax  ( A  nt roHtomtirt  vm-tferus) Iftl 

niacniiinia  (QiiIn«'aliiH) ,'i04 

inaKister  (Myianrhua  nii>\i<-aniiB) 2B4 

luagim  niexiciinii  (Sturneila) 401 

netcletU  (Stiirnella) 462 

(Kliirni'llal 458 

Muffpie.  American 340 

Black  biUed :wo 

Vellow  billed 355 

nii\jor  (QniHcalna) 'lOO 

M anj'Tove  ('itrkoo 17 

Miirsh  niaikbird 440 

Martin.  Hoe 2:M( 

Ma&lmiUu&s  Jay 424 


Paff& 

MayHinl 10,420 

niaynanll  (t'oi'rjiiiN  minor) 19 

May  uariiH  ( 'iii-koo 10 

Meaduwlark 458 

Mexican 461 

Wentern 4t)2 

Meadow-  w  ink 420 

Meat  IlinI 385,418 

Hawk 304 

nielani-hollruH  eoiiuhil  ^Tyrannua) V43 

MfUnerfHw  uiirirrunH 124 

eandlnna 131 

erjt  hrwephalua 107 

forniicivoruH  antfiiNtifnina 117 

Iwinli 112 

torqiiatuN 117 

iimpygialia r,7 

nielannlencna  i  Aenmaiitea) 185 

mrrrilli  ( Nyulidromna  albleolliH) 160 

(tMworia  alpcatritt) 346 

MerrillH  Paraiiqne |60 

Mexican  rn-Ktetl  Fl.vcatrher 203 

Horneil  Lark 341 

MtMidowlark  . ...,. 461 

PitangUH 261 

nierii-ana  ( St nmi-tla magna)..   461 

mexiranuH  niaginler  ( M  y  ian^bus) 204 

{ My  ianhnm 36:1 

( Pyrticephalua  rubinena) 322 

MilrulniifortlcatUH 2;i3 

tyranniiH. 231 

iiiiitiniua  (Knipidonax) 312 

minor  ((%MTy7.na) 17 

nmynardi  (Coi'cyxna) 10 

Moluthruaaler 434 

obacnrna 441 

MiniH*'  Hint 385,416 

MoiHiiiilo  Hawk 163 

Moiintaiu  Jay 362 

Oriole 471 

My iarcbuB  ctnenucviui 266 

iMittinKi 260 

rrinil  lis 259 

In  wrenreii 270 

oliviiaceuM 27n 

mexiranu'* 263 

inaglHter 264 

Myiddynastet*  tiiteivenlrii* 256 

My ioieletew  texiMiMiN 251 

Narrow  I'nmte*!  WiKMlprrker 117 

neglei'ta  f Stiirnella  itiagua) 462 

Nelttun,  £.  \V.,un  the  distribtition  and  nesting  liabita  of 
the    Itlue  Ihroatetl    liiimuiinghinl,    in 

Mrxirn 101 

nn  the  geni-ral  habits  of    liirnud'B    Fly- 

tatoher .     255 

on  t  henPHting  liahit  s  of  <  'oueHs  Flyeatrher .  2K7 

uelHoni  (IrteruB  t'lieulUtua) 476 

nigiT  (( 'y piwhii*los) 175 

NIghthawk 16:i 

Florida 170 

Texan 172 

Western 167 

nigricans  (Sayornia) 2K0 

uigrii-Hpillua  ( PcrinonMiB  caiiadenais) 302 

nithliiK  (I'l  BlHMioptUiis  nnttalli) 157 

Nootka  Hiimniiugbinl 213 

Korthem  Hairy  Woo*lpecker 60 

Hammingbird 192 

Raven 404t 

Northweat  Cmw 414 

N'orthweHl«m  Flii-ker 137 

nui'hnlis  (Sphyrapioiis  varius) HH 

Niirifk'agn  eolumblana 418 

Nutcracker 484 

Clarke's 418 


ALPUABKTIHAL  INDEX. 


616 


niitUlH  rallfflrnlcns  (PhttlvBOptlliu) 1M 

nitiiliii  (Pliuliinupt Hum) lIiT 

( IMialH'nopl iliiH)  Ifva 

(INiu) 'iKt 

ttalllUDr.vulmleH) 05 

NiittairiilNHii-will 153 

WiMid|Mwker W 

ihiIUiikI  (MyUn'hiiH  rinfrant'eiiH) 'JOU 

N  ntUn)(M  Fiyralihf  r 2«9 

Nyt'tidroniiiH  ulbiiollix  iiivrrllli IfH) 

obHiMini  (A|ilM-l(H'oina  nilllbriilrH) 1*79 

olwriiniM  (MiilolliruH  nttri 441 

(IVrirMtreiisf 394 

iif  ('lilHiitaliii  ((*4>r('yxtiH  anierivaniiN) 35 

OM  KieUI  Lark 46|^ 

Ollviii'i'oiiH  Flvfati'Iirr 270 

oil VHMfi'iiN  (MyiarrliuN  lawn^iicei) 270 

(Hivt- sidtU  FlycatrliiT 2¥2 

OnniueSapNurktir 121 

Orrliard  i  )riol»i 479 

OreBiin  Jay .11*4 

Hwifl W.i 

or«'ii>oiia  (Dryobatnrt  imboHcens) 6U 

Oriolf,  A  iidulK>n'8 469 

Baltimore 482 

ItiilliX'k'H 4«6 

(iiilar 4fl« 

HfMiilcHi 474 

ArixoDu 47« 

Mountain 471 

Orihanl 479 

I'ahnleaf 476 

Scott  H 471 

Ornlthton  InilM^rbe :i2ri 

riil){wuy  i :i'_*5 

Ort^dan 429 

tmHifiDtfiia  (forviiM)    4iri 

OtocoriH  alpewtiiH . .  :t30 

ailtista Mr* 

arenlrolii 338 

t-ltryRolii-niii — 341 

Klnaidl 34» 

InHiilurift 347 

leucolii'nia ;i32 

luerrilll 346 

pallida 347 

pratiiola 334 

rubfa 343 

Htrigaia 344 

Palfiano 13 

Pallid  ilnrnwl  I.ark 332 

pallida  (Otmioria  ]il|iFHtriH) 347 

I'almiT,  WiUiam.on  tliu  |;t'm^ral  Iniblta  of  Uia  Flftb  Crow..  417 

PahulearOrioIti 476 

PanHH|iie.  Mfrrill'a 160 

parisuriim  ( Ivti'rna) 471 

Paro<|uet 1 

Carolina 1 

Parrakeet 4 

Pea  bird 482 

pt^lajbcica  M'litctiira) 177 

Periaortiua  canadenaia 3H5 

capHalia 38H 

rumirronH 3IH) 

niKricapilhiH 392 

obarnrua 394 

|H>rtinax  (dtntopuN) 286 

Peti'ho 505 

pHWiH^ 272 

HfMiae 272 

Kirlianlaon'a 291 

Short -logged 2tU 

Weatern  Wood , 291 

\Vo™l 2HH 

P«wit  Flyuatt'ber ^72 

PhalieuoptiluH  iinttalli 1 53 


PhftlipnnptllnNnuttAllirAHforntrnfl ISH 

nitldna 197 

I'hilllpM'M  Woodpecker 50 

Plm-lM' 272 

llarn 272 

Hint 272 

MIiM'k 2«0 

Hrld^e 272 

(SayurniH) 272 

Sa.VH 27« 

pkwDlctinM  i  A KclaiuM) 449 

bryanti  (AHclahiH) 453 

HonorlennlM  (AK**lui<i>4t 453 

PIfa  niittalli 355 

plra  lindaonira 349 

Pivolden  aijicrU-antiH .". ..  77 

alaxi'i'nHia ttO 

doraalia 80 

arcllcna 74 

!M(toon,  Wotal 10 

I'Uon 10 

Pili-Ht4tl  WooiliH-rkuT 102 

pileataa  (CenpbUi'Mn) 102 

Pint)  Jay 803 

Plnon  Jay 424 

Pifionario 424 

Pipiry  Flycatohi'r 241 

Pirainidig 163 

Pi«k 163 

Pitangna  dcrbianuH 251 

Mex  ii-an 251 

plalyt'eriMiH  (SelaMpliorua) 210 

PlHtypaarla  albtvi-ntfiM 230 

I'h-iiHant,  .1.  II.,  Jr.,  on  tlie  nvHtinf;  bablta  of  llit^  Purple 

( .  rii  rk  le 498 

Poor- will 153 

t'aliforuirt 158 

Ibwky 158 

Frosted 157 

Niitlalla..... 153 

Prairie  Horned  Lark 334 

pratieola  (Otoeorin  til|M->(tris) 334 

Preston,  J,  W.,on  tlie  deslnirtive  Iiabita  ot'  llie  Kino  Jay, 

in  Iowa 356 

on   the  jrenrral  liabitrt  of   tlio  American 

Cn)w 4{»9 

on  the  Hon^ot'tlie  KohIv  Itlaekbinl 409 

on   the    nesting    liiibitrt   of     tlie    ItnMi/.etl 
(irackle,  in  northern   Iowa  ami  Mitiiie- 

HOtA .103 

Price,  W.W.,  on  the  neatHof  the  Kivoli  Hunnnin^binl. . .  190 

prini'ipalii*  (( 'aniiH'phituH) 42 

(CorvuM  eorax) 400 

pubeacena  ( DryobateH) 55 

gainlnerii  (I>ryidtat4)H) 58 

oreo'cuH  (Dryobatea) 60 

PnrpleCrow  Hlaokbird 497 

r.raikle 497 

-throate«1  Hummiu^bird 198 

ptiHilbia  (Kiiipidonax ) 305 

traillii  (Knipldonax) 310 

pyginn-na  (Knipidonax  fnlrifrona) 321 

PyriN'ejdialnM  rnbinoua  niexicanua :t22 

tjuim'alnrtniai'rniiritrt 504 

nuO<>r 506 

quiscula 497 

lenous 501 

agbi'UH 500 

qiiiarnla  irneua  (Qnlxcalna) 501 

agbeua  ((juim-alua) 500 

(tjiiirteatuN) 407 

lialii  Crow 10 

1  »ove 19 

Halpb.  Dr.  AVilHam  h..  on  tho  itaf;acity  of  ilia  Pileale^l 

WiH>d|terker 100 


616 


ALPUABETICAL  INDEX. 


Kiil|th.  l>r.  Winiam  I...  im  llm  linhitA  nf  thn  n<Mlhfta<l<<l 

\ViHMl[Hw-kor 

on  tlir  t'tHMl  III  tlifl  IVwfi',  ill  Flfir- 

i<I(i  

(Ill  thf  ni-Htlng  IiiiltiU  nf  tlio  Flnr- 

itlti  HIiHitlHy 

on  (lie  tjitiii'lH'Hil  of  thn  Finridii 

Hliin.rjiy 

nil  Ihn  rt'iiMiiiiiij;  jiowith  nf  t)ii> 

Aiiii'rii-nn  Crnw 

nil  lliit  iii'HlliiK  IiaIiHh  III  tint  Flnr- 

iilii  ( ?row 

nn    tlin   iiitMtinu    liabitH    nf   the 

ItiiHty  Hlaikhlnl 

mi  till-  ItriTiliriK   Imliliii  nf  tlio 

FInrlilii  Crackle 

Kaveii,  AnuTiprn 

N  nrttiorn 

Wliili.  iii'iki-il 

Rpil  nnd  Wliit*^  t> ImtililiTiil  Itlnckliinl 

HtilwiiiK.  Hiiliaiiian 

Sniinridi 

Ri'ii  iM-lliwl  WiMMliHikor 

-lin'HRtl'll  SAprtUcklT ^ 

\ViHKl|M-t-k<>r 

■riH'kndml  WniNlpi'rker 

-i'\<'«H'nwhinl 

•hi'iidt**!  \Vnn«l|MH'k<'r 

-naiH'il  SiiitHiii-ker 

■H!ia('t<'<l  KlitkiT 

•thnialtil  SajiNurker 

■wiiip'd  Blm'kliinl 

Ki'Hllilni 

K«tiilp>nt  lliiiiiiiiiiigliinl 

Uirt^liinl 

rlrtmnlrtiinii  (('niit4>iuis) 

Itit-tinriUoirH  IVwi'i' 

Kk'himiDd.  ('harli'N  W.,nii  till- iit'Hlhi^haliiUof  UicCrnnve- 

liillnl  Aiii 

nil  the  ni'MInf;  )iahit}i  nf  Kirlli'r'H 

Himinilnifbinl 

nil  1)ingi>m>ral  lialiilHuf  tlii>  IVrliy 

Fl\i'nt«li('i 

nil    tlio    liJiliitH    nf   (liraiiirH    Fl\- 

I'atchiT 

rldffwnyi  (Ornithion  tmberlic) 

ItulKway's*  Flycatcher 

ItlitliT  «  HiimniiiiKliinl 

Itiiitii'il  K  iii^tiHliur 

Kinllramln  Flycatrlii-r 

Jay 

Rlvnli  Iliimitiini;liir() 

Itoail-ruiiiiiT 

ItnlilxT,  *'aiiip USTi.  :i!l4, 

Kniiiii.  f;<iliteii 

rnlniMtiiH  (CalliithriiH).    

Kni-k  Swift 

Kotky  Mountain  Hiiiiiinitigbiril 

■Tay 

Roiind-lieailoi)  WoiHl|M>rker 

niliea  (OtnroriH  nlpcfltriH) 

riilHT  (SpliyrapiriiH) 

riililiii>iirt  iiiPxiraiiiiH  (I'ynirrplialtin) 

Itiiliy  tliniati'd  IItininiiii(;lijrd 

HikMv  IlnniiMl  l,ark 

riillplliMia  (Cnlupti-N) 

HiifniiH  Iliiniiiiiticliird 

-biiokeil  Iliiiiiiiiin^rbint 

-lipfaRti-il  Kin;:liH]iPr 

nifiiR  (SflaHpliiiniH) 

KiiHty  Hlmkl.inl 

<irarklr  

Saint  Luca^  Flyratrlior 

WlMMilMH-klT 

Sanatt' 

8uiiiu  Cnu  Jay 


11U 
273 

nni 

1(71 
408 
4U 


4IHI 
402 
45A 

4ri:{ 
4:1:1 
121 
»'j 

02 

ni 
44;t 

107 

88 
1»4 

B2 

4J0 ; 

420  ! 
1K8  , 
421* 

291  ; 

21H  I 

II  ' 

22:t  I 

252 

2.'i4 
;i2,'i 
325 
22:1 
40 
251 
3H:t 
1KH 

i:t 

i\H 

4K2 
44:t 

iHri 

210 
WH 

07 
MA 

02 

:i22 

102 

34:t 

140 

21:1 

213 

40 
213 
4K0 
4X0 
301 

(15 


Sapanokor,  Croat  WhUft-bMkwl fto 

T-iUle M 

Oranua 131 

IIimI  -brvaHteil 02 

Ki'ilnapiHl 8H 

Ked- 1  h  roatiil ii|3 

Bfiiii'alhiK H2 

Toxan m 

WilliaiiiHnn'N 07 

Yfllnwbellii'd K2 

ant.irfttinr  ((.'nlapt^n  ralVr^ 137 

SavHUiLi  llln<^kl>lnl A 

miya  (SaynrniM) 270 

Saynrnirt  niuriiann 2«0 

pliirlie 272 

aaya 27(1 

Say's  riHilw 278 

m-alnriH  Uairdi  (Dryobati'i^) fi3 

IiiraanntiH  (DryobatpHj *15 

SiirtHnr-tailcdFlyi-ntclier 2;i3 

Tyrant 2:tl 

S.-'nliM-opliagnH  1  nnillii  no 489 

cyiinnn-plialilM 40;i 

Scnrclml  Hnnied  Lark 345 

S<:nt  t  H  Orii.lp 471 

Scrub. lay ;i7G 

ScIuHphnrnH  al|i*iji 21(1 

llnriHil 2(»9 

platyccri'iiH 210 

riifim 213 

■optcntrionalia  (Ccryle  niiiurlraiia) 39 

Sliuni-(tliiH?k 121 

Shiiiywyi' 434 

Shnrtlrfrgcd   Piwi'i' 2«1 

Silierlaii  CiiiktMi •* :w 

Hii'lirrii  tiriKiMur  (Apliitlnrnina) .'WO 

Sjurra  Jay ;i05 

HlnnntiiH  (Corviw  i-nrax) 30fi 

Skylark 327 

Skunk  niackbirtl 420 

Suiitb,  W.C.  on  thiMliHtriliiitloii,  otr.,nf  llio  Umiiil  tailed 

Hiiniiiiiii^bird. 2lo 

nn  tlii«  ili'Mtrufliuii  of   tlio  hi-Ni-rt  Ilnnii'd 

I.lirk  in  Cnlnrado 339 

nil   t)ii>  K*'i><'''i<l   liiibitH  nf  tlin  LnnKcreatt'il 

Jay 3«8 

Sinnky.frontcil  .lay ;i90 

Snaki'  killer n 

Si'ijali HIM) 

Snnnraii  I  Inrni-il  Lark 347 

KcilwiiiK 453 

HnnnriciiHi.-*  (  A|xi-laiiiM  plin'iiioi-UM) 453 

Soiithi-rii  Iluiry  AVofMlpi-rkir 51 

SpiiniMb  WliMi- pour- will 142 

Spli\rapifiiH  rulit-r 92 

tliyroidriiH 07 

viirinrt 82 

niithaliH K8 

Hpuriiif)  (Irtrnis) 479 

Si| iit>at in^  SapMiirkiT 82 

St  arl  iiic 427 

Htflleri  (Cyanni-jfla) ;{ii2 

anii(M-tt'nH<('yiiniii'ilta) 300 

fniiiliilif  (CyaniM-iltji) 305 

iiiai-rnlopliii  (CyaiKH'itta) 307 

StclliTR  Jay 302 

SIt'lbilit  t'iillinpi' 210 

Stcphi-nM.  F..nn  tin-  liabitHnf  tlipCalifnriiian  Wo^mIj kir.  115 

nil  t)ii>  ^i-nt^rapliinit  ntll;:<- nf  llii-fiilit  Wnnil- 

piikcr 127 

nn    till*    iHrnrri'iiro    nf   Hit-    \Vlilli>-tlirnat*'il 

Swill  in  tticCnlnradc.  Ptwrt 18fl 

nn  tlin  linn-iliiic  baliiiH  nf  (;MHta'M  IIiin?iiiliiu 

l.inl 203 

nn  tlii>  nri'iirn-nrr  nf  Si  nit 'h  Orin|i>  ill  (Jali 

fomia 472 


aumtauktical  inhfa'. 


fil7 


StophiMn'ii  Whip  p-MirwIll 161  I 

Stmiki'il  lliirni'il  l.iirk :W4 

HlrlgntadMiH'iirlKuliH'iitHii) 344 

Slrl|M.il  Imik  ThreoUK'il  Wo«l|HikiT 8"  '. 

Httirnt'llii  iniiKiiii 45f(  I 

iiM'Vlfiiiin 441 

n«ul<'<-tn 4«S 

StiimiiH  viilgnrtR 427 

HiilrlniNtrlA  (Crutitplinjia) 0 

Siilplnir  IhiIIImI  Klyinlrlmr SM 

SwhIIiiw,  Cliininoy 177 

lallwUi.viiOiAiT 23.1 

Swnmp  lllackblnl 440 

Hni'i'li.  C'liimnry 177 

Snirt.niiuk 175 

('hiniDrj' 177 

CInnil I7J 

Ornffon 183 

Ittick 186 

V»nx'« 183 

Willie  llimiitiHl 186 

IflepliftniiM  (riH'iiliirt  I'linoniMl 83 

'IVxBii  llhil  nf  I'uniiUw 23.1 

lliiriii'il  Lurk 340 

K  IiikIIhIut "0 

Nlglillmwk 172 

Sapullrkrr 11.1 

tovnnntH  (riionliWIi-H  >uMittiM<nii"M) 172 

(Mylii7.i'tftfii) 2.M 

Tlirt'*'  IfM'il  WiHMlpi'rkf'r,  Ainrrlrilli 77 

Thni.h  IHiiiklilnl 5811 

t ll^  rolilt'llH  (SpliympioilN) 97 

Tlrkhiril 8 

Ti.jiTHn 231 

li>ri|iMlla  (rcryli'l 40 

toriiniilMM  (Mi-linieriH'H) 117 

Intillii  (Kliiplilnimx  pimllliit) 310 

Tniilln  Flycaliliir 310 

lriiiilor(.\KHniii«) 4.M1 

Triroliireil  lllllikliiril 45« 

Tnioliilti!*  iilfMiiiilrl IIW 

i'iiliilirl.1 1»'J 

vliiJi^liiKiiliiiii 2IM 

Tnitcmi  anilil^iniH 12 

Coppiry  IuIImI 12 

'Irimplnl 4IM1 

'I'liriH'r,  I..  M.,  nil  tlic  jfi'lKTill  HiiliitH  ol'  llio  Liilinuliir  Juy  1112 

lynniiiiirt  (MllMiliiHt 231 

(TynimiiiHl 230 

TyruiiiillM  ilotiiltiirfliMis 241 

liipllinrliiilJcuH  riiiii'jiii 243 

v«rt  ii'til  if* 245 

villi  fiTnim 249 

Tyniiil,  S<l««iir  tuiliil  211 

tintpy^liilis  (Mi>liint>r|H'H) 127 

viirlilM  iiiK'liHliH  (Spliyriipirum KM 

I  SpIiynipirllH) H2 

villixii  (('liit'liini) 183 

Viiiix  «S«ilt 183 

Vi'iiimin  lliril 194 

IlHwk 185 

V«nniliiin  Flyi'nloliiT 122 

virtliiiliH  (Tyninliiin) 245 

villiiHiiH  iiiiiliiliiiiiii  (Drynlmli'H) ."il 

( 1  lr\  iilmliH) iS 

liiirriitii  (DrMihiilrH) 62 

liylii.ii'iipn!«  ( 1  >r>  nlijiti-N) 51 

li'iii-iiiiii'liiM  1 1  )r>  iitiiiti'M) .50 

vinmiiKiiluTii  (TriM'liiliM) 201 

\'inli't-llirMiili>(1  Iiiimiiiiiij^liinl 201 

vill'llH  (I'liDl'ipilK) 28(1 

vir);liiiitiiiiH  i-liii|)iii»ni(<'liiirilhlli>t() 170 

(('lionlilli'Kl 181 

lii'iiryl  (Cli.inli.iliii)  107 

TiM-iri-miiHlTyrriiiiiiiA) 240 

voollVniH  ( AutruHtouiiiB) 140 


vm-lfi.niN  iimi-nmiyHliix  f  AntnmUimnB) 161 

viilifiirln  (SitirniiM) 4ST 

Wakiiiip I» 

Wi.«l)Tii  Oow  niwkhlnl  Ml 

KlynilcliiT M* 

KIngblnl Mb 

Mnililnwlurk  483 

NlKlilliBwk  18T 

WlHIll  I'l'WlH^ 291 

Villow-lmllM  FlyniU'hor and 

Vi'lliiw  lillliil  Cmkmi 26 

Wtilnlnt!  WiHNlp4.ck«r 83 

Wlilpi«Kir-wlll 14« 

Ihitch 143 

Hpuiilnh 142 

Strphi'in'ii 161 

Whltky.Iiu-k M» 

.Inliii 386 

Whilr,  M.  A.,  im  tlio  tlniu  requln^l  li»  liiilJ'h  llti'  I'Kgn  of 

Ilii.Cowliinl 438 

Whlii'  luiiki'il  Wo<nl|iiiikiT 77 

■liillM  Logrmk 42 

WiiiHliKiikiT 42 

-piinil  lliniitiiiiiglilnl 227 

■limiiM  ,liiy 188 

WiMMliMH'kor 70 

•iipckfMl  Unveil 403 

■llinmltHl  Swill 188 

Wliliimnli,  (Ittii,  on  tlir  iirnliiiK  luiliitH  iir  t)ii>  ViOliiw-blllt'd 

( 'm^kiMi 22 

■111  lliit  liiiliila  iir  tliK  YHIiiwlH'llh'ilSnp. 

Hiii'knr 85 

on  tliii  nmlhiK  liitbll"  nf  tim  <71illni)i>y 

Swift 178 

on  Hip  ui'i'iim'iiri.,   ni-Hlln}£   liiiliiln.  nnil 
ntigriitliin  nf  till*   KllliytlmiltltMl  iltllri- 

niintjliiril.  In  MiMHitiirl 105 

Wllllama,  U.S.,  on  llii>  lialiilH  ol'tlii.  rilinlvil  WiKidpri  knr.  104 

WllliiiniMin'N  SiipHiirker 97 

'.Vlllo'  till'  WiHp l«:i 

Wllili,  Bluik « 

WoiHli'lmik IliJ,  121 

WiMMli'iM-k  42.102 

WinMllira 102 

wihh11ioiii«i*I  (Aplmliicoina) 372 

WiHHiliiiniii.H.liiy 372 

WiMHl|ie€k«.r,  Aliuiknn  'rhl-ee-lot-d 8*t 

Alplnn  Tlin'i'-loed 80 

Aini-rii'iin  Tlirt'C  tot'il 77 

Anlli. 'nm.<iliHHl 74 

Arizona 68 

lUlnrn 63 

Kunili'iMiwknl 77 

lliuiili'il  'I'lm'i.  loeil 77 

lliitihrlilirn 611 

BlitHiiini'a 40 

Dlnik  haikiil  'llini'loiil 74 

lllnik  linunliil »7 

llriiwn »7 

Ciilinn  Ih'h 53 

rnliriimiiiii II'- 

rurolina 121 

<  'liiiki'ml 121 

1)1. wny r>ri 

(iiiirilniT'i* 58 

llllu 127 

(iolilrn-fninli'il 124 

I  iiitilrn.  wiiigiHl 12U 

llillry 46 

lliirriB'ii B2 

Ivory  liilliil 42 

l.atlilfrliiii'ki-il 6:1 

l.i.wl»« 117 

l.ittlii  liiiinea 6.'' 

Narrow.rriinli'il 117 

Niiilhfru  Uairy 50 


518 


ALPHABKTICAL  INDKX. 


Pricv. 

WiHMliiM'ksr,  NntUII'n •» 

l>llllll|n'> W 

l*llMlt<'<l IW 

K«l  IwllM 121 

|{wl-bnMlMt«Ml W 

Kfil  f'uckailwl Bl 

I(mI  lii'wini    IW 

Kitiiiiil-liewlnl W 

HniitliKrii  lUlry '•< 

Holnt  l.uran « 

Strl|H'il  liiirk  TIhwOiimI Ml 

WhiiiinK "3 

WhIUi'liW'knl n 

WhUo'lilMi'il « 

Whits  IhwIimI W 

r kIIuw  t'nni tnl IM 

Wood  Pbww 2M 

I'iKwm 1» 

wriKbtIi  lEinpidiiiiRi) 'W 

Wright'a  nyiuli'lier 3111 


xnnthomplitlnii  (Xnithor«phaln«) M 

XnnthiM't^lihiUut  x»ntlMioe|ibMliiii 44t 

XmilhciiirHlutuiiM M» 

>Mituiii(l><wlll»na) '■•'• 

Xuilui'a  llfcard MO 

lliinimlnRliird >M 

J».v «T» 

Xena|ili'iii<  »llMil»rvatu« 70 

VkIIiiw  IwIIIimI  riywitchiT '*0 

HN|Miit'knr W 

bUMOuikuii 10 

HaKI'l" *" 

■  fnmlwl  WiHMlpwker IM 

•baiiitu(>r !'■* 

heiHlMl  lllx'k'ulnl «• 

abuflwl  Klliker !» 

VoiinKOId-nun  Bird 17 

ZehnUIrd 1*1 

Zoiillotlllo 11 


